Stoplight's Account Talk

[Stoplight]

OK...another "stream of consciousness" post...I LOVE having a place I can post this crap ! Thanks, Tom !!!

So I spend my days watching my investments...the Wife and I decide to spend some of that retirement money, and do something we've never done before... Go to Orlando, see both Universal Studios parks (the Wife is a huge Harry Potter Fan !), and then hit the Tampa Area Beaches for my Nephew's wedding...

My INITIAL reaction was "Naw...too expensive !!!" ...but you know what ? We can afford it...

Checking out various kennels for the Dogs ; checking out hotels at both places ; gotta love it !!!

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...



Stoplight...

 

[Frixxxx]

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...

Stoplight...

I think the question is, "Is this activity what I saved for and worthy of all my efforts to get here?!"

 

[ravensfan]

OK...another "stream of consciousness" post...I LOVE having a place I can post this crap ! Thanks, Tom !!!

So I spend my days watching my investments...the Wife and I decide to spend some of that retirement money, and do something we've never done before... Go to Orlando, see both Universal Studios parks (the Wife is a huge Harry Potter Fan !), and then hit the Tampa Area Beaches for my Nephew's wedding...

My INITIAL reaction was "Naw...too expensive !!!" ...but you know what ? We can afford it...

Checking out various kennels for the Dogs ; checking out hotels at both places ; gotta love it !!!

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...



Stoplight...

If you are not going to spend it, what are you saving it for? I say, you worked hard to earn it, now enjoy the fruits of your labor. When it runs out, move in with the kids...or better yet, let the liberal democrats take care of you...oops, there I go being political again...:nuts:

 

[Scout333]

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...

I definitely have that problem. My better half has been on my case to buy a boat since the day I retired. Just really hard to pull the trigger. Most expensive toy ever! So far I've bought an SUV to pull it and am building a detached garage to keep it in! Still researching the boat purchase. Ouch!

 

[tsptalk]

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...

I definitely have that problem. My better half has been on my case to buy a boat since the day I retired. Just really hard to pull the trigger. Most expensive toy ever! So far I've bought an SUV to pull it and am building a detached garage to keep it in! Still researching the boat purchase. Ouch!

A boat is the investment that keeps on taking. As they say, the two best days in a boat owner's life is the day they buy it, and then the day they sell it.

 

[GUCHI]

The best thing about having a boat is having a friend with one.

 

[weatherweenie]

Bring
Out
Another
Thousand

 

[jkenjohnson]

Hmmm...Wondering if any other retiree's have this same mental block of spending your savings ??? Gonna post that question in the "Retirement" thread...

I definitely have that problem. My better half has been on my case to buy a boat since the day I retired. Just really hard to pull the trigger. Most expensive toy ever! So far I've bought an SUV to pull it and am building a detached garage to keep it in! Still researching the boat purchase. Ouch!

I've owned a boat (different ones) for thirty years or more. What are you thinking about getting?

Oh yeah. You need to take the boat owners test before you buy. Take $500 and flush it down the toilet. If it does not bother you, you are ready to own a boat.

 

[Stoplight]

I definitely have that problem. My better half has been on my case to buy a boat since the day I retired. Just really hard to pull the trigger. Most expensive toy ever! So far I've bought an SUV to pull it and am building a detached garage to keep it in! Still researching the boat purchase. Ouch!

Scout,

You've nailed my point/question !!! It's not a question of IF I have enough money...heck, I can't do much about that at this point, except monitor how my investments are doing. It's a an issue of "pulling the trigger". So far, with the Wife now drawing SS, we're standing in tall cotton !

(For you non-Southerners : "The term "high cotton" or "tall cotton" originates from the rural farming community in the antebellum (pre-Civil War) when "high cotton" meant that the crops were good and the prices, were, too. The term has generalized to mean one is doing well or is successful."

Of course, you never know what the future will bring, especially in the area of health care/assisted living. Ravensfan, we don't have Kids, so moving in with them is not an option ! We HAVE, however, been sucking up to our Favorite Nieces and Nephews, and vice versa Kidding aside, we're looking into long term care insurance...

