True Life Retirement Tales

I think a similar sort of confusion tends to happen with men and big boats. Possibly more men truly have fun in a canoe than a 40' Bayliner, but more men lust after Bayliners.

Whenever I see a topic about boats, I am always reminded of the saying. There are only two happy days when you own a boat - The day you buy it and the day you sell it

I got rid of my 12 foot fishing boat and bought a float tube that I can throw in my trunk and launch in any Bass or trout pond that I come across!

[windedhare]

In my single days I dated a woman who bought a 4 bedroom bilevel for herself and one dog. *She had lots of money, but I thought it was nuts.

John Galt

Funny, I was this close to being this woman. Not JG's date, , I mean a single woman with a small lap dog in a big house.

[Jane]

As for me - more than one bathroom to clean and I'm over the edge. *Maybe I'm lazier than most.

You and I both. I don't like housework and cleaning 3500+ sqft house will drive me crazy. Everytime I see a McMansion I keep thinking of how much cleaning I'll have to do and I feel sick.

Jane

[KB]

I just downsized to a 1670 sq foot house in March. Sold the larger house 2 story with a pool. As soon as my kids move out (probably thsi summer ) I might think about downsizing again, after cleaning the hardwood floors yeaterday I'm thinking this one is too big....

[polloloco]

I agree on the boats. Unless one is filthy rich, it's hard to justify a large boat. I have had many good trips with canoes, especially in North Arkansas. Beautiful country along the Buffalo River, then go down the White for some trout fishing.

[Hyperborea]

On the smaller house front there was a rather interesting show last night on HGTV called "Small Spaces: Big Style". It was interesting to see what people have done with some small places and how nice many of them were. There were places that were in the 1000 sq ft range that I wouldn't mind living in at all (my current place is ~1300-1400 sq ft but I would rearrange the layout if I could). What bogled the mind though was people in the micro apartments of 500 sq ft or less - even one at 180 sq ft.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/spcl_prsntn..._32145,00.html

[BigMoneyJim]

Now John if this lady had a plasma TV in that big house, she sounds like a great date. But maybe not a good life partner for an ER.

LOL, I also dated a woman with a 4BR house (2400 sq ft) for her and her dog. And last week she bought a 62" plasma TV. However she is ER herself via savings, real estate and inheritance. Not a marriage candidate, though, for other reasons.

Re: Boats. Boats are sooooo much fun, but they're soooooo big a pain in the rear and money pits. Think I'll befriend people who own boats instead of owning my own.

[haha]

I might think about downsizing again, after cleaning the hardwood floors yeaterday I'm thinking this one is too big....

KB, floor care was not the point of your post, but my hardwood floors are truly disgusting, and I don't have any idea what to use to clean them. Could you tell me what you did, and how well it worked?

Thanks, Mikey

[Martha]

For the past seven years we have lived in a one bedroom apartment, downsizing from a four bedroom home. I like the small space. Easy to clean but hard to avoid clutter. We went pretty upscale with the furnishings. However, I see little if anything else to buy and there is no more room anyway. I also like feeling virtuous.

On the downside, I have to confess we have a motorhome. We both like road trips. We can haul the motorcycles anywhere. Purely frivolous depreciating asset. If we hadn't bought it, probably could have retired a year ago. Nevertheless, no regrets.

Sold the boat tho.

[ESRBob]

KB, floor care was not the point of your post, but my hardwood floors are truly disgusting, and I don't have any idea what to use to clean them. Could you tell me what you did, and how well it worked?

Thanks, Mikey

Mikey,
If the varnish is still in good shape, then Murphy's Oil works well and won't drive you out of the house with chemical residue.

If the varnish is shot, then the wood gets really dirty. I don't know of any solution except re-sanding and re-varnishing, though others might know what to do to salvage a bare floor without the expense/effort of revarnishing.

ESRBob

[Martha]

KB, floor care was not the point of your post, but my hardwood floors are truly disgusting, and I don't have any idea what to use to clean them. Could you tell me what you did, and how well it worked?

Thanks, Mikey

Mikey, are the floors anything like your toilet?

[KB]

I have terry cloth covers that fit over a large flat mop thing. I also use Murphys soap in hot water. Fill the sink with some hot water, add a blub of soap. Wet the terry cloth cover in the sink and wring it out. Put the cover o nth mop and wipe until dirty. Turn it inside out and do the same. Mikey, you might need a lot of covers if your floors are really bad. But they wash up fine for next time. Wetting and wiping with towels would do the same thing only you have to get closer to the floor to use them.

I wish we could just put bleach tablets on the floor....like the toilet.. self cleaning. Actually a self cleaning house would be nice...

[Hyperborea]

I wish we could just put bleach tablets on the floor....like the toilet.. *self cleaning. *Actually a self cleaning house would be nice...

Hmmm, couldn't you just wear socks made out of "Swiffer" pads or attach them to your slippers?

[wabmester]

Just get a Roomba and let it scurry around picking up stuff off the floor. I'm still trying to figure out how to automate dusting, though. Something like a blob of bacteria that go over every surface, consume all the dust, and then excrete diamonds would be nice....

Mikey, it sounds like you're well past the floor cleaning stage. Have you considered a large belt sander?

[KB]

Mikey...hire a housekeeper or get a friend.

[haha]

Mikey, are the floors anything like your toilet? *

Except for no pee-pee, I'd have. to say yes. Walking barefoot is not attractive anyway.

Mikey...hire a housekeeper or get a friend.

Another good suggestion. I did invite a friend over once hoping that I could trade a little wood splitting or something, but she got too discouraged.

Mikey, not a Good Housekeeper

[unclemick]

Nice thing about a fish camp - nail down a new layer of 1/4 inch plywood over the 3/4 and paint with deck paint mixed with a little sand for traction. 1995 - still holding up.

Heh,heh,heh - cheap is good. Plan to get rid of the carpets in the bedrooms - the same way - one of these years.

[daystar]

While you guys are thinking about cleaning that 4800 square foot house, I'll give you retirement tale #3:

Tale 3: I had an employee that took an early retirement on September 30, 2004. He retired in his early 50's (don't remember the exact age) and he'll be receiving a $1500 per month government pension. Well, he wanted to know how quickly he would get his $25,000 incentive to retire, because he needed the money to move to my city and get a job as a government contractor......doing the exact same job he did as a government employee!!! No offense, but I don't really call that retirement. Taking the retirement did make financial sense for him, but I just don't see how he can call himself a "retiree." He'll probably be a wage slave until he's 65.

[wabmester]

Argh, you're pushing another hot button, daystar. I hear those tales of gov't employees double-dipping all the time. Keep them coming. I'm almost incensed enough to apply for a job as a postal worker.

[Martha]

Mikey, not a Good Housekeeper

I think you need to get down on your hands and knees and scrub. I don't like Murphy's oil soap--it can leave a soap scum if you don't absolutely rinse it all off. You might need something more powerful anyway (detergent or a special floor cleaner). If scrubbing with a brush and cloth doesn't get it all clean, try fine steel wool and mineral spirits for the final clean. If it turns out that the finish is worn off in places it is time to refinish the floors.

Take your shoes off when you come in the house and your floors will stay a lot cleaner.

Mom