Settling into retirement and a new home!

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jkbarnes
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Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by jkbarnes »

It’s been a busy six months for me with a tremendous amount of change. In early June I retired from teaching after 30 years. With retirement came a move. In March, my wife and I both started prepping our respective houses for sale. We sold two houses, bought a third, and in June finally moved in together full time after seven years of marriage. The last two months have been spent transforming a house into our home, and we have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams! One thing my wife was insistent on was that I had my own private space. The house (built in 1924) has a room in the front that was once a patio. It is now my study, my retreat when I want to get away for some alone time. I’ve got my guitars, most of my books and mementos of everything that’s important to me. @rkovars, you might recognize that golf ball in the ashtray! Pride of place is held by an old pull down school map that was a gift from my department. If shows the domains of Henry II of England in France and then also a later map of France as the French kings slowly gobbled up Henry’s Angevin empire. It’s a perfect reminder of my department and of 30 years of teaching world history. I suppose it’s just coincidence that my wife and I would sign in to open houses as Henry & Eleanor D’Anjou or that our WiFi network is named PlantageNET. :lol:

Her are a few wide angle pics of my new happy place. The leather chair and ottoman were a retirement gift from my wife. I’m happy as a clam in retirement and in my new house with my amazing wife…finally!

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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by thomcat00 »

Looks like you have set up a nice spot for yourself in the new abode, Drew. Now, enjoy it! :)

Your nommes de plume are great. :D
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by ajax87 »

Glad you're settling in! I LOVE that space. Really nice work :thumbup:
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by gwells »

Nice.

4 strats, a tele, and a les paul?
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by jkbarnes »

gwells wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 2:10 am Nice.

4 strats, a tele, and a les paul?
Not a Les Paul, but a PRS DGT SE, a retirement gift to myself. I absolutely love it, and it’s getting the most playing time right now. And that’s coming from a hardcore Strat guy! I had an Epiphone Les Paul for a few years. It was a nice guitar, but I never really bonded with it and moved it on. The DGT SE is same type of guitar - two humbuckers, set neck, mahogany body, and maple cap. It’s amazing. The pickups sound phenomenal and have a really usable coil tap. The tremolo is an added bonus! Currently I’ve got my tube amp set for a really throat overdrive when the volumes on the DGT are all the way up. The guitar cleans up beautifully with the volume rolled off, so that’s where I leave it. When I want some growl, I just turn up the volume. It’s fantastic!
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by gwells »

Yeah, PRS makes a great guitar. And they weigh significantly less than an LP. I can’t do that much weight in my old age. Planning on selling my 78 Ibanez artist for that same reason. 90% of my playing is on the CAM Strat and the other 10% is my classic tele.

You need a mesa boogie amp and you can do the classic Carlos Santana tone.

I swear, one of these days I’m gonna get you to get a custom build from us.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by magicman »

Nice work Drew, It looks like a room that was years in the making, so the fact it's in your new home, is amazing.
Good luck and all the best Steve.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by Thegreyman »

A fantastic looking mancave where you can crank the amp up to 11!
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

@jkbarnes As a friend on another social media platform, it’s been a joy to see what you have both achieved over the summer. It’s beautiful and says much about you both. :clap: :clap:

You just need a proper guitar now, Drew. :escape:
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by gannet »

Glad to see you've settled in your new home. That room looks great!
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by iain »

Looks like a fantastic little oasis you’ve made for yourself Drew. I have a very similar set of shelves but mine are filled with vinyl instead of books.

I’m pleased that this move has worked out and you’re enjoying your retirement after the last few years of frustration with the teaching.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by BobMunro »

Looks amazing, Drew - I won't show it to my wife, she will think I'm getting ideas above my station!

You only need the Tele though - what's good enough for Keith Richards is good enough for anyone :). I almost exclusively play mine above the others I have, but the PRS is nice.

It's wonderful to see you and your wife settled into 'your' home - I've got a good feeling that you will be enjoying your retirement!

Very best wishes to you both.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by kev017 »

that looks truly wonderful. thank you for sharing.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by jkbarnes »

gwells wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 2:38 am I swear, one of these days I’m gonna get you to get a custom build from us.
I would very much be down for that! I do need a rosewood neck Tele.


Thegreyman wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 7:08 am A fantastic looking mancave where you can crank the amp up to 11!
The first time I was all alone in the house, I cranked the tube amp up! I’d never done that before because I lived in a townhouse. It was glorious!


Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:15 am @jkbarnes As a friend on another social media platform, it’s been a joy to see what you have both achieved over the summer. It’s beautiful and says much about you both. :clap: :clap:

You just need a proper guitar now, Drew. :escape:
Thanks Steve, I really appreciate that!

As for a proper guitar, well that’s the Martin acoustic in the case under the window! :lol:


iain wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:28 am I have a very similar set of shelves but mine are filled with vinyl instead of books.
That bookcase is in the living room, where the turntable is. There was only so much room in here. As it is, I couldn’t even get all my books in here.

And thank you for the very kind words.


BobMunro wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:48 am You only need the Tele though - what's good enough for Keith Richards is good enough for anyone :). I almost exclusively play mine above the others I have, but the PRS is nice.
Funny you mention Keef. I came across a company that sells brass bridges and saddles that are a match for what he has on his Tele! I wasn’t in the market for those however, as I was actually looking for a bridge and saddles like Andy Summers has on his Tele. I want to rework mine into a bit of an homage to that one.
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Re: Settling into retirement and a new home!

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

jkbarnes wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 12:32 pm
Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:15 am You just need a proper guitar now, Drew. :escape:
As for a proper guitar, well that’s the Martin acoustic in the case under the window! :lol:



I know, different strokes, but she’s prettier than you! :lol:
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