Retirement Can Show Tour

[OhioCanGuy]

Being in my early 50's, I find myself still among the working shlubs of the world. However, I sometimes fantasize about retiring and spending a calendar year traveling from show to show. Can shows for sure, but general breweriana and NABA shows could fill in some cracks too. I envision a true coast to coast tour. Experiencing all that the US has to offer would be a big part of it too.

I'm sure guys have done this, especially back in the day. Anyone done this in the last 10 years or so? Would love to hear some stories of life on the road, buying, selling and trading.

[pinnacle-project]

Like you, I am in my early 50's and still working. I completely agree. Doing a coast to coast trip full of shows would be awesome. In the meantime, my goal is to go to one new show every year in addition to the usual suspects that I always attend.

[menke]

I hit can shows around Australia while on a road trip there in '95, that was cool. And a few out West a couple years before that- really built up my cheap CA dumpers at the old Huntington Beach show.

But the best story I've heard was from Dale Rogalski. I had the table backing up to his at Kansas City, and he told me about rolling around the country in a camper van with his brother. He said they did like 58 shows in one year- back when there were a number of Sunday-only events. They would buy cases of beer in whatever town they were in, and pour it all down the drain and sell the empties at the next show. Then they started dumping during the week, and selling THOSE cans at the next show. And after a few years, settled down to deal in the more expensive stuff.

[Nosinut]

51 year old here also looking forward to retirement at 58. I envisioned every Thursday of hitting garage sales.

[Summitcan]

got the calculator out and ... I'll be retired 3 years after I die

[Kevin the Ex-Editor]

I'm retiring at the end of the year. Then I take a month off and the they hire me back as a part time retiree. I work half the hours and get what comes out to about a 10% raise and get to keep my benefits. Now maybe I can make it to more shows.

[stringsx24now]

The can show tour is something I have thought about, but I would add/integrate a house/collection tour with it. To me, that would be an even better fantasy.