Rich_by_the_Bay
Moderator Emeritus
I was very touched by numerous forum friends asking about my well-being and it's time to bring you up on my shenanigans.
First of all (and I won't dwell on them here), I have developed several serious health issues, none of which will likely do me in but which certainly are slowing me down a touch. I expect slow progression and have no intention of rolling over but am learning to pace my energetic self. Thanks for all your messages and words of support, my dear friends. It means a lot.
Currently I am doing lots of reading and a bit of writing. Exercising regularly, enjoying this wonderful part of the world, and hanging out with friends of wonderful diversity. I am still practicing telephone medicine for a large national company: do it if I am in the mood, skip it if not; pays little but it gets us an extra dinner out once or twice a month.
The retirement plan is working, an index based mix of stocks, bonds and cash in a "buckets" type plans, 50:50% stocks to bonds. No worries so far.
Many of you know we have been in a quandry regarding relocation to be near one or the other of our kids and grandkids. Now it's time to reveal the plan. Pick one of the below plans and be prepared to defend yourself. Our decision is already made, final. For the 99% of you who don't give a darn, bear with us.
CHOICE 1: Are you kidding? San Francisco with its wine regions, world class food, weird free entertainment, mild climate, on and on. Slam dunk.
Oh yeah - houses of the type we like (modest but well located) are around $1mm and higher. Much higher.
CHOICE 2: Columbia, MO. Middle America where we raised the kids (Wisconsin in our case). Four seasons (i.e. the weather sucks) but lots of lakes, woods. Univ or Missouri right there with classes and all kinds of people around. Lakota Coffee Shop - one of the best. 100,000 population and rising. Modest cost of living, inexpensive houses.
CHOICE 3: Tampa. Beautiful beaches, familiar, lots of friends. Know it like the back of my hand. Sun galore; summers (read June through November) a bit sultry, I admit.
Your answer is...
First of all (and I won't dwell on them here), I have developed several serious health issues, none of which will likely do me in but which certainly are slowing me down a touch. I expect slow progression and have no intention of rolling over but am learning to pace my energetic self. Thanks for all your messages and words of support, my dear friends. It means a lot.
Currently I am doing lots of reading and a bit of writing. Exercising regularly, enjoying this wonderful part of the world, and hanging out with friends of wonderful diversity. I am still practicing telephone medicine for a large national company: do it if I am in the mood, skip it if not; pays little but it gets us an extra dinner out once or twice a month.
The retirement plan is working, an index based mix of stocks, bonds and cash in a "buckets" type plans, 50:50% stocks to bonds. No worries so far.
Many of you know we have been in a quandry regarding relocation to be near one or the other of our kids and grandkids. Now it's time to reveal the plan. Pick one of the below plans and be prepared to defend yourself. Our decision is already made, final. For the 99% of you who don't give a darn, bear with us.
CHOICE 1: Are you kidding? San Francisco with its wine regions, world class food, weird free entertainment, mild climate, on and on. Slam dunk.
Oh yeah - houses of the type we like (modest but well located) are around $1mm and higher. Much higher.
CHOICE 2: Columbia, MO. Middle America where we raised the kids (Wisconsin in our case). Four seasons (i.e. the weather sucks) but lots of lakes, woods. Univ or Missouri right there with classes and all kinds of people around. Lakota Coffee Shop - one of the best. 100,000 population and rising. Modest cost of living, inexpensive houses.
CHOICE 3: Tampa. Beautiful beaches, familiar, lots of friends. Know it like the back of my hand. Sun galore; summers (read June through November) a bit sultry, I admit.
Your answer is...