what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

I bought an old Sunfish, pretty good shape, just dirty, so much fun to mess around in!

 

[akck]

We're having a few days of nice weather, so I power washed the deck in preparation to stain it tomorrow. The dogs won't be too happy as they'll have to either stay out in the fenced yard or be holed up in the house.

 

[Theseus]

Woke up to the alarm clock, well actually about 20 minutes before it was set for - and got up, readied myself for w*rk one last time. Drove to work, and realized it seemed a bit different having that big of a smile on my face when getting out of my truck - when arriving at work. Did some walkabout and shook hands and a few hugs with the folks I've worked closest with over the years (38+ at same location, although company name has changed several times). Exit interview with HR done, went to talk to my manager, turned over my keys - and it's done!

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

 

[Walt34]

Now, THAT is a good day. Congratulations.

 

[Calico]

Woke up to the alarm clock, well actually about 20 minutes before it was set for - and got up, readied myself for w*rk one last time. Drove to work, and realized it seemed a bit different having that big of a smile on my face when getting out of my truck - when arriving at work. Did some walkabout and shook hands and a few hugs with the folks I've worked closest with over the years (38+ at same location, although company name has changed several times). Exit interview with HR done, went to talk to my manager, turned over my keys - and it's done!

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

Congratulations!!

 

[powerplay]

Woke up to the alarm clock, well actually about 20 minutes before it was set for - and got up, readied myself for w*rk one last time. Drove to work, and realized it seemed a bit different having that big of a smile on my face when getting out of my truck - when arriving at work. Did some walkabout and shook hands and a few hugs with the folks I've worked closest with over the years (38+ at same location, although company name has changed several times). Exit interview with HR done, went to talk to my manager, turned over my keys - and it's done!

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

Congratulations!! It's only going to get better from here and that big smile may just be permanent now.

 

[Lakedog]

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

Congrats on your retirement!

 

[Huston55]

Woke up to the alarm clock, well actually about 20 minutes before it was set for - and got up, readied myself for w*rk one last time. Drove to work, and realized it seemed a bit different having that big of a smile on my face when getting out of my truck - when arriving at work. Did some walkabout and shook hands and a few hugs with the folks I've worked closest with over the years (38+ at same location, although company name has changed several times). Exit interview with HR done, went to talk to my manager, turned over my keys - and it's done!

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

Congrats Classmate!

 

[Huston55]

Yep, dangerous for the waistline. I like Molinari Delicatessen too.

The best deli in SF, and just a short walk down the hill from where DW and I used to live. We absolutely loved North Beach. Made many stops in Molinari's and spent a lot of time in Caffe Puccini and, of course, lots of time in Specs, Tosca and Gino & Carlo. Great memories.

And, that's why we're coming back! Not precisely the same place but, in the area. Really looking forward to returning ~Jan 2015.

 

[Huston55]

Yes, the cold is just a cold, slowly getting better, as is normal.

Today is 26 years of wedded bliss with DW. Went to the Bavarian Inn for dinner, our go-to place for a splurge on a meal. Chateaubriand For Two and an ice cream dessert. That's whipped cream on top, chocolate syrup, crushed nuts (I think pecans) and vanilla ice cream.

We're stuffed.

Congrats Walt!

DW and I stayed there for our 25th anniversary. It's a very romantic place.

We lived in NoVA at the time, and I wanted to surprise her. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to convince a woman who's lived with you for 25+ years to pack a bag and not know where she's going. But, she was patient with me, and I completely threw her off track when we stopped mid afternoon in Harper's Ferry for lunch and mid-day sight seeing. Although she enjoyed that, she really loved it when we arrived at the Bavarian Inn. When the hostess brought the anniversary band I'd had made along with our dessert as I'd requested, the look on DW's face was priceless. (In hindsight, I wonder how smart it was to give such a piece of jewelry to a 20 yr old hostess I'd never met before.) Anyway, great memories of Shepherdstown and the Bavarian Inn.

 

[Dog]

Spent my first day of retirement with a former coworker and best friend in Port Townsend. Met for lunch, conversation and browsing the small shops. On the ferry now headed back to Whidbey Island and enjoying the fact that I'm not pinched for time


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Huston55]

Spent my first day of retirement with a former coworker and best friend in Port Townsend. Met for lunch, conversation and browsing the small shops. On the ferry now headed back to Whidbey Island and enjoying the fact that I'm not pinched for time


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

What a spectacular part of the world! DW and I love Port Townsend. We visited there this time of the year in 2000, scouting potential FIRE locations, and fell in love with the area. In fact, the first time I stepped off the ferry in Victoria, I was almost ready to move to Canada. The whole area is beautiful; and fantastic weather. Alas, we decided the Olympic peninsula was a little too remote for us. So, we're moving out west but, a little further south.

 

[Tailgate]

I'm retired now - and lovin' it already.

congratulations on a working career well done! Now it's on to playtime!

