Am I getting older...

[thecfarm]

or smarter. 

I only put 4 gallons of diesel into a 5 gallon can. Easier to lift.

I use my 50cc chainsaw more then my 72cc. The big saw may get it done quicker, but I can not use the big saw as long as the small saw.

[Magicman]

Starting back last year when I fill my Diesel fuel jugs, I fill two with about 5 gallons and one about half full.  When I fuel the sawmill I grab the half full one first and when it is empty, I add another couple of gallons.  That way I am never lifting over about a half jug at any time.  Of course I do have the onboard pump and hoses that I can use, but I like the half jug better.  A full day's sawing never takes 5 gallons.

Yes, I also grab the MS261 before the MS362 although I do plan to have my hands on the 362 tomorrow morning.

[Old Greenhorn]

I think it's both. As they say "Too soon old, Too late smart". I do a lot of stuff along those same lines for the same reason. I don't know what it is, but this last year my energy levels seem to be dropping quite a bit and I can't go as far, for as long as I did just two years ago.
 Yeah, I take my time and do it as I can. You can only do what you can do. It sucks, but it's reality and you have to work with what you've got.
 Anything I can do to save energy and work longer is something I do. I haven't run my 372 for a few years now. when I need a bigger saw, I run the 562, otherwise it's the 350 or 450. I can go a long time with those.
 It ain't easy being us.

[farmfromkansas]

I had to give up my chainsaws, and bought a couple with spring start.  That way it can't jerk back.  Dr after I had a hernia operation said if I have a chainsaw jerk back when trying to start it, will rip the fabric in my wound.  So I gave the bigger saws to my son.  Had a new ms250 , a ms291 and a ms290.  The bigger ones were getting harder to use.  Now have a couple 180's.  Amazed at how well they cut.

[Ianab]

As you get older, the "Work smarter, not Harder" applies more and more. 

Ironically my big saw (79cc) is actually easier to start than my 60cc, because of the decompress. But I can can see how the Ezi-Start would be a step better. And I can see an electric saw being even easier on the arm. 

[SawyerTed]

Smarter or older?  Here's a list of a few from around here...

Firewood gets shorter, no longer 24", now it's 16". 

Mowers are wider I'm up to a 60" cut, pining for a 72" cut.

Log splitter replaces a hammer and wedge.

Nail guns (I seem to have 3) reduce the need to swing a hammer.

A brush axe, sledge hammer, splitting maul - doesn't fit my hand anymore.  

Torque wrenches are importanter.  

Mulch and Roundup replace string trimmers.  

Sanders snd buffers replace elbow grease.  

Forks on the loader replace a strong back and weak mind.  

A call to your neighbor with a mini excavator and a $100 bill replaces a mattock and shovel. 

Rollers reduce toting boards and slabs.  

Impact driver(s), impact wrenches and pneumatic ratchets get used waaayyyy more and there's more of them. 

I understand the statement "better living through chemistry"...

The robot sweeper cleans the floors right after lunch time.   Naps have to be later.  

[woodroe]

Yeah I'm down to the 4gals max in a 5 gal. can plus most of what
Ted said. I'll add after many decades I've gotten away from the annual garden crops and gone to strictly
Biennial crops apples, berries, asparagus, hazelnuts and rhubarb. Couldn't keep up with the insects in the garden  edit :annual garden. Way easier just to buy the veges. Even the hornworms took over in the tomatoes.
I meant perennials duh. Even the right words get harder to come by with age.
Definitely thinking twice about how to do everything with less effort.

[thecfarm]

Hornworms can be controlled with Captain Jacks. It's organic.
I use the dust, can buy it in a liquid too. 
I would plant the tomatoes and let them get growing a little and put on the powder once every 2 weeks or so. This would keep away the moth that lays the eggs.
I never had them. Then one year I saw a clump of droppings in a 'Y' of a plant. Wondered what that is? Then I saw the worm!!!!
I almost squealed like a little girl. Them things are huge. I had to look it up to see what it was.
We were selling veggies at that time, and we would pick of an easy 30 a day. Then the next day do it again and so on!!! Them things must grow quick.

[Magicman]

I forgot to add that the reason for me having an MS362 is because the old MS310 did not have a decompression button.  My arm was/is strong enough to start it, but my arthritic fingers & knuckles hurt too badly to pull the rope grip.  Now even the MS261 has a decompression button.

If I tail large boards or slabs from the sawmill my old right hand will suffer the next day, because the lifting stretches my knuckles.

In two months I will turn 81 but there is no way that all of this can be "age related". 

[Downstream]

Last year I went back and forth on rebuilding my ms211 w/16in bar and easy start or upgrading to new stihl with 20" bar.  Finally decided to re-do the 211 with bar/chains/etc because I can cut all the firewood I need with it and it limits me to a size of round that I can lift easily.  I had forgotten how well the 211 cuts when you have new bars/chains.  My 660 w 36in bar just sits in the corner.  I start it a couple of times a year to let it run but I really shy away from that possible kick back on the pull start.  Unfortunately being a little hesitant increases the probability of it happening in my experience. 

[Jeff]

Day before yesterday, I woke up at the cabin. Pulled a sweatshirt on because it was 40f out, flipped the coffee pot on, slipped my muck boots on, opened the door to let cedar out ahead of me when I noticed. 

No pants.

[chet]

I once spent a very uncomfortable middle of the night fighting a structure fire. Hours later removing my bunkers I dicovered my jeans were on backwards. 

[sharp edge]

Its surprises me how much every thing grows, when you get older.

SE

[SawyerTed]

I once spent a very uncomfortable middle of the night fighting a structure fire. Hours later removing my bunkers I dicovered my jeans were on backwards. 

I did that with my boxers once.  It wasn't so uncomfortable but I felt like something was following me all day, I was ill and uneasy.    Everybody asked me if I felt better when I saw them the next day.  

[Don P]

Even the nail gun rocks my world. I'm just hiding out for one more year  . Mucca was just licking my face as we crashed on the couch "Dude, wassup?"
 "Can't move, it'll improve"

He's young, he'll get it later.

[WhitePineJunky]

Even the nail gun rocks my word. I'm just hiding out for one more year  . Mucca was just licking my face as we crashed on the couch "Dude, wassup?"
 "Can't move, it'll improve"

He's young, he'll get it later.

Sinking a 16d nail in 3 swings is satisfying though...

[gspren]

Somewhere in my mid 60s I realized that I was getting taller every year and now in my 70s it continues. I never actually got measured but when I trip and fall down it hurts more and then when I'm on the ground it takes longer to stand up so I must be taller 

[thecfarm]

I just think my feet are heaver now. 
I get up fast in case someone is watching. 

[Magicman]

At least you still know which way is up. 

[Otis1]

Shoot. I'm only 45 but I've already had my right hip replaced and the left one isn't too far behind, had the steroid shot and it definitely helped. But like Ted, I just put my boxers on backwards the other day. Figured it out at work when I had to relieve myself. Decided it was too much of a hassle to fix it. At least I work by myself way out in BFE woods.

[chet]

We are a sad bunch 

[Magicman]

Depends. 

[Resonator]

Friend of mine was usher at an evening church service. He had to rush after work to get changed and be there on time. After the service was done, one of the ladies pointed out to him his shirt was on backwards.

All the pumps here are prepay. To keep it simple for the cashier to turn on the pump I'll often buy an even number, example $20 is 4.5 gallons of diesel (or there about's depending on the price that day). 

[chet]

Depends. 

No 'depends' needed here.  At least yet!!!!      

[21incher]

Like Ian Anderson sang it. Too old to rock and roll but too young to die.