Mr Hobbs, who manages Thornicroft Station, a 2832ha property near Lake Mahinerangi, and his wife Pamela are moving to an 11ha property at Herbert in North Otago this winter.
The prospect, quite frankly, terrified him, he said.
"I really don't know what I'm going to do with myself. Thornicroft has been my life," he said.
But his body, and his last head injury following an encounter with a stag, signalled it was time for the change.
Not that Mr Hobbs has had much time to think about retirement.
He had been "flat out" working and last week he was busy both competing and helping at the South Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships at Alpha Burn Station, near Wanaka.
He was course marshal for the short head and yard, where his main job was to keep his "boss" - judge Loyd Bishop, of Stratford - happy and he was also running his old campaigner Cam in the two heading events.
Cam had been in five run-offs for Island or New Zealand championships, while his master had been in 23, but a New Zealand title had so far proved elusive.
It was to be Cam's swansong and it was clear Mr Hobbs held the dog in very high regard, even outfitting him in a new dog-coat to keep him warm.
"It's a beauty. He's earned it. He's been as good to me as any dog I've ever owned," he said.
The 9-year-old dog worked everything from sheep and cattle to deer and ducks.
Mr Hobbs, who has given demonstrations with his dogs in the Octagon in Dunedin, working both sheep and ducks, has been trialling since he was about 24.
He enjoyed both the challenge of the sport and the people involved.
He said the courses for last week's event at Alpha Burn Station were very good championship courses and an "absolute credit" to the McRae family.
Thornicroft Station was a "beautiful property" and this year had been the best year yet.
The stock - the property runs sheep, cattle and deer - were looking "fabulous" and it had also been the best year financially.
He would miss the "highs" of the job and the people involved.
Landcorp had also been a good company to work for.
"Farming is heaps of fun if you do it right. It's a fabulous way to make a living.
"Sometimes I think, 'gee I'm getting paid to do this'."
Once shifted to North Otago, Mr Hobbs was hoping to get some stock work.
He also hoped to help other people with their dogs and continue to breed both huntaways and heading dogs.