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If you make it into Oregon and have any interest in aviation, McMinnville has a museum built around the Spruce Goose. We spent a couple hours there and enjoyed it.

This is such a powerful message, and one which I wish I'd heard in these terms years ago. Yes, I knew that DCAing would get me more in lower markets, but just the way this is phrased is like a head slap ah-ha insight to me.

Sprague Lake, 7/2020 Cow and bull moose; young one hiding out of sight on the left shore.

If you haven't already been, or recently been, I've seen moose in RMNP. Specifically, at Sprague Lake early one morning, a few of us were lucky to watch and cow and bull eating in the lake. Out from the shadows swam Jr. It was a thrilling moment for me! Wish I was a better photographer...

You are correct, our personal health info is essentially accessible to anyone. Besides the security breeches from outside, vendors and hospital employees enjoy almost free and complete access. However, the argument still holds that we reveal an incredible amount about ourselves, willingly...

I need to look at the calculator again - I didn't see a spot for unearned income, so my 'fix' was to put the conversion as Earned and remove the taxes for SS and Medicare. Thanks for the responses.

We write a few checks a year, mostly use CC for rewards. But a part of me finds it unsettling to see signs (last two different Dr offices) that say CASH or CHECK not accepted. The businesses claim it's more costly to accept cash or checks (people to manage, process; possible theft) but...

Re: the IRS tax calculator. If I only have Roth conversions for the year, I would input those under Earned Income and uncheck the Social Security and Medicare tax boxes, correct? (Ie, only Federal income tax withheld doing a conversion, not other taxes?)

^ ah, I can totally understand that reasoning. Immediate access to funds giving time to figure things out. Thanks for the info!

SecondCor, I can see wanting to even things out, which in my way of thinking would favor taking more from HIS (or the tIRA belonging to the older partner, generally larger) first. Before both parties begin SS and pensions, and given that SHE is statistically likely to live longer (and thus...

I've been reading a lot of the discussions about Roth conversions. A couple responders said something like 'I'm converting hers first'. I am trying to figure out the logic behind doing one (the smaller tIRA? the younger spouses tIRA?) before another? (Of course there are exceptions and...

When my parents left for long periods, watering the plants and feeding the birds were things they wanted me to come over to do. Are there any activities or memberships that you need to cancel prior to leaving? Are there dental appointments on the calendar that need to be rescheduled?

I ran your numbers and get a minimum portfolio value of $1,064,628 as the starting portfolio balance with both SS and the pension added in. One of those SS numbers should probably have an end date (unless they both expire on the same day!), but I did not make that change.

@ER_Hopeful Thinking of you and your wife these days. I hope your hearts and minds are able to find some peace as you move forward.

Lots of overlap...my category of veterans included mental health, but obviously many vets have other needs, and many with mental health issues are not veterans. Not an exact science, just genuine curiosity.

The 25 minutes of previews was PAINFUL. That alone will keep me out of a theater for a long while. Barbie was ok....some of the message rings true, but a bit too harsh on the guys for me. My DH got some good laughs, he's pretty easy going.

In reading another thread, several mentioned no heirs and leaving their remaining wealth to charity. I have had the opportunity for the last 4 years to help a friend identify charities that she might send some of her QCD to. After losing a spouse to cancer, she sends to cancer charities...

Would you consider a European river cruise? We just returned from our second one. The ship is limited in size (due to the constraints of the locks they must pass through) so there are typically only 120 or so passengers onboard. Both of our trips have been great - one on the Rhine and...

My DH retirement is looming and we're trying to decide what to do about 401k contributions in the final year. Do we max them out (save on taxes now, convert to Roth next year at lower tax rate) or stop them completely in order to have more cash (to cover SRR concerns or have money on hand to...

Ridgeway?

Sort of in response to brett's comment on the trip length/budget thread, I propose a travel game... Simple rules: 2 people, one week, $5k. Where do you go, what do you do? I'll go first: Estes Park, Creekside Suites, one week: $2k Gas and one night stop to and from...

I appreciate the info explanade and Teacher Terry. We will be hitting the big alpine villages first (as you correctly surmised) and will spend a day in Lucerne before heading home via Zurich. We may just enjoy the city that day.

This will be a great trip! How long will you take to complete the loop? We thought Canyonlands was wonderful. Not as well known, but just beautiful. We hiked back in along the gorge and spent an evening in awe of the Milky Way. Enjoy!

I would be interested in what you did in Lucerne...we will be there briefly in June.

Thanks for the welcomes! A bit about me/us....We're early 60s, I left FT employment 25 yrs ago when the youngest Lemon was born; been working about 20 hrs/week since then. DH still FT but I've been running the calculators for a while and telling him any time he's ready, we should be good to...