I once read that ‘a farmer stays a farmer until he is six feet under’. This is true of almost all the farmers I know out here.
I may have referenced on occasion that I doubt that my husband, The Farmer, has ever worked a day in his life. He almost skips out the door in the morning, only to return when it is dark, a smile spread across his face, offering snippets of what he has accomplished during the day. He loves what he does.
At times, I suggest that he probably drives out into the paddock, parks in the shade of a large tree, pops on the radio and curls up for a few hours of sleep before heading home as sprightly as he does. How else could one explain the absolute delight one takes in their work after so many years?! Of course, do something that you love, and you will never work a day in your life. This is The Farmer for sure!
I have had several farmers tell me that retirement is not an option; that they may slow down over time, but certainly not stop. I have heard stories of farmers who have left the day to day operations of a farm to the next generation and made the slow transition to the coast; to God’s waiting room (as a dentist I once had, called it).
More often than not, farmers end up on acreage closer to the coast (if they aren’t out working until they literally drop on the farm) visiting the property at every opportunity. I’ve been told the goal of living at the coast is to enjoy the ‘slower lifestyle.’ I’m still yet to meet a farmer who has actually ‘slowed down’ after moving to the coast. From what I can see, that part of the farmer’s brain never actually switches off.
Why else would someone choose a profession that pitches them against the weather and other factors beyond their control? It’s in a farmer’s blood. It’s their DNA that compels them to do it. And that is why they simply can’t ‘stop’. It’s not just a job; it’s a lifestyle. Moving to the coast doesn’t turn off that part of the brain. Even in retirement (if there is such a thing), a farmer will still refer to themselves as a farmer. At least until he is six feet under.
What are your thoughts on this? You can find me on social media: (Facebook and Instagram) @jessthefarmerswife
