Back to the fire lookout for the 2013 season (I'm 65)?

[DemoTex]

It would be my 5th fire season in the Oregon wilderness.

20 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Time expired
	Yes, go for it again!
	20 (100%)
	No, you old fool!
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Skittles]

1. you know you want to, Mac

and we want you too...... DO IT! We need more pictures! And don't forget the dog!!!

[cantbeserious]

2. I'd Go Back

eom

[limpyhobbler]

3. it sounds awesome

[Suich]

4. Of course, you silly goose!

[annabanana]

5. Of course it's easy for US to say. . .

Sittin' all cozy in our own living rooms drooling over the prospects of many beautiful pictures and great stories...

Just thinking about running up and down that ladder with all necessities of life wears me out, and I'm only 63.

You are absolved if you decide to pack it in...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. You know how much we would miss you and Nick...

You're not old, anyhow...

I hope you'll go.

[Duckhunter935]

7. It's up to you of course

I would love to do that. If you go keep taking those great pictures and sharing them with us. Be safe.

[Arctic Dave]

8. If you are able and willing then not doing it would be a disservice to you.

You are lucky to have the ability to do things that you want to, not just the things you have to.

[pinboy3niner]

9. I just got 10 consultations on the question

These were the 10 answers I got, Mac:

● It is certain
● It is decidedly so
● Without a doubt
● Yes – definitely
● You may rely on it
● As I see it, yes
● Most likely
● Outlook good
● Yes
● Signs point to yes




So what are you waiting for?

[riderinthestorm]

10. Why not? (seriously) Is there something about your age or the remoteness that's beginning to worry?

You seem to have weathered the past years pretty well but if you are having second thoughts then its important you pay heed.

It sounds like a lovely job but the remoteness, loneliness and impending age are serious considerations.

Good luck however you decide. (Tho I love your pics and updates!!)

[love_katz]

11. Sir, whatever you decide I know we all would wish you the best.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are loved here, at DU.

And that includes your dog, as well.

[femmocrat]

12. Age is only a number.

If you are healthy, then you should do what you enjoy! Best wishes to you!

[Robb]

13. Selfishly, I voted yes.

Vicarious living.

[Vincardog]

14. If you don't will you put in a word for me? Enjoy the season.

[hay rick]

15. One selfish yes vote here.

Always enjoy the pictures.

[mokawanis]

16. I am so jealous

I've been wanting to do that for a long time, but I can't because I'm not quite ready to retire. How does one go about getting that job?

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. You know duty calls Mac.

You love doing it.

On the other hand it's taxing.

[donco]

18. Go for it

you know you enjoy it.Oh,oh,...almost forgot be sure to take your camera along as well.

[enough]

19. Do you want to go?

Sitting here looking at your fantastic photos over the years, it's easy to romanticize. But I have no idea how it looks to you. I imagine you already know the answer.

Selfishly, I hope you go.

[Throckmorton]

20. Two Turning, two burning.

You might have known my oldest brother Bob.

[A HERETIC I AM]

21. Of course, you chucklehead! n/t

[Cerridwen]

22. "And how old will you be if you don't go?"

This was a question posed to me when I was debating going to college at the "ripe old age" of 27 or 28 when I said, "but, I'll be 28!". My friend asked, ..."and how old will you be if you don't go?" I went and didn't receive my degree until my early 30s; but I did receive a degree. I've not regretted that decision.

Essentially, what my friend tried to tell me and what I've tried to learn; do you live your life because of your age or do you live your life in spite of your age. It appears I'm a "spiteful" person.

I hope you're happy with whichever decision you make.

[pinboy3niner]

23. GREAT point!

[Cerridwen]

25. Thanks, pinboy.

And a to you, as well. I'm drinking Harp tonight. A wee bit o' the Irish to help me have maudlin dreams. *sigh* Hee hee. From an old quote attributed to W.B. Yeats: "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy which sustained him through temporary periods of joy..."