We have used an alarm clock twice in past 7 months... we just wait for the sun to come up and contemplate whether to get up or not. Enjoy...

 

[Bestwifeever]

Saw Mt. Hood, Oregon, from a ski lift:

 

[aja8888]

Heading off to Stanley, North Dakota for a few days today. Last time I was there, it was -20F. It should be about +100 F difference in temperature in Stanley this week!

 

[W2R]

Wow, have fun on your vacations, BestWifeEver and aja8888 and others!

After years of urging from various forum members (notably REWahoo , and also several others), I have decided to completely and utterly abandon any remaining semblance of frugality and do some major loosening of the purse strings.

Yesterday I got wild and crazy and decided to take a Big Step. I called up my handyman/contractor guy, who has done excellent work for me before, and told him I want a MAJOR bathroom remodel to try to cram a large 4'x6' shower into one of my very small bathrooms somehow. I don't even know if or how that could be done, despite mulling over the problem for over a decade. So, he is coming over with a plumber in tow later this week and they will come up with some ideas.

This may involve sacrificing a bedroom to make one of the bathrooms larger, so walls may be coming down and floorplan may be changing. Both bathrooms badly need updating. I intend to have both completely remodeled, one after the other. I want everything replaced, even the flooring, walls, toilet, sink and vanity, and more, so this is not just a quick shower addition. Oh no, quite the opposite. I expect this is going to involve Big Bux.

In the unlikely event that a shower just cannot be jammed into my floorplan somehow, I swear to high heaven (are there bathroom gods? If so, to them) that I will sell the house and move to a house with a big shower. I am determined to end up with one no matter what it takes.

Should be interesting to see what WR I end up with THIS year.... Meanwhile there are a million decisions to make and things to learn about bathrooms and bathroom choices.

 

[REWahoo]

After years of urging from various forum members (notably REWahoo , and also several others), I have decided to completely and utterly abandon any remaining semblance of frugality and do some major loosening of the purse strings.

...I expect this is going to involve Big Bux.

In the unlikely event that a shower just cannot be jammed into my floorplan somehow, I swear to high heaven (are there bathroom gods? If so, to them) that I will sell the house and move to a house with a big shower. I am determined to end up with one no matter what it takes.

O...M...G, the world may be nearing the end!

 

[W2R]

O...M...G, the world may be nearing the end!

That's OK, I am determined to be in Bathroom Heaven one way or the other!

 

[Ronstar]

Wow, have fun on your vacations, BestWifeEver and aja8888 and others!

After years of urging from various forum members (notably REWahoo , and also several others), I have decided to completely and utterly abandon any remaining semblance of frugality and do some major loosening of the purse strings.

Yesterday I got wild and crazy and decided to take a Big Step. I called up my handyman/contractor guy, who has done excellent work for me before, and told him I want a MAJOR bathroom remodel to try to cram a large 4'x6' shower into one of my very small bathrooms somehow. I don't even know if or how that could be done, despite mulling over the problem for over a decade. So, he is coming over with a plumber in tow later this week and they will come up with some ideas.

This may involve sacrificing a bedroom to make one of the bathrooms larger, so walls may be coming down and floorplan may be changing. Both bathrooms badly need updating. I intend to have both completely remodeled, one after the other. I want everything replaced, even the flooring, walls, toilet, sink and vanity, and more, so this is not just a quick shower addition. Oh no, quite the opposite. I expect this is going to involve Big Bux.

In the unlikely event that a shower just cannot be jammed into my floorplan somehow, I swear to high heaven (are there bathroom gods? If so, to them) that I will sell the house and move to a house with a big shower. I am determined to end up with one no matter what it takes.

Should be interesting to see what WR I end up with THIS year.... Meanwhile there are a million decisions to make and things to learn about bathrooms and bathroom choices.

Congrats W2R! I'm sure your handymen will be able to do what you want. Almost anything can be accomplished. It's only a matter of how much it costs.

I'm doing a total redo of one of our bathrooms also.

Good luck in your remodel!

 

[W2R]

Congrats W2R! I'm sure your handymen will be able to do what you want. Almost anything can be accomplished. It's only a matter of how much it costs.

Oh good! I have never done a big remodel like this before and I am pretty overwhelmed at the moment. I was just measuring my master bedroom to see if they could carve into that for some room for the shower. I would still have room for my bed, but not much else. If they need to enlarge the other bathroom instead, that would mean sacrificing my barely 9'x9' office and turning the house into a supposed 2 bedroom instead of 3 bedroom.

I'm doing a total redo of one of our bathrooms also.

Just finding out what tile is both suited to a highly watery environment like a wet shower floor, and has a high enough friction coefficient to prevent slipping, and is in stock locally has kept me busy this morning. Oh, and it has to be in the brown/tan range, and the little 1" tiles (in sheets) float my boat. I think I want to use the same tile for the shower floor and the bathroom floors. I will probably want a bigger tile for the shower surround.

