How old do you want to get before you stop cutting grass?

[bdemir]

Just felt like asking the members a few questions. Like, How old is the oldest person you know that is still cutting grass today, and how long do you plan on cutting grass. This is a laborous job and Im just trying to find out if there are older peolpe doing this all their lives and how they feel.

[AGG Lawn Maintenance]

I am not old but have been doing landscaping for 13 years now. I'm 28 years old. Started at 15. My back kills me like I'm old sometimes!!! I know a guy who is 55 still doing landscaping. Thats not old but in this business it sure takes a toll on your body!!!<br>Me I think I might die doing it. I just love it so much!!! Travis AG&G Lawn Maintenance

[Evan528]

there a guy that owns a buissness that does alot of lawns in my neighborhood that is easily in his late 60's or even early 70's. he right along side of his 20yr old workers too. i guess when youve been doing landscapiong for 40 years your body stays in pretty good shape... i still admire him though.

[jaclawn]

A cemetery near here has a caretaker that is 81 years old! He has been taking care of the place since he was 13. Now that is dedication.

[Eric ELM]

Jaclawn, That is dedication alright. Wow!!!<br>I thought I was old doing this, but I'm just a young pup at 57 I guess. I plan on doing this till I can't get on my Chopper.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://pages.prodigy.net/eric.erickson/&quot;&gt;Eric@ELM&lt;/a&gt;<br>The Grass is always Greener on the other side of my competitors fence

[Lazer]

One of my employees is 63. He outworks a lot of the younger guys.<p>I tell new recruits to work with &quot;Herb&quot; for 1 week and if they can keep up, they get a full-time position.<p>Weeds out most of 'em.

[accuratelawn]

I have a friend that is in his 7th year of mowing. He is now 71. Only works four days. He and his son have about 50 accounts.

[bdemir]

Wow! that is great. Now i am asurred i will do this till im relly old. Im 29 and i have bad knees but it doesnt stop me. This job gives ;me energy and endurance. I really like hearing about these old people it gives me more hope for the future.

[Guido]

Hey guys, don't forget to think about the big picture. You having to stop mowing / manula labor doesn't mean you have to retire!! You can just sit back and run the business. I'll probobly stay in the construction scene till I can't get up into the equipment anymore, and then I'll know its my time to lean towards the office end of the biz. I'll have to stay involved till I die though. You guys have great attitudes though, I'll be reading about you dying peacfully on your ZTR's!! Just kiddin! Keep healthy all you old timers!! <p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[jrblawncare]

When the good Lord takes Me I hope I'am doing what I enjoy...this is it!Either it be 50 or 90 years of age..I may so down a bit as I age..But I hope to keep going as long as my body lets me.I see a few old timers around here doing it part time..I think its great.<p>----------<br>John <br>

[HOMER]

Slow down my butt! I'm 38 and feel better now than I did 10 years ago! My knees used to hurt when I was on a shop floor all day, they don't anymore cause grass is softer. I can outwork a lot of the folks that have helped me in the past, i guess thats why I don't have any helpers now,they're scared! Can't hang with the &quot;old guy&quot;. LOL(real sinister laugh) I run them all off hollerin' like a kicked dog! <p>Anyway, I hope I can hang in there til I'm as old as dirt, it will probably take me that long to get everything payed for and show a profit!<p>Homer

[junkerbill]

I'm 58, be 59 this year. I was laid off this summer from a manangement job and have found the pickens' slim due to my age. I decided to get into lawncare for several reasons, but foremost because I need to pay my bills. Second, because I like to work outside. Third, because I like seeing the results of my work as soon as I get through. Fourth, I don't have anyone but the customer to please--no boss, no employees. And fifth, because I am physically strong enough to compete with the young guys out there. My wife and I have an antique store as well, but it'd more her thing than mine. I love what I'm doing now.<p>----------<br>Bill Weekley<br>

[Lawnnorder]

I am 48 this year and have been doing this for 11 years. I got rid of all my rider(s)because I felt that I was getting lazy. Use WB's now and feel much healthier. I'm getting my exercise and being paid for it. What a concept!

[TurfMan]

My Dad has worked for me for the last 10 years when he sold me the business to retire! He is now 78 and has worked in this field since before WWII. There are still many days that he is still out in the dark doing odd jobs for people. I think that I will have to haul him out of someones backyard by the heels someday. I am 38, work about 70-80 hrs a week in the season and feel like i would be missing something if all I did was work behind a desk. I really enjoy the feeling of seeing the work we do as opposed to passing a product down the line for someone else. Hope to quit sometime when my boys are old enough to take over from me. But I will probably be like the old man, keep working til I read my morning paper and see my obituary, then know that is the day not to go to work anymore.

