Stoplight's Account Talk

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PessOptimist said:
Stoplight, I am really enjoying your thread.

...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
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PO,

You and I are on the same wavelength...which probably should scare you !!! :D I also enjoy all the posters here who throw in their 2 ¢ worth !

I've checked out the Rec Services RVs, but have never pulled the trigger on one...one time, we stayed with relatives who have a small house, but a Large 5th wheel parked outside...they put us up in the RV...nice, but seemed "small"...and it was a 38 footer !!!

Then, my retired Brother is like me... bought a nice 5th wheel RV to go visit his Son in Oregon, from here in FL...spent 10 weeks on the road, including a 2 day stop here with us....he probably spent > $100 grand on both the tow vehicle and the trailer (used). His rig was nice, but...like you, the Spouse was not impressed...nor was I...

RE: motels...I did the same thing ! Looked at the cost of a nice dog travel-friendly vehicle, and the cost of staying at pet-friendly motels...no contest !!! :)

Good info re: the pool...glad to hear you DID crunch those numbers !!! I SUSPECTED I came out ahead, keeping things in check over the pool down time...

Nasa...I hear you about the motor homes...the Wife and I have gone to several RV Shows, and I just have a problem, spending > $250K for one of those rigs ! :nuts:


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

Like I said...I'm NOT a boat guy ! All I know is, their outboard Honda whipped us through the lakes, and purred like a kitten !!! :)


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

So we just got back tonight from that wedding and Universal Studios trip, and the answer to your question is : "YES !!!" We had a blast !!! :D

Great weather, and three days at Universal, acting like Kids, and dancing in the street with Jake and Elwood, at the "Blues Brothers" show... coupled with an awesome wedding of my Nephew and his now-"blended" Family, and all the Nieces and Nephews, and their Kids...throw in some constant laughter with my Brothers, and some "quality time" with my 89-year-old Mom...it was a magical week !!! WELL worth it !!! :D


Stoplight...
 
Stoplight said:
Frixxxx, my Friend...

So we just got back tonight from that wedding and Universal Studios trip, and the answer to your question is : "YES !!!" We had a blast !!! :D

Great weather, and three days at Universal, acting like Kids, and dancing in the street with Jake and Elwood, at the "Blues Brothers" show... coupled with an awesome wedding of my Nephew and his now-"blended" Family, and all the Nieces and Nephews, and their Kids...throw in some constant laughter with my Brothers, and some "quality time" with my 89-year-old Mom...it was a magical week !!! WELL worth it !!! :D


Stoplight...
Click to expand...

Well Done my friend, well done. I'm so glad you got to create a memory of fun, family, and most of all love! Kinda makes all those hard work days "worth it!"
 
Frixxxx said:
Well Done my friend, well done. I'm so glad you got to create a memory of fun, family, and most of all love! Kinda makes all those hard work days "worth it!"
Click to expand...

BTW...the Dogs survived the kennel stay at the Vet's Office, too...Staff there said "They did GREAT !!!" Shared a large run for not much more than we'd pay a house-sitter...and they got their nails clipped, and a "free bath" !!! :)


Stoplight...
 
Sooo....I sold a couple of my "trading" stocks today...both were in the black, although I didn't make a killing....

Quicken tells me an important fact, though : Between my YTD TSP earnings, stock/fund dividends, and realized gains/losses from actual trades, I've covered my 4% retirement fund withdrawal for the year. That doesn't include the 24 or so dividends that will be posted by the end of the year, either.

That was my goal, so I'm happy !!!

Yes...on paper, I AM holding some stinkers : NUGT and TNH come to mind.... OTOH, stuff like my DPS, DD, TQNT, and STX have done real well since I bought 'em !

It's a marathon, not a sprint...isn't it !

Good investing to all !!!


Stoplight...
 
It's always nice to be in the black vs. in the red. Nice move with you stocks. I have Best Buy stock and that took a nice jump yesterday, almost 7%.
 
Spent some free cash, and picked up a small lot of T (AT&T) yesterday in the Wife's buy-and-hold IRA account...T paid us ~ 6% this year in dividends...

...and it was on sale !!!



Stoplight...
 
Thanks, All, for the kind words of congrats !!! Heck....someone even gave me some rep points ! :D

I HAVE fallen off the "Top 30" posters list, so I guess I'm slowing down....

Kona...I'll have a Yuengling, if they have 'em out there ! Otherwise, pick out a nice local lager for me...Thanks !!!


Stoplight...
 
All,

The Wife got a letter from Social Security...COLA is 1.7% for 2015. Her Teacher pension COLA is 1.4% ! Too bad my FED FERS pension and annuity are fixed for 2 more years ! :nuts:

Doesn't matter that we had to kick up her SS tax withholding from 7% to 15% to make up the difference for a full year's of taxable SS at 85% for 2015 !

That's okay...not sure where we'd spend that extra money per month anyway !!! Probably just blow it with Kona at the Tiki Bar...

Stoplight...
 
Hello, All !

Just a story (and opinion !) : My self-directed IRA is with USAA...last year, I guess they contracted out their "provider" of brokerage services. It's been a bit of a PITA (2 statements and tax documents, some funky looking screen displays, etc etc while they made the conversion).

Today, I had a bit of panic...trying to sell a position near COB, on a stock I had set a stop on...perhaps "operator error", but I was trying to change my "stop" order to a "market" order, and it wouldn't let me, UNTIL I cancelled the stop order, and resubmitted !!! (even though I was picking the menu item to "change" my stop order !) Anyway, it went through...

OTOH...I think trades execute much faster than they used to...I submitted the trade, like, 2 minutes before close...the "old" system would've given me a warning that they would try, but I was too close to close, and it may not go through. Today, it just executed (at a price higher than the closing price, BTW).

Bottom line : Overall, I like the "new and improved" trading provided by USAA...I still recommend them ! ...and I STILL recommend rolling your TSP into a self-directed IRA at retirement, IAW your personal situation :)


Stoplight...
 
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