I had just graduated from college with an engineering degree and married my high school sweetheart who had just graduated from college with a math degree. A month later when I got my first paycheck from my first real engineering job, we had $20 between the two of us. She started her job three months later as a programmer. We were happy and excited about the future. That was 51 years ago.
Mortgages. There are few places in the world where you can get a 30 year, fixed rate mortgage. It's one of the true benefits of being an American most don't even realize.
If you sift through this you will find your 10K time is a bit slower than average which for your age is 53:31, assuming you are male. Your HM times need even more work, assuming you are shooting for average.
My wife and I were married in 1973. We had a cake and punch reception in the basement of the church we were married in. Some were invited out to her father's house for a BBQ prepared by her mom and aunts. My new wife and I hung around for about 3 hours. She opened our wedding gifts and I chatted with guests. We then got in our car and drove a couple of hours to a cottage on Lake Michigan where we spent the next week. I had borrowed it from my great aunt and uncle who offered it as a wedding present. We had a great time for a cost of next to nothing. I just shake my head at young couples now going into debt to finance a honeymoon. I believe if more couples spent as much time and energy on their marriages as they do their weddings and honeymoons, we'd have far fewer divorces.
We had a milk bottle (glass, of course) that sat in the refrigerator with cold water. Still, we drank out of the hose. We were afraid if we went in the house, mom might find something for us to do.
In a similar vein, I’d stashed my ball glove in the milk box that sat on the front porch when we switched from play ball to another activity. Again, I didn’t want to take the chance of getting hijacked. If I forgot to retrieve it later, it would be sitting on top on the milk box the next morning, complements of the milkman.
Most people don't participate in the primaries which is where they have the most say. Eight states have fewer than 10% of voters turning out for primaries. Only 5 states have as many as 40% voting, with the highest (Montana) weighing in at 45.8%. By the time most people get concerned about the presidential election, they have two choices. As Americans, we all have more say, we just don't take advantage of it.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102189/voter-turnout-us-presidential-primaries-state/
You can do it in 4 pretty easy days. It's about 10 hours of driving each day and if you stop 4 times with a half hour each time, it's only 12 hours in the car per day. That gives you a full 8 hours sleep each night and 3 hours for dinner and a dip in the pool. You will lose at least an hour each day for the time change. Oh yeah, I'd take the southern route as I'd avoid Chicago like the plague. You can get lost in the traffic for an entire day in Chicago.
My wife and I have done a similar route several times, although we'd do it in 3 days. But then we are veteran long distance drivers and only stop every 4 hours or so. Whether you take 3, 4 or 5 days, you are going to be sick of driving at the end. I'd rather take 3 or 4 and have a day or two to rest at the other end than take 5 days, feel crappy and not have the extra time.
I know you are asking about scenery, but you need to decide if you want to get to your destination or see some sights along the way. You simply cannot beat the interstate system for making good time. You can easily drive 75 mph on the interstate, but you won't see as much. If you want to see sights on the trip, you need a couple of weeks because there is a lot of beautiful country from one coast to the other.
If you are so inclined, audiobooks are a godsend on long distance driving. There have been times when we've driven further than intended simply because we wanted to hear the end of the book.
I live in a condo in Florida 6 months/year and a house for the other 6 months. For the past 2 years I have served on the Board of our COA (Condo Owners Association). Things I'd suggest are these:
1) Financial. Get a copy of your current budget. In particular, look at the reserve amounts. Condos are required to set aside money every year for long term expenses like painting, parking lot repair and roofing. If these are underfunded when the time comes to replace a new roof, you will get an extra assessment for your share of the difference between your reserve and what the roofers get paid. This can be several thousand dollars. Second, make sure you ask what your COA fees are and when they were last raised. Some COAs get lax on infrastructure repairs in order to limit budget increases. This is foolish as maintenance will catch up with everyone at some point. Finally, take a walk around the property. Determine in your mind if it's well cared for, how does the roof look, is there standing water after a rain, and the condition of the parking lot. Simply looking around may give you and idea of how well the buildings are being funded and cared for.
2) Bylaws. All condos have rules for the residents. Make sure you get, read and understand all the condo rules. Some places, like where I live, are fairly benign. Others have firm rules on just about everything. Look for rules governing pets, smoking, visitor parking, fines and use of public areas and how rules for or against these might affect you.
3) Noise. Condos are apartments. You may have people immediately above, below or next to your unit. Visit one or more units to try to determine how sound proof they might be. Some are echo chambers and some are not too bad. Our condo building is only two stories, but has a requirement for a certain amount of insulation under flooring for upstairs units which makes them fairly quiet. I've been in other condos that have no such requirement. Unless you are partially deaf, I wouldn't recommend those.