OTOH, the Quicken "Lifetime Planner" tool says that, unless we both live to be 105 years old, we won't run out of money :nuts:

You People crack me up with the "boat" comments ! My issue is an RV...like Scout, I'd have to buy a new tow rig, and we'd want a bigger, more expensive 5th wheel in order to be comfortable with us, Big Dog, Little Dog, and the Cat...never done any RV'ing before, either. I keep crunching the numbers and saying : "This makes NO economic sense !!!" The curse of being an Engineer...


Stoplight...

 

[nasa1974]

You People crack me up with the "boat" comments ! My issue is an RV...like Scout, I'd have to buy a new tow rig, and we'd want a bigger, more expensive 5th wheel in order to be comfortable with us, Big Dog, Little Dog, and the Cat...never done any RV'ing before, either. I keep crunching the numbers and saying : "This makes NO economic sense !!!" The curse of being an Engineer...


Stoplight...

We would like to do the RV thing as well and I understand the 5th wheel concept. But we like the class A version so you can get up and walk around. That's what cruise control is for, right??? Of course once you are parked another mode of transportation is required.

Good luck.

 

[nnuut]

Boats are like swimming pools, leave them alone and don't take care of them and they will fill up with leaves and turn green along with taking a huge bunch of CASH to get them running again. I just closed my swimming pool today for the winter, my pool cover is hell to put on going to get a lighter one next year.

 

[kave]

We would like to do the RV thing as well and I understand the 5th wheel concept. But we like the class A version so you can get up and walk around. That's what cruise control is for, right??? Of course once you are parked another mode of transportation is required.

Good luck.

The DW and I purchased a Class C a few years ago. The house was paid off so we used a 2nd to purchase the RV. We already had a Jeep Wrangler (paid for) so we purchased a tow bar and brake system. It is perfect for us! The long term plan is to hopefully be debt free when I've "had a bate" (another southern term for at my limit or can't-won't take it anymore!!)

 

[Stoplight]

Boats are like swimming pools, leave them alone and don't take care of them and they will fill up with leaves and turn green along with taking a huge bunch of CASH to get them running again. I just closed my swimming pool today for the winter, my pool cover is hell to put on going to get a lighter one next year.

Nnut,

I hear you ! We don't have any trees near the pool, so the guy who built ours said "Just dial back the time on the pump and Polaris ; check the chemicals every so often ; add water as needed ; but keep it maintained. You won't have to worry about pipes freezing... Believe me...it'll be ready to go next year...doing that is MUCH easier than letting it sit and turn green, and then fighting to bring it under control !"

So we've done that, and swear by that approach ! I've stood in line in the spring, at the pool store, behind people who were getting 3 pages of instructions, and buying all kinds of chemicals, to try and get their pool under control !!!

OTOH...never compared the cost of electricity to run the pump, etc...during the winter, we sometimes have Yankee Visitors who have no problem with the temps...and the great-looking pool makes a good conversation piece, while we stand around it in our warm jackets ! The Dogs also don't seem to mind the water temps...

Stoplight...

 

[Scout333]

Jkenjohnson I'm looking at a Tracker Pro Guide V-175 Combo. V-Hull. Combination fishing and family boat. Previously owned a 16 ' fishing boat with all of the aforementioned expensive issues. Have thrown many $ down the toilet but kept the boat anyway. Inherited the fishing boat from my dad. He bought it when he retired. Plan to take out the grandsons. Any tips for me?

 

[PessOptimist]

Stoplight, I am really enjoying your thread.
These are old clichés but true.
A boat is a hole on the water surrounded by fiberglass, wood or steel in to which you pour money.
A pool is a hole in the ground surrounded by concrete, filled with water in to which you pour money.
An RV is a house trailer in to which you pour money.
We used to rent trailers from rec services and go here and there with the dog. My spouse did not enjoy it. Dog seemed concerned about the “tailgater”. Later we found, depending on the trip itinerary, there are lots of pet friendly hotel/motels and if necessary local kennels. Dog seemed to enjoy hotels and always picked out a piece of furniture as her own before we got the bags opened.

