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Be careful about a sinus lift. My periodontist did a sinus lift and bone graft in order to get two upper implants in. Less than a year later, the molar behind them (#3, I think) died and I had to get my very first root canal and crown. The endodontist asked if I had gotten a sinus lift; he...

After years of having a CPA do our taxes due to their complexity, post-divorce I finally achieved relative simplicity (and a lower tax bracket), so I used the IRS's Free File with Online Tax Preparation Companies. That met all my needs. This year might be slightly more complicated because I...

Just out of curiosity, what size of gifts are we talking about here?

Technically, up to 10 transactions. In April 2020, the Federal Reserve eliminated its money market account rule limiting certain withdrawals and transfers to six per monthly statement cycle. But that hasn't stopped banks from continuing to apply limits. Ally allows you to go over 10...

I read your post with admiration and awe. But it sounds like so much work! You didn't share your motivation for learning Japanese. Are you planning to visit Japan for an extended period? I'm fully bilingual (English and Spanish). I decided some time ago that this would suffice for me.

A recent relevant op-ed in the Seattle Times: A Tale of Two Cities: Portland Offers a Worrying Example for Seattle One thing I've learned from living in several cities, including Seattle and Portland, is that timing is everything. Cities tend to have a golden period as they grow; during this...

In fact, in the latest poll I found, 84% of group members identified as introverts and INTJs were nearly half of the total. The introvert percentage was even higher (91%) in a previous poll. I used to say I was a "social introvert," and in certain situations I was even mistaken for an...

That applies only to those who make $145,000 or more.

That's what makes it worthwhile for me. YT Music is my favorite music streaming platform and it has a great selection. YT's ads had become absurdly frequent and annoying. Intentional, of course, to make us feel obligated to subscribe.

How dare you assume I'm over 60! Oh, wait, I am. When did that happen?! Reminds me of a thread I saw online that had "too old to post" on top. The nerve! They meant, of course, that the thread was years old and thus closed.:laugh:

It's said that people tend to focus more on the past -- with nostalgia -- as they age and realize that there's less ahead than behind. To my surprise, it's been the opposite for me. I've always had a strong streak of nostalgia; even as a kid, I yearned for aspects of earlier periods. This...

Your post is very timely. I had an equivalent experience just a couple of weeks ago at my check-up. It had been five years since I'd had a blood screening, because Kaiser's idea of an annual physical consisted almost entirely of sitting me down and asking if anything was wrong. Once ACA...

Yes, same with me. Formerly an avid reader, I rarely read books anymore, and when I do, I tend to focus on nonfiction and speed through. Nicholas Carr warned us in 2010's "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains": It's not as if I'm reading less overall. I'm reading a lot, but...

Depends. In my case, the periodontist thought it *could* work, but my dentist thought this would probably lead to eventual failure, so I ended up with two posts.

I also use the Open Social Security calculator. I fully expected to wait until 70, but the calculator is indicating that ideally I should take it two years earlier. So I'm reconsidering.

What an excellent summary you've provided the OP. It all rings true to me, a former Portlander. Since she's a renter, I'll focus on that topic for a moment, contrasting Oregon with Washington. Washington's state legislature banned rent control in 1981, and somehow that's never been overturned...

I can't believe that I just marked nine years in early retirement. For me, the most surprising thing was the shift in mindset related to the financial aspect. I continued to be frugal for years after retiring, spending well under my means. This was driven both by habit and by trying to avoid...

Pre-internet, I used to be bored on occasion, and it would serve, as you point out, as a springboard to exploring new things. But now? Never. I feel like there is limitless information/entertainment to absorb and easy access to any interest (and communities of those who share it). It's more a...

That's where I've lived for a couple of decades. I recently considered moving north of here, but nothing appealed to me as much. West Seattle is also relatively less expensive housing-wise than other Seattle areas. The West Seattle Bridge, the artery for trips north and east, recently reopened...

I've lived in both Portland and Seattle, where I reside now. Portland has changed a lot since I lived there, but on my visits I still see remnants of its old charm (once you get out of downtown, which is no longer charming). Portland has always been less expensive than Seattle, although the...

Same, almost. The day after our return, I knew I had Covid -- after successfully evading it for 27 months. We were more careful than most on the ship, but with the new subvariants that break through any defenses, all it takes is an elevator ride with the wrong person. My Covid bout was more...

To me, early retirement is all about gaining the freedom to pursue whatever you want. I didn't expect to work again after retiring, but in the end I took an extremely flexible, very part-time job that pays little. It's fun and thoroughly satisfying. Here's the crucial point for me: It has...

That lack of friendliness we perceived could be a regional difference, or perhaps it's because Valencia used to be off the tourist track and now gets its full share of foreign visitors -- good for small businesses, but not so great for the locals who preferred how it used to be. Much as I liked...

You must have gone to Valencia in the summer. The greatest heat and highest humidity I've experienced were during an August in that city. Despite that, I liked the city a lot. Although I have wonderful friends there, I do think people in general are nicer in, say, Madrid.