4) Location. If you are in Florida, be very wary of any condo right now. With the Surfside condo collapse 3 years ago, Florida has passed extensive legislation for condos 3 stories and higher which may be very, very expensive for residents. In addition, insurance and flood insurance premiums have been known to increase 40%, 50% and even 100%+ on some properties. We feel fortunate ours increased only 18% this year, but that's because we put on a new roof 3 years ago. On the plus side, in the 8 years I've owned my condo, it's increased in value and is worth double what I paid for it.
5) COA. Many people hate their COA (r/hoa), claiming they are run by Nazis or similar rhetoric. COAs are a perfect democracy. The more individuals who get involved in running the operation, the better quality of life you will have. For those who ignore their board meetings, don't follow the issues and don't vote, well, they get what they deserve. If you ultimately decide to purchase a condo, I urge you to at least go to Board meetings, get to know your Board members and be part of solution.
I like my condo and my COA, but I recognized there are a variety of experiences. Just make sure you do enough due diligence to assure yourself you know what you are purchasing, should you continue down this path. All the best to you.
They hate billionaires except when those billionaires are entertainers or athletes.
Linda Costello has a great character who is a sheriff in the Amish area of Ohio. Gruesome crimes and an interesting look into a foreign culture.
Everything by James A Mitchener. In particular I like Centennial, The source and Hawaii. Well researched and memorable characters. I know they are lengthy, but when I get to the end, I wish there was more.
My favorite holiday is, and always has been, Thanksgiving. It’s family, food and football. My little family is now 8 adults and 7 grandkids (ages 5-11) and we will spend 3 days together. It’s a bit like a Hallmark movie, but we all look forward to it. This year the family activity will be a root beer tasting party on Friday. We have a dozen different brands for everyone to taste and rate. I know it sounds corney, but last year we had a ball taste testing 14 different Oriel cookies.
Check out Jeff Galloway’s run/walk method. You are going to be walking anyway, you might as well have a plan for how to do it.
People that say that are probably in their mid 40s. For me, it just kept getting better.
I ran in San Antonio at 104F (40C), but it was a dry heat. lol.
It’s old school, but just run at a pace where you can hold a conversation. If you can do this, you will be fine.
I honestly don’t care about compliments, but if I hold the door open for you, just say thanks. It’s not meant to be a statement on the subjectifying of women, but only a courtesy I’d offer to any person.
As an engineer I had really terrific management who left me alone to solve technical problems, my way. They believed their job was to provide me the tools to do my job as I saw fit. They only got involved to clear out administrative issues hampering my work. I was treated as a professional and was compensated appropriately.
My wife (math major, zoology minor) and I (engineering) split it up by subject. I took English, history and physical sciences and she took math and biological sciences. It was the sweet spot for both of us and worked out well.
It takes me 15-20 minutes from getting out of bed to drinking a cup of coffee to running. If it’s a run of 16 miles or more, add a few minutes for a piece of toast and a second cup of coffee. No real rituals.
Race days are a lot different because they don’t start in front of my front door. I do struggle a bit with late start races like NYC or Boston because they start at a time which is later than when I finish, even for 20 milers. For those races, I’ve learned to run my last 20 miler at the same time my race will start just to practice the mental preparation.
I met my wife at age 16 and we got married at age 22. That was 51 years ago. It's worked out very, very well for both of us.
She might win, but that alone doesn't make her qualified.
My wife and I graduated from college and got married at age 22. Our first child arrived when we were 30. In between we invested 100% of her income and about 15% of mine for the long haul. After our first of three children was born, my wife became a SAHM for 17 years before returning to the work force. When she re-entered the work force, her income was used for college educations. After a few more years of working as empty nesters, we retired at age 59.
During those working years we enjoyed our lives, but in a low cost way. While friends were taking European vacations and trips to all-inclusive resorts, we went to National Parks with our kids, often camping out. When our friends would go to high end restaurants, we would have make your own pizza nights and s'mores with neighbors. We enjoyed our children, friends and neighbors, but in a much more modest way than many of our friends.
Since retiring 14 years ago, our income is similar to when we were working, but we have no debt; no mortgage, no car payments, no home equity loan and no need to continue to save. We travel 12-16 weeks out of the year and spend 4 - 5 months in SW Florida, where one of our 3 kids lives, to escape the colder Midwest. We purchase airfare for 2 of our kids, their spouses and kids to join us for a week or so in Florida so they can escape the winter as well. Every year meet for a family vacation, paying for most of it. Without a doubt we are living a good life and one we worked and saved for. Many of our friends are still working or barely making ends meet as they weren't as motivated to save as we were. There is no right or wrong in this equation. It's a choice and one we consciously made. I'd only advise that which ever route you choose, you do it deliberately and with forethought.
Naples, Florida. A place where you aren't nearly as wealthy as you think you are and you aren't nearly as old as you think you are.
Where in US is the best place to live for wealthy people?
Rich