And then, the present "vanity" (cabinet that the sink is in), is 43" wide which is an uncommon size and I haven't found any that size in stock locally. But it can't be even an inch bigger, and smaller ones often seem to lack drawers.

I won't even BEGIN to vent about what I am reading online concerning the effectiveness of the new low flow toilets that are apparently all that is available today.

Good luck in your remodel!

And good luck on yours, too! Are you choosing all these things yourself, or do you have a designer?

 

[Huston55]

wow, have fun on your vacations, bestwifeever and aja8888 and others!

After years of urging from various forum members (notably rewahoo , and also several others), i have decided to completely and utterly abandon any remaining semblance of frugality and do some major loosening of the purse strings.

Yesterday i got wild and crazy and decided to take a big step. I called up my handyman/contractor guy, who has done excellent work for me before, and told him i want a major bathroom remodel to try to cram a large 4'x6' shower into one of my very small bathrooms somehow. I don't even know if or how that could be done, despite mulling over the problem for over a decade. So, he is coming over with a plumber in tow later this week and they will come up with some ideas.

This may involve sacrificing a bedroom to make one of the bathrooms larger, so walls may be coming down and floorplan may be changing. Both bathrooms badly need updating. I intend to have both completely remodeled, one after the other. I want everything replaced, even the flooring, walls, toilet, sink and vanity, and more, so this is not just a quick shower addition. Oh no, quite the opposite. I expect this is going to involve big bux.

In the unlikely event that a shower just cannot be jammed into my floorplan somehow, i swear to high heaven (are there bathroom gods? If so, to them) that i will sell the house and move to a house with a big shower. I am determined to end up with one no matter what it takes.

Should be interesting to see what wr i end up with this year.... ;d meanwhile there are a million decisions to make and things to learn about bathrooms and bathroom choices.

Perhaps this will give him some ideas.

Plus, think of all the time this will save you.

 

[W2R]

Perhaps this will give him some ideas.

Plus, think of all the time this will save you.

View attachment 19550

Actually, silly as it may appear at first view, actually I had planned to suggest something like this as one of my options. Thanks for the photo! I can use it to explain to my contractor/handyman what I am thinking.

My largest bathroom has a tub up against an exterior wall with the toilet right next to it (slab foundation, so I think moving a toilet is not ideal). See below for the photo. I planned to ask if I could remove the tub and use that area for the shower, continuing the tile shower flooring throughout the whole bathroom with a tilting floor for drainage. Even though there is supposed to be a certain number of inches between the center of the toilet and the edge of a tub or shower, with continuous tile I think I could fudge on that a bit. Who's to say where one begins and the other ends? And with no doors to the shower, nobody would bump up against anything while using the toilet.

Of course, this would mean a house with no tub, and two bathrooms with showers, supposedly a killer for any possible future resale in a slow market like ours. Nothing is easy, right? Oh well.

 

[springnr]

Two showers no tub.... the next folks can get over it or remodel.
After spending time in Japan the whole room being a wet area appeals.

 

[Meadbh]

Actually, silly as it may appear at first view, actually I had planned to suggest something like this as one of my options. Thanks for the photo! I can use it to explain to my contractor/handyman what I am thinking.

My largest bathroom has a tub up against an exterior wall with the toilet right next to it (slab foundation, so I think moving a toilet is not ideal). See below for the photo. I planned to ask if I could remove the tub and use that area for the shower, continuing the tile shower flooring throughout the whole bathroom with a tilting floor for drainage. Even though there is supposed to be a certain number of inches between the center of the toilet and the edge of a tub or shower, with continuous tile I think I could fudge on that a bit. Who's to say where one begins and the other ends? And with no doors to the shower, nobody would bump up against anything while using the toilet.

Of course, this would mean a house with no tub, and two bathrooms with showers, supposedly a killer for any possible future resale in a slow market like ours. Nothing is easy, right? Oh well.

W2R, good for you for deciding to enjoy your assets by investing in your home! I strongly recommend you get an opinion from an architect or designer. It's often amazing what they can come up with and they can get good deals. I like your idea of the shower room. It should be perfectly feasible in that space and would be good planning for possible future infirmities, possibly enabling you to stay in your home for longer. As for the resale value of your home, I seem to remember that you were unable to sell it several years ago, and have since decided to stay put. So why not make your home the best home that it can be?

 

[Nodak]

Did my morning walk along the banks of the Missouri River, had lunch, and have spent the afternoon making a new set of 6 MP3 CDs for my car. Thursday I will head home for this year's Perseid meteor shower. There's a full moon so we probably wont see much but just sitting out under very dark skies is enjoyable. I am part of a group that has been getting together for it every year since 1979. If I don't show up I'll be in big trouble.