Have you bumped up fun spending?

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I would be blue at this inside temperature.

Yes, sometimes it makes me sad, too. Then I put on another layer.

[clifp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I would be blue at this inside temperature .

65 degree burr. My house is several degrees cooler than rest of Honolulu, so it may have dipped below there but so far stayed above 65. It looks like 64 will be the low this Wed. time to drag out my ski parka.

[grasshopper]

The only thing that we spend money on is travel.


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[FIREd]

We haven't bumped up our fun spending. In fact it's down quite a bit from when I quit working. We moved to the West Coast 2 years ago and our housing costs have gone way up while our fun spending has gone way down. Yet we do more fun stuff now! The beach is free. Hiking is free. Many events in the city are free.

P.S. I wish I could bring the temperature in our condo down to 65 (my ideal sleeping temperature)... But it's January and even with the windows opened all night, we can't bring the temperature down to 65!

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I would be blue at this inside temperature .

60F in Ohio, 65F in Florida.

[robnplunder]

Yeah ... new car, trip to Costa Rica (done), trip to Alaska (planned & paid for), and other frivolous items. Pura Vida.

[grasshopper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnplunder Yeah ... new car, trip to Costa Rica (done), trip to Alaska (planned & paid for), and other frivolous items. Pura Vida.

I am ahead of ya bought a new truck, went to Costa Rica last winter, Alaska for 2 weeks in June, cruising Hawaii very soon, working on the Galapagos Islands already.🐢

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[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper I am ahead of ya bought a new truck, went to Costa Rica last winter, Alaska for 2 weeks in June, cruising Hawaii very soon, working on the Galapagos Islands already.🐢 Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

... parallel universe does exist! Just put Galapagos in my bucket list recently after reading another thread.

[Eagle43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R I have bumped the thermostat up to 74 lately, 75 at bedtime, and still I need my trusty wool socks to keep my feet warm. I never used to keep the house this warm. The older I get, the more sensitive to cold I seem to be. My last natural gas (heating) bill was $51, which I think is the highest it has ever been. I think I'll file this under, "reasons why staying in New Orleans might not have been such a bad idea, after all"....

Me too. Born in New Orleans, I have no problem with heat and humidity. I've lived in places where it gets very cold and just dealt with it. That was when I was younger. Now, I just hate it and my thermostadt is up, too. We have had a real winter this year here in the Metroplex. In summer I hear many locals whining about the heat. Not me.

[kcowan]

I think moving into a penthouse in 1997 was the most outrageous unplanned expense.

An unplanned benefit was a heightened desire to eat in and entertain at home.

Plus now we can rent it easily while we escape winter in Mexico.

[misty57]

I guess I would have to say "yes". Recently we went to an Eagles concert:

$362 (2) tickets
$ 80 Dinner out
$ 8 Parking (before and during dinner)
$ 25 Parking at the concert venue
$475 TOTAL for one night out

They've lost a little in the vocals area, but were still pretty darn good considering they're a bunch of old guys and they can all still flat out play. It was an awesome concert and and awesome evening.

Now to pick the next artist/group that we want to see.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle43 Me too. Born in New Orleans, I have no problem with heat and humidity. I've lived in places where it gets very cold and just dealt with it. That was when I was younger. Now, I just hate it and my thermostadt is up, too. We have had a real winter this year here in the Metroplex. In summer I hear many locals whining about the heat. Not me.

You know exactly what I mean, then! I love the climate here, even though by the end of September each year I am ready for summer to end. Right now it is 71F outside, and not even noon yet. Still a little chilly but I am sure the northerners here would not think that was the case.

I am so glad that last week's hard freezes, sleet, and cold are gone for a while. That was brutal!

[Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R You know exactly what I mean, then! I love the climate here, even though by the end of September each year I am ready for summer to end. Right now it is 71F outside, and not even noon yet. Still a little chilly but I am sure the northerners here would not think that was the case. I am so glad that last week's hard freezes, sleet, and cold are gone for a while. That was brutal!

It is a beautiful day here compared to the winter we have been having so far. When it got up to 48 degrees we went for a 45 min walk and it was so nice with the sun shining. You would have frozen!

[Tree-dweller]

I wouldn't call the process "fun", but we waited til after retirement to drop a bundle on a needed new kitchen. Now that it's complete, NOW it's fun.

[audreyh1]

Hmmmm - current car is 9 years old. I started evaluating my options today!

[ejman]

Well after an inkling of a little bit of tinitus (64 this year) I bought a new tube amplifier and large panel speakers - It's now or never! (had been thinking about it for years)

[NW-Bound]

All right! These are the kind of things that one should enjoy while he still can.

Are these speakers electrostatic? I have read that their principle of operation allows the lowest distortion in music reproduction, compared to the common electromagnetic speakers. However, I have not listened to one.

[ejman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound All right! These are the kind of things that one should enjoy while he still can. Are these speakers electrostatic? I have read that their principle of operation allows the lowest distortion in music reproduction, compared to the common electromagnetic speakers. However, I have not listened to one.

No, they are planar-magnetic http://www.magnepan.com/model_MG_16

Amazing sound

[Animorph]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejman No, they are planar-magnetic http://www.magnepan.com/model_MG_16 Amazing sound

One of my perennial favorites! I currently have their "desktop" system combined with a small SVS subwoofer and an old Carver amp that's great for music while I'm on the computer, or even better for video games.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound All right! These are the kind of things that one should enjoy while he still can. Are these speakers electrostatic? I have read that their principle of operation allows the lowest distortion in music reproduction, compared to the common electromagnetic speakers. However, I have not listened to one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejman No, they are planar-magnetic http://www.magnepan.com/model_MG_16 Amazing sound

I've also got the Maggie 1.6QRs, purchased shortly after the first reviews came out, summer 2000.

I had shopped on/off for new speakers, but always came away confused over which sounded best, and analysis paralysis set in. I read these reviews, which were outstanding for a speaker in that price range. I loved them when I heard them. So transparent. Been very happy with them.

They are similar to electro-statics, in that both are 'planar' speakers. Basically, almost the entire front surface of the speaker moves. It is a thin mylar sheet, with copper traces imprinted on it. A magnet array is all across the back. With so much surface area, it barely moves, so it can be more linear in that it isn't moving far away from the magnetic field. A standard driver is moving much more distance, as it is smaller so has to pump the air further for the same volume. Not having high voltages floating around like an electro-static is an advantage.

Fantastic speakers, IMO (and many others).

-ERD50