Old fart is as old fart does. You decide. Actually, your wife probably already has. 

Stephen

Mobile

> On Feb 15, 2020, at 8:45 AM, Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Is 44 qualified for old fart status?
> 
> On Sat, Feb 15, 2020, 12:59 AM Lloyd McClelland <lloydmac@suddenlink.net>
> wrote:
> 
>> I also retired 5 or so years  ago and am now growing a small goatee  after
>> 35 years of staying air pack emergency qualified - what a change .  Side
>> note I still  have a Westfalia  I bought locally (California) in 1999.
>> 
>>>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 8:48 PM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
>>> wrote:
>> 
>>  I retired five years ago and for my last day of work shaved off my beard
>> of 32 years.  Been off ever since.  I spent the last ten years of my
>> working life at that IT company in which I was the eldest employee.  Most
>> of the young guys drove Ford Fusions and voted Republican, making me
>> despair for the upcoming generation. One of them bought a motorcycle, none
>> of them rode bicycles, none of them had "hobby vehicles."  Fantasy football
>> and Call of Duty reigned. I was glad to leave and haven't missed it a bit.
>> Somewhere there must be young Vanagon drivers but I don't know them.
>> Stephen
>>   On Friday, February 14, 2020, 10:31:47 PM EST, Alistair Bell <
>> albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> I go on and off with beard. Every time I go on it gets whiter...
>> 
>> Alistair
>> 
>>>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 7:07 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I remember a List entry years ago.  The question was:  Do most Vanagon
>> owners have beards?  Seemed so to the inquirer.  And....I think the answer
>> is ... Yes. Only now...the color has changed from Salt and Pepper....to
>> mostly Salt.  True for me!  But I still change my oil and filter, and I've
>> got a bitchen 2.2 Subaru motor in my backside.  So...Take that you
>> youngsters!  Ha-Ha!!!
>>> 
>>> Rich
>>> 
>>> San Diego
>>> 
>>>> On Friday, February 14, 2020, 6:56:36 PM PST, Alistair Bell <
>>> albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Eric,
>>> 
>>> I can totally see and concur. I suppose my shorthand had made two
>> groups, the young and naive and the old and jaded :-)
>>> 
>>> As with all things, it’s more nuanced.
>>> 
>>> But the mailing list is old tech. Sheesh, us old guys still hang on to
>> listserv as cutting edge :-)
>>> 
>>> Alistair
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 6:47 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> When I go to VW bus gatherings most of us are I believe 50 and older.
>> Still In my VW closest group there are folks in their 40s.
>>>> 
>>>>    At these same events there are always a few 30 somethings even
>> folks in their late twenties but not as many as the older groups.
>>>> 
>>>>    The younger groups seem to be a mix some working hard to keep a bus
>> nice and functional.  An a few with busses that look like they were already
>> parked in the weeds and could not possibly start up and move, yet they do.
>>>> 
>>>> A lot of the younger folks purchased vanagon or busses I would not have
>> recommended.  They are just learning about the care and don’t have this
>> list or someone to guide them.  I’ve seen many yellow 1980 air cooled buses
>> brought back from the dead by these younger folks.  Then again, that may
>> have been the only starting van they could afford.
>>>> So, I’m guessing we are a older bunch but the younger folks are still
>> in the mix.
>>>> 
>>>>    As for this list I don’t think it is easy to find or know about.
>> And the younger group is all about facebook.
>>>> 
>>>> Eric
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 9:23 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Now don’t get me wrong. Don’t think I’m accusing anyone or if this has
>> to do with any recent list subjects.
>>>>> 
>>>>> It’s ti do with my own experience, day to day. I work where I’m the
>> oldest person. This is a first for me. The other guys are half my age and
>> pretty well twice my smarts. And we do a lot of Toyota Tacoma and
>> forerunner accessories and mods. And some jeep stuff.
>>>>> 
>>>>> These vehicles are all within 5 years old, many are brand new. The
>> purchase price of these toys is high, and what we put on them isn’t cheap.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Customers all younger than me, all enthusiastic and energetic. And all
>> want that off road ( overland) look for the trucks.
>>>>> 
>>>>> As an owners group, they all are much younger and more willing to
>> spend money than what the average vanagon owner is. They vast majority of
>> vanagon owners I meet are around my age(61). Yes, I know there are younger
>> owners, some of the van life types, but majority are old farts. And we old
>> farts are tight with our money. And often we have the btdt attitude that
>> I’m finding, in myself, to be a negative attitude.
>>>>> 
>>>>> What do you folk think? I know there are younger list members, even
>> now with the list being much much much quieter than the hay days of the 90s
>> and 00s.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Just a Friday musing eh?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Alistair
>>