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Gross income was a bit over $100K, but our living expenses were only about one third of the gross. That number included a mortgage that we don't have now that we are retired. So, our living expenses in retirement are less than 20% of pre-retirement gross.

If I had the money, I would definitely consider some lazer work on my face. Maybe a photo facial and some other minor things like filling in some lines and maybe some botox. Maybe a thread lift instead of a full on face lift. The reason: I'm 56 and was always pretty and lately--last year--I am...

$1,200 showed up in our checking account yesterday. Not planning to spend any of it.

We have less saved for retirement than you do and it's working for us. Our monthly expenses are less than $1,600 and we're not in the Ozarks. We're in Hawaii, which has to be one of the more expensive areas in the nation. However, it all depends on your lifestyle. We live simply, which is our...

Never watched the TV show and have zero interest in seeing the movie.

Retirement came suddenly, so I didn't have time to have a vision of what I thought it would be like. I had planned to retire at the earliest in two years, probably more like four, when I was laid off. Family talked me into pulling the plug...job was really stressful and they feared that it would...

None, but being a woman and not playing contact sports probably helps.

When I lived between Portland and Eugene, I found that the gloom was a bit hard to take. In the winter you can go for a very long time without seeing blue sky. The grey was depressing. I was happy to move away. If I had stayed I would have looked into getting one of those light boxes that people...

Yeah, it's probably the muscle weighing more than fat thing like everyone has already mentioned. Just one other thing, watch out for high fructose corn syrup. I didn't realize just how bad that stuff is and didn't know that it was in lots of foods I was eating. In particular, Power Bars. I...

Shawn, there also seems to be more and more young women who see little advantage to marriage. My two daughters, for instance, both feel that if they can't find someone who adds something positive to their lives, then why marry. They have happy lives and don't see the point of marrying someone...

No, most mornings I stay home. I've been retired for about six months only, so still trying to get comfortable with a routine. Tried having certain days for this and that, like grocery shopping, but that didn't last long. Now I just run errands when I feel like it, or when I need something and...

Nope. I worked for a megacorp and telecommuted, as did most of my coworkers. We met in person at most once per year, so I wasn't really friends with anyone. Also, I'm so happy to finally have gotten away from the corporate environment that I prefer to have zero ties.

I'm not a McCain supporter, but I respect that he isn't one of the politicians who supports the war and yet only sends other people's children to war, not his own.

No, but then I tend to be completely unaware of other people when I'm doing something like trying to cram something too big into my car. Also, I tend not to care what other people think. I think that it was harder on our kids when they were growing up especially since we were living in...

Texarkandy, thanks for the response to my question. I think you've summed it up. The value is placed on the man being a "self-reliant provider/producer." What I noticed on this thread is that people are complaining about either living with family, or spending time with them during a visit and...

Our mechanic said that Toyotas made in Japan are great and that the ones made in the US suck. We had a 1999 Toyota Camry that was made in the US and we had nothing but trouble with it. Just sold it a few months ago and it's a relief to be rid of it. Our 1997 Toyota truck was made in Japan and it...

McCain wants to stay in Iraq, so with McCain we would continue spending some insane amount of money on the war and the deficit will continue to grow out of sight. What other effect will the continuation of the war have? Obama and Clinton will most likely get us out of Iraq quickly, so...

This "American" value you describe isn't one that all cultures in America can relate to. This tends to be a WASP view of what an American is. What makes a man "truly a man" may have nothing to do with living on his own. Instead it could be helping a sister, or brother get her/his education and...

This is the case in our family. My grandmother always lived with us. Actually, my grandmother and mom (one widowed, the other divorced) lived together in a house they both owned and when my parents got married, my Dad moved in. So, I grew up always having a grandmother living with us, which was...

We live on the Big Island and when we vacation in Hawaii we go to Waikiki and stay at our favorite hotel, the Moana Surfrider. It's a great old hotel that's right on the beach. We stay in the historic section, which is very nice. We've looked into going to Kauai or Maui, but have found that...

We drove from the coast of NC to Santa Cruz, CA in 3 days. DH was sick, so I did all the driving and pushed it to get him back home since he was in such bad shape. Not a fun trip, but I know you can definitely do 700 miles in a day since I did more than that. It's not a fun way to go, though. If...

I love that. Although, that's just what I would do I couldn't have articulated it as well as you have. Ha, thanks. That's lovely.

No, I'm not afraid to look poor. Nothing about how we live or look is fancy. Our house is small, our truck is old, and our clothes are comfortable. Not ashamed to use coupons--just happy to get a better deal. I think most people on this forum could care less about looking poor. We're not the...

Igsoy, thanks for not missing my point. It is indeed the number of Obama bashing threads, not the responses in the threads. I'm all for expression of opinions and diverse stances, however, I'm growing tired of the racist agenda of some who feel the need to start thread after thread with one...

Well, someone isn't doing a very good job of hiding his prejudices and it isn't Obama. As for the working- and middle-class white Americans...we don't need you to speak for us. Thank you very much. You would have to be blind not to recognize how privileged whites are by our race in this...