I'm 50 and know exactly what you mean. But the choices aren't just either/or (as Kierkegaard would have us think). I still work on my vehicles ( a person would be nuts to have a sailboat with a 30 yr old inboard if they couldn't work on it), but I gave up exhaust work a long time ago. Too much of a pain and not rewarding enough. Same for suspension work, although I might still consider it on the Benz. So, pick and choose your jobs. The hard jobs in the dead of winter or during summer heat can always be pawned off to someone else.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13