[Toroguy]

I hope to make 65+ just 31 more years. I will use the walk behind until I cant walk fast anymore, then I'll ride until I cant see anymore, when I cant breathe anymore I will be done.

[Bobby]

My dad just turned 69. He cut for twenty years, ten while he finished up a thirty year run with Eastern Airlines. I worked with him two days a week for the past ten years. It was embarrassing, he'd outwork me. Another cool thing about the lawn bis. Spending time with family.He just retired a few months ago. <p>----------<br>Yesteryear L/S<br>Hollywood Fla

[gene gls]

I'm 57, the biz has been for sale for two years now and it looks like I won't be quitting any time soon.I am looking to retire from the machine shop at 60 and injoy the fresh air. <p>I was 10 years old when I first started mowing.Did a farmers lawn up the street for $1.00, he had an old reel mower with a small gas engin.His wife had to start it for me because I didn't have enough ass in my pants to pull the cord.AAAAHHHHH the good old days!!!!

[Lee Homan]

Has anyone thought about getting away from the physical side of it and concentrating on sales or other ways to grow the company and let the hired crew do the actual work? I know you would probably have to go around and check their work sometimes and help pick up the slack once in a while but can you imagine getting to a point where you wouldn't have to do the work and still rake in the money? Isn't that what most business people strive for? I'm sure the founders of chemlawn/truegreen aren't out spraying lawns today.

[Guido]

Lee, thats kind of what I was getting at in my post. I know it would be impossible ven for me though to stop &quot;getting my hands dirty&quot; I'd defenitely be able to slow down and take a step back though, becuase I do enjoy the buisiness side of the indusrty also. I was thinking maybe subcontracting, etc.<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[lawrence stone]

It would seam foolish to retire when things will be automated.<p>Within five years I will have two mowers that are computer controlled and driven with a gps interface.<p>All of my work will be sports fileds and large industrial.<p>Once I get the machines mowing I can have a<br>smoke while watching dish TV in my small motorhome tow vehicle<br>with the roof air running. Or I can listen<br>to a thousand hours of music from a computerized jukebox. <p>Plus I might be incontinent and will have to stay close to the toilet in the RV instead of wearing Depends.<p>I will get some exercise for I will have to trim and trim mow the soccer goals. <br><p><font size="1">Edited by: lawrence stone

[Charles]

I think as more and more of the ozone gets depleted. Alot of us will be forced to retire because of skin cancer. A long distance runner friend of mine in his forties has just contracted it. The age to get it is getting lower and lower. My dad contracted it just from driving his car while selling insurance they figure. The sun hitting the left side of his face and ear through the window. They have to cut on him every so often. Some of his ear is gone. Man accross the street from me has it all over. I can name many cases I have encountered

[trimmer]

I am 18 now been doing this since I was ten been trying to talk myself out of it for the past couple of years and doing something else but always seem to come back its just me. My dream is to retire when I am forty could be a reality but I can't imagine waking up in the morning and not cutting any grass and doing the finer things in life. I guess I will be involved some how in this business till I die. Education, keeping up with new inovations, and staying one step ahead of everyone else is the key to less work for youself when you get older and more money for the pocket now and later. <p>Exquisite Lawn Services<br>Central Floridia<p><p>&lt;font size=&quot;1&quot;&gt;Edited by: trimmer<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: trimmer

[cutntrim]

55 seems like a nice age to retire. My partner and I can let our kids take over (the grunt work at least). My dad works with us and he's 54 in september. He gets tired by dinner time but he's in great shape and enjoys spending time with his son. He doesn't need the money but he likes the work.<p>----------<br>Dave in S.Ontario<br>www.cutntrim.com

[mowerman90]

A friend of mine in the business tells me that &quot;When I retire, I'm only gonna mow 3 yards a day&quot;. I'm 49 now and been doing this over 10 years. I figure that when I retire I'm gonna have to do at least 4 yards a day to keep me in beer money.

[Charles]

poof<br><p><font size="1">Edited by: Charles

[HOMER]

Charles,...........I think the drought has affected your mind, come on down Further south and give me a hand for a week or two!<p>Homer

[Charles]

Thanks for the offer Homer lol. But I think it maybe more the friday nite happy hour. (coors lite) Come to the east and have a beer