At 47, I periodically ask myself this same question (ususally after being bent over for an hour or so, doing a valve adjustment on Lilly or Marlene). And then, I think of my 71 year old father who can and does (occasionally ;-) work me into the dirt and say, "why stop now?" Granted, I don't have the stamina that I did at 16, laying on the ground, bench-pressing 3-speed chevy transmissions into place in my '54 Chevy pickup but, I can still get the job done. It just takes some reading glasses, more time and more help than it used to. I've finally learned to pace myself and drink PLENTY of water too.

There are other things to consider. I spend my professional time behind a computer doing 'stuff' for a heartless corporate entity. There is little if any 'hands-on' physical activity and even less job satisfaction. Professionally, I'm like Dilbert: "My short term goal is to make it to 5:00; my long term goal is to make it to Friday."

Consequently, I'm of the opinion that my Benzos are my therapy...and considering the cost of a shrink, they're a bargain (plus, you get to drive them). I derive a HUGE measure of satisfaction from being able to say, " that car is 20 years old, has 230,000+ miles and I drive it every day! Oh, and by the way, I maintain it and another one like it, with even more miles, too."

SWMBO's praise goes a long way as well. She loves Lilly and likes 'bragging' about her 'in-house diesel mechanic.' Thusly, I have carte blanche status when it comes to needing tools ;-)

Before you throw in the shop towel, consider making your shop environment more hospitable. A small window air conditoner or industrial circulator fan would go a long way toward making a garage bearable in the summer heat. I've installed a swamp cooler in my shop and even in Austin's tropical summer, it's bearable in there (however, I may up-grade to an a/c this fall - I am an 'old' guy, after all).

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.