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The Good Ol Days of getting sloshn drunk out on the water at SeaFair are gone. The heavy police and Coast Guard presence + strong alcohol enforcement really tempered seafair. Another fire hose on the fun is that the cheap seat people that don't want to pay to be on the log boom are forced to...

I used to love boating and getting away for the weekend when working 9-5's. Being retired, I now find boating wasteful and not a gratifying way spend money. Now, going for a bicycle ride in the quiet countryside has peaked the passion meter. When riding, you are actively engaged in the...

Well, at 54, and being the typical naive sun worshiper, past bad sun habits have finally caught up with me. Sitting here healing from an 5" incision, after having a melanoma removed from shoulder. The doctor said it was caught very early and is not expecting any complications. Waiting on...

DW and I were talking about what we'd do if one of us died. Financially, we have set our pensions to be 100% survivorships. We plan on leaving the higher social security to age 70 (probably leave both SS to age 70), and Roth converting to the top of the 12% bracket as fast as possible so the...

We need health insurance on the open market for January 2019, and from February 2019-on, will have retiree health care. We live in Washington state, which evidently does not have short term health plans. We currently have health care through the Washington exchange. Do we just continue a 2019...

Expect to see changes to your 1040 forms, and how you report information. Became aware of the changes when researching how my 2018 taxes will work out. The 1040 form is only one page now, seeming to be made simpler. However, if you have income beyond w2 wages, they added another layer of...

It's looking like the 2018 capital Gain distribution of the shares I own in Wellesley Admiral fund will throw me over the Income limit to qualify for ACA. Currently, vangaurd is showing a realized capital gain of $2.71/share. I like the Wellesley fund, and want to continue investing in it in...

I noticed Wellesley admiral fund currently has a realized capital gains of $1.94. Is this normal for this time of year, and through out the year, Wellesly managers buy shares of other stocks to bring down the amount of realized capital gains? Reason I ask, I am getting health care through...

I'm having issues with Washington health exchange accepting documents I submitted as income verification. Our income for 2018 will be dividends from recently purchased Wellesley funds and wife's unemployment compensation, totaling 42k for the year. I submitted wife's unemployment summary we...

Due to the positive comments on the this forum and my own research, I will be investing a large (to me) sum of money into Wellesley at Vanguard. I do have a few questions: 1. If I invest today, how does vangaurd determine a dividend payout at the end of the year? Is there some kind of pro...

A friends father who is 80 and going a bit scenile has gotten himself into a hole. He has lots of credit card debt, and only income is SS. His adult kids thought it was best for him manage his 80k cc debt through the counceling services. The problem is that he only has $24 to live on after...

I've had such good success with internet purchases, it's been my first choice instead of going to Brick and Morter stores. The variety is endless, and can usually find things that are better than what is sold in the stores. Poor experiences have been when I purchased items from Brick and...

My employer will be offering a 401k roth, as well as continuing the standard 401k at the start of the year. I need opinions which to fund. We (DW and I) have 705k in the standard 401k. We will be contributing 18k and 6k catchup each. Both of us work for same employer. DW will be 51 and I...

Just watched "Olympus Has Fallen", where the white house was taken over by terrorists. Got me thinking. One thing that would for sure ruin even the best planned retirement would be a destabilazation of world power. What other far fetched things could happen that would ruin retirement plans...

I have a hard time getting a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day. Working as an engineer at the Lazy B (Boeing) is very slow moving, and lots of hurdles to jump in order to accomplish anything. I work with many brilliant people that have the same problem. Boeing is constructing...

Currently working as an engineer at giant company that will be freezing my pension in 2016, but job security is high. I am 48, and was planning on retiring at age 55 and taking advantage of the early retire option, and go out and work with a millionair friend of mine building homes till I...

After 2 power bills and a winter's use, the Ductless heating unit has exceeded expectations. Our power bills went from $350/2months to $210/2months and comfort level is amazing. PNW has a mild winter climate with temp averages of 30's and 40's in winter with extreme lows to 15ish. The...

I'm getting tired of peers always complaining that its the governments fault for their plight in life. Had an idol chit chat that started out with keeping barnicles off the boat, and ended with my neighbor (not friend) blaming the government that he can't sell his house and send his kids to...

My dad requested payout on a death benefit from zurich after my mom died on what seems to be an IRA my mom had. My dad was the beneficiery on this benefit. He recently got a 1099-R form that showed the amount he recieved was taxable on line 2a, but line 2b is checked for taxable amount not...

RV's are terribly built junk. I had a Lance camper parked under cover its entire life, and used for snowmobile trips in the winter. After 7 years, the camper's cheap aluminum siding started developing holes caused by galvanic corrosion. This camper led a very pampered life under cover, and...

I really have to question the morality of doctor intervention. Medical technology has gotten so advanced, yet, i think more questions need to be asked if the human should really intervene. Example: My mother died a year ago, from a multitude of health problems, uncontrolled diabetes (her...

I just successfully installed a Mini Split Ductless heating/cooling unit in my house. It's one of the easier projects to have tackled. The heat pump professionals try to scare you away from buying units on the web, and self installing. I'm proud to have saved $3500 over my neighbors...

I called to have my propane tanks filled by the company that always fills them. They told me i have to sign a yearly contract of $90 to lock in a propane rate of 2.75/gal or else pay the market rate which they said was 4.95/gal. I also rent my tanks from this company for $68/yr. I have 2...

Bought a new Ford Escape Titanium. Its amazing the leap in technology cars have today over our 2004 Honda Accord. Wasnt sure i would like all the new finangled gizmos, but, was pleasantly surprised how useful they are. Example, thought the parallel park assist was a joke idea, till i tried...

We bought our dream retirement home (second home) on the water of Puget Sound. Our plan was to have my parents live in it and keep it heated, so they can enjoy their retirement years, and when they pass, we will move in. It is very close to our other place, so we would be able to help them...