In the quiet town of Wolcott, Vermont, lives a man named Ralph Rockwell. At 72 years old, Ralph is a mechanic, a part-time tow truck driver, a tractor restorer, and above all, a man of strong values and faith. Though he’s technically retired, Ralph still works — not just because he wants to, but because he has to.

Ralph lives with his wife, Carol, and about 28 tractors that he collects and restores. He runs a small towing service and occasionally sells some of his tractors, but these side jobs are no longer just hobbies — they help him stay afloat.

“I quit school when I was 15 and worked every day since,” Ralph says. “I consider myself a working-class man. Not highly educated, but I worked hard all my life.”

A Simple Life with Big Challenges

Ralph doesn’t have big dreams of wealth. He believes in living a simple life — paying his bills on time, giving to his church, and avoiding debt. Everything on his property is paid for. He’s proud of that.

But even with a lifetime of hard work behind him, Ralph is still struggling with rising costs, especially healthcare and property taxes.

“I got a letter saying our insurance was going up again — $373 more. My Social Security barely covers that,” he explains. “And the insurance company just said, ‘That’s how it is.’ There’s no negotiating.”

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Ralph and Carol pay their insurance quarterly, and now they’re having to consider what else they might need to sell just to cover basic costs.

Vermont Is Home, But It’s Getting Expensive

Ralph loves Vermont. He talks about the clean water, fresh air, and the peaceful countryside. But with property taxes and living costs rising fast, he worries that working-class people like him are being priced out.

“They’re going to make it so the average person can’t afford to live here,” he says. “We love this place, but someday we might have to leave — maybe when we can’t plow the driveway anymore or can’t afford the taxes.”

That’s not something Ralph wants, but it’s something he and Carol talk about. They’ve even thought about moving out of state to a place with a lower cost of living.

Health Issues, But No Time to Rest

Ralph has had two heart surgeries and is still recovering from the second one. “I just didn’t bounce back like the first time,” he says. “A year later and I’m still short of breath.”

Despite his health problems, he keeps working. There’s always something to fix or a tractor to restore. He also has to deal with the unexpected, like a car accident that left one of his vehicles sitting in the yard, waiting for the insurance company.

Still, Ralph doesn’t worry much. “The Lord’s timing is what matters,” he says. “Worrying won’t add a moment to your life.”

The System Feels Broken

After decades of work, Ralph is still living month-to-month. He doesn’t complain much, but he admits that something feels wrong.

“You work your whole life, and you still can’t afford your health insurance? Still struggling with taxes? There’s something wrong with that system,” he says.

He has some savings, but he knows they won’t last forever. “If I stopped working and just lived on Social Security, I don’t know if we’d outlive our money. And then what? Be a burden to our family? Be homeless?”

That’s not a future he’s willing to accept. “I don’t want charity,” he says. “I want to support myself and my wife.”

Pride in a Lifetime of Work

Ralph has pride in his work, in his honesty, and in paying his bills. Everything around him — every tractor, every tool, every bolt and screw — was earned with his own two hands.

He hopes to work until the day he dies. And not just because he loves what he does. “Financially, I probably have to,” he admits. “But also, I pray I can work until I die.”

To Ralph Rockwell, work is more than income. Its purpose. It’s dignity. It’s how he’s lived since he was 15 — and how he plans to live for as long as he can.

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