pretty much spot on the mark David...blessed with good health helps with this game....done most of your points and work no longer than 5 to 6 hrs a day ..but had to move away ( wanted to ) from my service area ..my new area is growing families etc but they wouldnt pay the rates my area does...besides down in my new area theres so much rain i see ride on mowers bogged daily lol .I do have to put in over one hour travelling each day ( 30 mins one way ) which has been a shock to me as for the last nearly 30 years my travelling time was a couple of mins...but travelling to work i seem to be more organised as i am not going home for a cuppa etc etc...
My income is plentiful allowing us to live a great lifestyle as well as spoiling the grandkids ( now a couple of mins from where we live )
Have a little super but no way would like to live on pension rates at the moment...so for the next ten years i need to develop a plan to keep going...have long genes in the family so that helps and i love going to work which is a bonus...i come across too many broken down lawnies that busted their butt because they were too cheap..
A balance is important..retiring is fine if you have the income stream and if you have things to do...with my daughter we have started a small photograpghy business and has been a good little earner ,as we get better so will the return...but i really love doing this sh1t..
I do admire anyone running a business and most of the people on here should be proud to run a business cutting grass....some people used to say to me anyone can cut grass or pull a weed and just smiled and said yep anyone can but can they make a good living out of it year after year...when i advised them and showed them my invoices they quickly shut up....
I will find the solution , i am getting there slowly reducing the hours and maintaining the same annual turnover..geez i even got the seniors card,the rules are no more than 30 hours a week..i fit into that category..doesn't mentioned income..