I hope you and yours are doing well.

[pinboy3niner]

31. Being Irish, I can appreciate both the Harp and the great quote

Some Jameson would be nice, but I've nary a drop. My consolation was a nice dinner of grilled, smoked Alaskan Copper River Salmon with a glass of Merlot.

All is very well here, so I'm counting my blessings. Hope all is well with you, too, my friend.

[Aristus]

24. Do it, Mac.

You're as old as you feel...

[Warpy]

26. If you love it and are up to it

by all means GO. I doubt you'll be the only 65 and up lookout guy the forest service has.

[Speck Tater]

27. I'm 67 and I'd jump at the chance. nt

[ellisonz]

28. Dude

What would you do if you didn't go?

Of course you should go!

[Lars39]

29. I vote go!

It makes you happy.

[lpbk2713]

30. Do it

I'm 68 yo and I'd trade places with you if I could.

Keep in touch.

[JesterCS]

32. If it makes you happy, sure :)

Plus I love seeing the pictures you post

[B Calm]

33. I thought this post would be about SS & medicare,

ha ha. . .

[pinboy3niner]

34. You don't want to wind up like Descartes in his later years, do you?

[intheflow]

35. I passed answering for three reasons.

1) It's a push poll. Of course a passel of selfish DUers who adore your photos is going to lean heavily toward voting that you go. Although God knows with your eye I'm sure you could keep us all enthralled with whatever subject you shoot.

2) You are not an old fool if you're sensible enough to ask for opinions. If there's a reason you're asking, you must be having some reservations about going. Yet it's obvious you're drawn to this assignment.

3) I, a complete stranger, really can't judge what's best for you at the junction of your life. Only you can do that, no matter what we all vote/want. May you choose wisely, Grasshopper!

[pinboy3niner]

37. Rut-roh...

[2naSalit]

36. If you love it

and there's no real reason why you wouldn't want to then you probably should go. I have a friend, she's the same age and did it the last two years and might go again... she went bask less than a year after a hip replacement, maybe you know her, she was in Oregon too. But you'll be the final decision maker and that would depend on whether you feel good about it.

It's gonna be another bad fire year, my smokejumper neighbor and I were talking about that today.

I've never seen your pictures so I guess I could qualify as a neutral party!

2na

[Scuba]

38. What? You're going to curl up and rot? Age is just a state of mind, or as Groucho said ...

"A man's only as old as the woman he feels."

[catnhatnh]

39. I passed...

Not because I wouldn't miss your post but because I cannot know your heart. Let me tell you a little story:

For the past 6 summers my brother and I ran a hot dog trailer out at the local airport. It was a dream gig-two fifty something guys with nothing to do but put out good burgers and chilidogs and chat each year with customers both local and passing thru on summer fun flights. 6 days a week and 7 months a year. I won't say I never got tired, but I can say I never got bored. And every morning I wanted to work.

November this year, two weeks before our normal close, we had an early snow and shut down for "a day or two". That was the last day of the stand.
<a href=".html" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt=" photo mustan1.jpg"/></a>

During that break my brother consulted a Doctor who found a mid stage bladder cancer.


A lot has happened but the offshoot was he is being treated and the stand is for sale. He is in chemo and the 5 year outlook is middling fair. We knew that hard as it might be we could open next year and a large part of both of us wanted just that. But what it came down to really was our personal bucket lists and Items undone. When we started the business time seemed no problems and dreams could be deferred and now instead time may cause problems and there's so much left to do.

What I'm getting at is that only you can check your list. Every summer we opened was one more year that other dreams were deferred and now, even with the stand gone we count those years as a win and not a loss. But we have also been reminded you can live a single dream so long that others might be missed. Look into your heart and let us know your choice. All the best, Cat.

[DemoTex]

40. OK, youseguys - I just re-upped!

More in a new post in GD! Thanks for the nudging.

[Solly Mack]

41. Go west!