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DW and I have 3 vehicles - 2018 Ford Edge, 2013 F150 4x4, and a 2006 Mustang GT convertible "fun" car. We bought the GT just recently to replace our previous 2006 Mustang convertible which we totaled August 2020 when a guy in a pickup ran a stop sign and we t-boned him. (Scary, but no injuries...

+1 totally.

We keep about 4-5 years living expenses in cash/MMKT/CDs. The rest is in ETF funds, approx 90% domestic 10% Int'l. We try to replenish the cash "bucket" before it gets down to 2-3 years, selling some ETFs when the market is strong. Works for us.

+100

We're at 6.7% YTD thru 8/1/20. This includes YTD withdrawals. AA 81% Equity/19% cash etc. Cash = approx 5-6 yrs expenses. Does not include home equity. Original poster asked how we invest. We hold ETFs, roughly 80% S&P. 20% int'l as a rule. No big secret formula for us.

+1 This pretty much sums it up for us as well. We did visit once with a fee based FA to reassure my wife that I had half a clue managing ours. Turns out I did! He couldn't add any value to what I was already doing. But the fee was worth it to put her mind at rest.

It seems like a lot, but I'm not sure it's too high. I replaced 4 rotors and pads on my 2013 F150 at the dealership and it cost about $650. No doubt my rotors and pads were larger, but parts on foreign cars do tend to run higher.

LOL I was wondering the same. People I know from the Villages often claim to be the healthiest old folks there are anywhere. Due no doubt to golf, and the nightly dancing and drinking.

Vic Firth 2an drumsticks, Gibralter drum throne, Ahead 10x14 tom case.

These are all great ideas. I have been to several over the years and can vouch for them as attractions. I like driving, but we took the cog railway up to Pikes Peak. Very nice and you can really enjoy the scenery when not driving. IIRC it leaves from Manitou Springs which is a cool little...

+1

Michigan, central lower penninsula. Been in this area all our lives. Michigan is a beautiful state, with the great lakes never more than 1-2 hours away in several directions from us. Don't partake in snow activities as much as when we were younger, but don't mind winter either. Summers are...

Michigan, USA. I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but according to relatives in the dairy business who are reluctant to talk about these things, it happens currently.

I saw this also. Unfortunately this often subsidizes large corporate farms. In our rural area we have large (industrial) dairy farm operations that produce so much milk that it can't be processed, and the excess is regularly dumped. This has been happening for years. :mad:

Not sure how far North you are going, but if you are going up towards Traverse City, the Glen Haven/Glen arbor area are beautiful - lighthouses, Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Park, and many things to do/see in Traverse City area. If you venture further North, Charlevoix/Petoskey/Harbor Springs all...

I haven't been on much since I retired August 14, 2014. I've been too busy just enjoying myself! I have done a lot of yard and home maintenance, cut firewood, and catching up on some tractor maintenance. BUT... it has all been at my leisurely pace, and sprinkled in has been lots of grandkid...

I have lived in a basically rural farmland area all my life. My parents farmed early in my life, my in-laws all their lives (dairy), and I know farmers large and small. We even own a 40 acre "farm" ourselves. About 30 acres tillable which we rent out to a local farmer, and the rest is buildings...

As someone stated, I prefer to self insure and am not a believer in extended service contracts. Generally they are NOT extended warranties, and often the price is a significant portion of the appliance initial cost it seems hard to justify to me. Now if one is not in a position to be able to...

Congrats and go moester go!

Count me in! Or out!?! I am training my replacement and he's pretty sharp, so I'm thinking by end of July, maybe early August. AJS56 over and out at age 57!

+1 Seriously... I have seen this numerous times at flea market types of places.

I have thought similarly about our situtation, and that is how I inderstood and see your original post. True that inflation factors in, but for me it is easier to appreciate a nest egg carved out of limited earnings over the years, as opposed to a similar nest egg which could be viewed as the...

+1 True that.

+1 Very good point about the chain of communication between the customer and the techs in a large shop or dealership. Things can get lost in the translation - in either direction. Larger shops tend to have the advantage of more resources, training, tools, etc., to handle many repairs and...

I think this is excellent advice! For us, relocating is not an option for DW. Unless of course, the grandkids relocate. We might follow in that case... :rolleyes: