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    Blow that Dough 2024

    Wow! Just have to ask, how much was the yearly "oil change"/PM?? My old boss complained about the $800 Porche oil changes a decade ago. This has to be in another league... Where did you have the opportunity to really drive such a beast? Was it fun as a grocery getter? Another buddy loves...
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    Blow that Dough 2024

    Yikes! I heard Jeeps were bad, this only confirms. Sounds just as bad as my motorhome. :facepalm:
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    Blow that Dough 2024

    Wow! Costs have gone up since I had a top of the line furnace (Trane) and basic AC installed in big city mid-west a decade ago. Back then I "only" spent 5 grand for both heat & air. I was shocked how much "basic" systems cost here in SE AZ. HVAC inflation may have beat my investment returns...
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    How to decide if you can live off investments or need to draw them down

    Nicely stated. We do the same as "total return" investors. Picked a withdrawal rate based on on our assets and porfolio survivability (including odds of death), then just sell funds once or twice yearly to cover expenses. We don't have to leave an estate, so that gives a higher annual...
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    Kitchen faucet replacement easy DIY?

    If you DIY, you may want to get a basin wrench to help loosen the nut. If the basin nut is metal, it may be rusted tight. I end up cutting off my last 2 kitchen faucets with a Saws-all and Dremel with a mini cutoff wheel, working from above the countertop. Not recommeded for most folks. What...
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    Blow that Dough 2024

    Good to know! Sound like my motorhome, a 35ft diesel pusher, aka the "Money Pit". Poorly built house on an expensive to repair truck/schoolbus chassis. What could go wrong?? Forget the $500 oil changes, what really kills are the seemingly endless repairs on the chassis. Last year eas $1600...
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    Blow that Dough 2024

    Did you replace the AC too or just the furnace? Is the furnace a fancy variable speed or just basic. I just replaced my AC and furnace with a nice Lennox for 16K, 15K after Lennox and gov'mint rebates. Very nice, huge variable speed AC to deal with SE AZ summer, mid-level furnace. I looked...
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    Blow that Dough 2023

    What year?? Have you otherwise had much trouble with it??
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    Introvert Extrovert

    Yep, that’s pretty much why I retired. Now I just do “my stuff” all the time, not stuff other people think I should be doing. INFJ, Fire Class of 2015. Wild horses couldn’t drag me back…
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    Why move to Florida?

    Beautifully expressed! Captured our sentiments well too. We left the midwest, where we spent most of our lives and all of our careers, and left most of our friends for the desert of SE Arizona. DW explain to someone that life was getting to easy and we were growing complacent. Like you, I...
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    15 Years!

    Wow, just wow, 28 yrs Fired! We used to run our spreadsheets out 40 yrs, complete with actuarial life expectancy tables. Now we only go out about 30 yrs. Now, “time passes much too quickly”…
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    What We’re Smoking (or Grilling, or Curing)!

    I hear you. Pork loin and chicken breast seem to suffer from the same issues. Not enough flavor and easy to overcook. We season and spice both heavily, although not much salt, and use a temp probes to avoid overcooking. I like Traeger pellets since they seem to cook "gently", at least at...
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    Blow that Dough 2023

    Thanks, we're having a blast! Our rig has been in the shop for weeks, but we still visit our favorite local state park campground at the base of the mountains. We walk around and meet someone nice to chat with almost weekly. We've found that we really enjoy meeting folks who camp in state...
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    What We’re Smoking (or Grilling, or Curing)!

    I also enjoy the light smoke flavor with mild flavored meats like lean pork and chicken. Pellet grill works great for this. I also have smoke chips, but haven't gotten around to using them. Hmm, never tried a whole pork loin. Never really thought about it. Why do you prefer it over smoking...
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    What We’re Smoking (or Grilling, or Curing)!

    Wow! That looks great! Boneless chicken beast and boneless pork loin chops from Costco have been our staples. Have been experimenting with lemon juice. Slather meat in olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Dust as desired. Last time it was dried rosemary, powdered garlic, black...
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    Can't Justify an Expensive Hobby Even If I Can Afford It

    It's quite interesting to see some real numbers on planes and boats. Seems like $10-20K/year is not uncommon. I'm a little surprised to see that we run the same with our motor home, a 35 ft diesel pusher mini "bus". Call it $10K/yr for storage, insurance, planned maintenance, unscheduled...
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    Blow that Dough 2023

    Where are you planning to camp?? Outdoorsy was the gateway "drug" for us. Wanted to try RV'ing for decades, but it seemed it would never make sense financially. After FIRE and moving to SE AZ, we started renting class C rigs from Outdoorsy. We had a blast! We rented 3 rigs over a year...
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    Can't Justify an Expensive Hobby Even If I Can Afford It

    DW and I had similar experiences in our youth, always someone hanging out with a guitar. I too wanted to be that guy with a guitar and, well, now I am! Like most of my hobbies, music comes and goes depending on the "season". A few years ago, we ended up spending lots of time with several...
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    Can't Justify an Expensive Hobby Even If I Can Afford It

    Thanks, very helpful. I remember a buddy showing me Flight Simulator on his PC decades ago, but I wasn't too impressed due to the limited graphics. I've thought about getting into it on and off for years. It would be fun to build a modern gaming rig and set up Simulator, but I'm afraid of...
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    Anyone Else Soured on Dining Out?

    We’re lucky, we’ve got one 25 minutes away. We go almost every week. Can sit outside most of the year and enjoy a view of the mountains. Buffet is 14 bucks plus tax. Food is very good, esp for a buffet and it’s a nice mom & pop place.
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    Cheapwad Finds--Opposite of Blow That Dough!

    I was planning to replace it , but to my surprise it tested fine. Almost same cca reading as when new. I bought the same battery for my other car and it flunked out in fewer than 4 years. I'll throw the portable jump box in the trunk though. How often do you replace tires, assuming you don't...
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    Finding companions with similar interests

    Fortunately, DW and I have similar interests like hiking, road biking and kayaking, but, I'm more hard core. It's wonderful to have the company and share common passions in the outdoors. I used to mountain bike single track trails, but DW's back precludes this. Instead of "just" hiking...
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    Go-Go, Slow-Go, No-Go Travel

    We now do most of our vacation travel in our motorhome, but we flew and drove all of our lives. Just a change of pace. Now we take everything including the kitchen sink. One of our favorite things is the availablity of a clean bathroom and our own food all the time. No looking for "clean"...
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    Go-Go, Slow-Go, No-Go Travel

    Cool! This reminds me of my backpacking days. Small Swiss Army knife; didn't understand why some guys needed a huge hunting knife. Tarp instead of tent. No liquids except for enough water to get to the next water source. A single pair of boots, although the ultralight guys started wearing...
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    Cheapwad Finds--Opposite of Blow That Dough!

    I love Chaco's! Now that I'm no longer w*rking and relocated to SE Arizona, I live in them year round. I got a "nice" pair for general use and a beater pair for kayaking. Saw your sig, belated congrats on your retirement, esp. in your 40's. I did the same 8 years ago. Time has flown by...
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