Today’s the day, I’m now 62!
Some birthdays have been tough to get through, 50 was a hard one for me. But this one I’m CELEBRATING! I’m just feeling like this one is a mile marker. I think it’s related to Social Security. I wasn’t eligible for SS until about age 53 in 2008 when I finally completed my 40 SS credits. I had worked until we had kids but that left me at just 33 credits, so in 2006 I was 51 and realized if I was going to get this credit thing completed I was going to have to go back to work. I didn’t really want to work but that looked like the only way to ever get anything out of SS. I took the most minimal job I could find, as a school crossing guard, because it paid just enough to qualify for quarterly credits. By the 2nd quarter of 2008 I had accomplished my goal.
It turns out I really like my crossing guard job (an hour in the am and an hour in the pm) so I continue to do it. Since about 2010 I’ve put all of my pay into IRAs which feels very good to me.
So as of today, I could collect SS, but I’m not going to. At 62 it’s only $578 a month and I’d like to let it grow. One significant reason to wait is that (in the current situation) about 16% of it would go toward higher Obamacare premiums. If that aspect changes, I may reconsider. At FRA of 66 and 2 months it would be $804 a month. I’m planning on waiting until age 65 and Medicare or 14 months later at FRA. For now it’s nice to know that it’s there if I change my mind. Yeah, that’s tempting…..
About TRAVEL…….Neither of us feel the need to travel. DHs family lives in the Denver area so he goes there at least once a year and I also go some years. I like an occasional trip to a beach so we’ve done that a few times. But travel is not a big priority to us. We are just happy at home.
(I know this is getting long, but hang in there, it gets interesting.)
Then life gives you a SURPRISE….. Our 30 year old son met a young woman when he was in Kauai in Jan 2016 and she lives in Beijing, China. It’s hard to make this a simple explanation but I’ll try. She is an English speaking tour guide for tourists mostly from USA, Canada and some from Europe. My son was visiting friends who have a vacation home in Kauai who had been her clients on a tour in China. They thought she was wonderful and told her if she was ever in Kauai she was welcome to stay with them. She was visiting them when he was also visiting them. Two young single people meeting in paradise, what could possibly happen?
They kept in touch for a year and then she was arranging a few months of travel to USA and Canada and staying a few weeks with their mutual friends who are local in our area. Well, she didn’t stay long with them, she stayed with my son and they realized they are much more than friends. She has been here for 6 weeks and is leaving tomorrow. A few weeks ago they let us know what’s going on and it’s SERIOUS. He is planning a visit to meet her family in Beijing later this year and they have let us know that they are moving toward an engagement. Heads up, Mom and Dad, the wedding will be in Beijing and it’s important that you be there. Yikes! We don’t have passports! I hate flying! Don’t make me go to China!
Ok, I didn’t say that last part out loud. Within the next few days I convinced myself that this is a wonderful thing and the travel to China is something that most people would see as a wonderful opportunity and the adventure of a lifetime. Slowly, I’m getting there. The first step is trying to find my birth certificate so that I can apply for a passport, after that we have to get visas from the Chinese consulate. One step at a time.
As for the happy couple, we like her a lot. Most importantly, they are crazy about each other, get along well and have a lot of the same goals (kids!) and values. He is trying to learn what he can about her culture. She loves to cook for, and with him and he loves her cooking. We are already feeling attached to her. It all seems to be happening so fast, but they have known each other over a year, just not on the same continent. Relationship via texting and video chatting, these crazy kids nowadays!
This is a very nice life surprise for us. At 62 I will learn to “enjoy” travel.
Some birthdays have been tough to get through, 50 was a hard one for me. But this one I’m CELEBRATING! I’m just feeling like this one is a mile marker. I think it’s related to Social Security. I wasn’t eligible for SS until about age 53 in 2008 when I finally completed my 40 SS credits. I had worked until we had kids but that left me at just 33 credits, so in 2006 I was 51 and realized if I was going to get this credit thing completed I was going to have to go back to work. I didn’t really want to work but that looked like the only way to ever get anything out of SS. I took the most minimal job I could find, as a school crossing guard, because it paid just enough to qualify for quarterly credits. By the 2nd quarter of 2008 I had accomplished my goal.
It turns out I really like my crossing guard job (an hour in the am and an hour in the pm) so I continue to do it. Since about 2010 I’ve put all of my pay into IRAs which feels very good to me.
So as of today, I could collect SS, but I’m not going to. At 62 it’s only $578 a month and I’d like to let it grow. One significant reason to wait is that (in the current situation) about 16% of it would go toward higher Obamacare premiums. If that aspect changes, I may reconsider. At FRA of 66 and 2 months it would be $804 a month. I’m planning on waiting until age 65 and Medicare or 14 months later at FRA. For now it’s nice to know that it’s there if I change my mind. Yeah, that’s tempting…..
About TRAVEL…….Neither of us feel the need to travel. DHs family lives in the Denver area so he goes there at least once a year and I also go some years. I like an occasional trip to a beach so we’ve done that a few times. But travel is not a big priority to us. We are just happy at home.
(I know this is getting long, but hang in there, it gets interesting.)
Then life gives you a SURPRISE….. Our 30 year old son met a young woman when he was in Kauai in Jan 2016 and she lives in Beijing, China. It’s hard to make this a simple explanation but I’ll try. She is an English speaking tour guide for tourists mostly from USA, Canada and some from Europe. My son was visiting friends who have a vacation home in Kauai who had been her clients on a tour in China. They thought she was wonderful and told her if she was ever in Kauai she was welcome to stay with them. She was visiting them when he was also visiting them. Two young single people meeting in paradise, what could possibly happen?
They kept in touch for a year and then she was arranging a few months of travel to USA and Canada and staying a few weeks with their mutual friends who are local in our area. Well, she didn’t stay long with them, she stayed with my son and they realized they are much more than friends. She has been here for 6 weeks and is leaving tomorrow. A few weeks ago they let us know what’s going on and it’s SERIOUS. He is planning a visit to meet her family in Beijing later this year and they have let us know that they are moving toward an engagement. Heads up, Mom and Dad, the wedding will be in Beijing and it’s important that you be there. Yikes! We don’t have passports! I hate flying! Don’t make me go to China!
Ok, I didn’t say that last part out loud. Within the next few days I convinced myself that this is a wonderful thing and the travel to China is something that most people would see as a wonderful opportunity and the adventure of a lifetime. Slowly, I’m getting there. The first step is trying to find my birth certificate so that I can apply for a passport, after that we have to get visas from the Chinese consulate. One step at a time.
As for the happy couple, we like her a lot. Most importantly, they are crazy about each other, get along well and have a lot of the same goals (kids!) and values. He is trying to learn what he can about her culture. She loves to cook for, and with him and he loves her cooking. We are already feeling attached to her. It all seems to be happening so fast, but they have known each other over a year, just not on the same continent. Relationship via texting and video chatting, these crazy kids nowadays!
This is a very nice life surprise for us. At 62 I will learn to “enjoy” travel.
