Recent content by theoldwizard

I've been FIRED for 8 months. DW is still working (her choice) but because she works for the schools, was off all summer. This will be my first winter and I'm "concerned". Long dreary days in SE MI. That and MI is in a full blown recession. When I worked, I was "rumor central". Not about...

This will be my first winter of early retirement. DW is still working (her choice). My sister is also working, but her hubby is retired also. They have a daughter in Tampa area. I was think about renting a 2 bedroom condo/house in the Tampa area for a month (Jan or Feb). The guys would...

I was going to retire in 2008, but Ford made me "an offer that I couldn't refuse". They also added on "If we don't get enough volunteers (early retirements or just voluntary separation) we will have involuntary separations !" :o Maybe I saved some 40-50 year old who didn't have enough years...

Update Well a week or so has gone by. I have been doing most of the cooking (DW cooked once or twice). Not always up to her standards, but she is eating it (and, no, I'm not trying to screw up !) She has helped with meal planning which is where I am most challenged. I have also done the...

More coverage for less $$$ ? DW and I just shifted our LTC to the "new" John Hancock Group LTC sponsored by my former employer. Maximum Daily and Maximum Lifetime payment both went up for a small decrease in premium. Believe me, the both of us went over the coverage with the proverbial fine...

They do make small electric tankless WH. Various sizes. Google "+tankless +electric"

DSL instead of Cable If you have an "old fashion" "land line" telephone, check with your phone company about DSL. AT&T has some incredible deals ! Yes, it is slower than cable, but unless you do a lot of large downloads you probably won't notice the difference except for the money you save...

A co-worker put one in a couple of years ago. He figured it would take about 8 years to pay back. Then the price of gas went up. Now pay back is less than 5 years.

Excuse me if this topic has already been throughly discussed. How many cars/vehicles do you own/lease ? Do NOT include recreation only vehicles (boats, off road vehicles, parade vehicles) but do include motorcycles/scooters/golf carts/etc if they are used regularly for general transportation...

My in-laws live in the northwest corner of North Carolina, near Cherokee . It is in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains so you have nice rolling hills. It does get below freezing sometimes at night, but if there is ever snow it is melted by noon. Lakes don't freeze, but you would have to be...

Well I'm certainly getting a lot of opinions, which is what I hoped for. I don't want you folks to think I'm some kind of a "slug" and I don't normally "keep score", but for the record ... 2 weeks ago we spent a week at a rented cabin. We each cooked lunch for ourselves once during the week...

I understand your sarcasm and that is why I am concerned and am "airing my dirty laundry" here. In my career, I used to have a job where I was the "go to guy". I had to be right about everything and consequently, I usually got "my way". Only one person would ever stand up to me a say, "Let's...

I like that suggestion and it just might work ! She would catch on if there as no income (she handles the money expenses). Although money is NOT an issue in this marriage (especially since between my pension and my investments I'm going to make more this year than I did last year :coolsmiley:)

I guess the thing that inspired me to write this thread was the lecture I got about asking a question of her while she was getting her breakfast and lunch ready. (And don't anyone suggest that I should be doing that for her. I have been told to stay out of that.) A simple "Yes" or "No" would...

I did that 31 years ago. She still has not forgiven me ! Now you know why I am not allowed to touch the laundry! I have asked her NOT to iron my jeans and T shirts. She says, "But then they look wrinkled" She actually gets upset if I sneak them out of the to-be-ironed pile. Sigh.