Nnut,

I hear you ! We don't have any trees near the pool, so the guy who built ours said "Just dial back the time on the pump and Polaris ; check the chemicals every so often ; add water as needed ; but keep it maintained. You won't have to worry about pipes freezing... Believe me...it'll be ready to go next year...doing that is MUCH easier than letting it sit and turn green, and then fighting to bring it under control !"

So we've done that, and swear by that approach ! I've stood in line in the spring, at the pool store, behind people who were getting 3 pages of instructions, and buying all kinds of chemicals, to try and get their pool under control !!!

OTOH...never compared the cost of electricity to run the pump, etc...during the winter, we sometimes have Yankee Visitors who have no problem with the temps...and the great-looking pool makes a good conversation piece, while we stand around it in our warm jackets ! The Dogs also don't seem to mind the water temps...

Stoplight...

I use that approach and have crunched some numbers. It is far cheaper to run the pump and maintain the pool than to let it go. We too have northern visitors who like to swim in the winter. I have never watched while wearing a jacket but was definitely sitting in the sun.
PO

 

[jkenjohnson]

Jkenjohnson I'm looking at a Tracker Pro Guide V-175 Combo. V-Hull. Combination fishing and family boat. Previously owned a 16 ' fishing boat with all of the aforementioned expensive issues. Have thrown many $ down the toilet but kept the boat anyway. Inherited the fishing boat from my dad. He bought it when he retired. Plan to take out the grandsons. Any tips for me?

The only tip for that type of boat is - I would definitely want a 4 stroke Yamaha outboard instead of a Mercury. Mercury's are good but Yamaha is best IMO. 4 stroke's get much better fuel economy than the two stroke's.

 

[nnuut]

Stoplight, I am really enjoying your thread.
These are old clichés but true.
A boat is a hole on the water surrounded by fiberglass, wood or steel in to which you pour money.
A pool is a hole in the ground surrounded by concrete, filled with water in to which you pour money.
An RV is a house trailer in to which you pour money.
We used to rent trailers from rec services and go here and there with the dog. My spouse did not enjoy it. Dog seemed concerned about the “tailgater”. Later we found, depending on the trip itinerary, there are lots of pet friendly hotel/motels and if necessary local kennels. Dog seemed to enjoy hotels and always picked out a piece of furniture as her own before we got the bags opened.

I use that approach and have crunched some numbers. It is far cheaper to run the pump and maintain the pool than to let it go. We too have northern visitors who like to swim in the winter. I have never watched while wearing a jacket but was definitely sitting in the sun.
PO

It's much better to cover and shut down my pool than to fight the leaves and remember to run the pump if it freezes. I never cover the pool if the water is above 60 degrees, that way it won't turn green and algae need light and will not grow under 55 degrees so that's no problem. Mine is a salt water pool to boot.

 

[Scout333]

The only tip for that type of boat is - I would definitely want a 4 stroke Yamaha outboard instead of a Mercury. Mercury's are good but Yamaha is best IMO. 4 stroke's get much better fuel economy than the two stroke's.

Thanks!

 

[Stoplight]

OK...I'm not a boat Guy..but I have kin that are in to boats in Upper Minnesota !!!

They say...go with Honda power !!! Expensive, but worth it !!! My Sister-in-Law lusted after their outboard, and she knows her stuff...as a former NPS Park Ranger !!!

Just sayin'...

Stoplight...

 

[jkenjohnson]

OK...I'm not a boat Guy..but I have kin that are in to boats in Upper Minnesota !!!

They say...go with Honda power !!! Expensive, but worth it !!! My Sister-in-Law lusted after their outboard, and she knows her stuff...as a former NPS Park Ranger !!!

Just sayin'...


Stoplight...

Honda is good too, but Yamaha has been making reliable out board engines for a lot longer than Honda.