Retirement

For those that like construction pictures, here is an update of our place from our visit yesterday. This is the view from the lake side. We lost a bit of time due to that cold snap and the related snow, but the weather has gotten warmer again so they are at it again. The post and beam design takes a lot more time to get the structural framing done, which is frustrating to wait for. We are right on open water Georgian Bay so winter winds slow/stop progress too because they can't work on the high scaffolding and ladders in high winds. Oh well. View attachment 139871
Geez ….. new build in Canada with inflation the highest of all time….. you must want it bad….. good for you
 
Geez ….. new build in Canada with inflation the highest of all time….. you must want it bad….. good for you
I waited till I retired to pull the trigger on it. Not going to let inflation get in the way. Life's short and you can't take it with you. We're getting excited now that we can get a better feel for what it will be like when its done.
 
Looks great! Although I'm having a hard time getting my head around the concept of retiring in a cold weather climate.
That will be "home" from April to Christmas eventually once we sell the mother ship (the house, not the boat), and we'll spend winters down south. Probably SW Florida.

Here is the view towards the lake. Ice "volcanos" starting to form, but the main bay is still open (usually is).
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Looks great! Although I'm having a hard time getting my head around the concept of retiring in a cold weather climate.
I couldn't agree more. Now that we're both retired, I'd like more than anything to move south. My wife's family is here though, they're a close family, plus, her parents are in their later 80's.
We get nice summers, but I'm not a cold weather person at all. I was born and raised in the Phoenix area.
 
I couldn't agree more. Now that we're both retired, I'd like more than anything to move south. My wife's family is here though, they're a close family, plus, her parents are in their later 80's.
We get nice summers, but I'm not a cold weather person at all. I was born and raised in the Phoenix area.

Right? Damn kids. I'm not even close to retiring (mid 50s) and only one of my boys (20s) has a steady GF. So preparing for where the eventual grandkids might be feels funny. But also smart. Maryland isn't so bad for year round living... but damn it's expensive. I'd love to set up residency somewhere else to get out of the taxes here. Oh, and the winters. But then, as I type this it's 63 degrees outside, so maybe climate change isn't so bad after all? Longer boating season and more water!
 
Looks great! Although I'm having a hard time getting my head around the concept of retiring in a cold weather climate.
We are 13 years retired in a cold climate and love it. Michigan is great with lots of winter sports and activities. Of course many have Florida spots for relief. Our friends in Naples are hurting with storm damages. Every time we think of buying a small condo we hear about insurance issues and then the actual storm damages. Another thing to consider is health care. We have affordable insurance and top 100 hospitals for care. It makes a difference.
 
That will be "home" from April to Christmas eventually once we sell the mother ship (the house, not the boat), and we'll spend winters down south. Probably SW Florida.

Here is the view towards the lake. Ice "volcanos" starting to form, but the main bay is still open (usually is).
View attachment 139873
Beautiful view in a great area. Enjoy your new home.
 
So I am officially done, Navy/Golfing buddy that I’ve known since 93 recently retired from the port of Los Angeles as a harbor pilot and moved here about 20 minutes away, the Queen is crushing her job and has no intention of retiring any time soon (she will be 55 in Dec, don’t tell her I said anything). So we went golfing yesterday had a blast and he says “What the hell Jon, you want something to do I’ll just keep making tee times and you keep taking the boat out” How could I argue? Queen likes her house husband as well. Tough call but someone’s got to do it. :D

Edit: forgot to mention he is also a retired Navy Senior Chef from 97, I retired in 99.

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Thanks all! I needed to vent today. Thanks for the ear.
So almost a year later, how are you liking it? You can see from my previous post, I threw in the towel yesterday completely, talked with a very nice lady at the SSA she told me to call back in April and get everything setup for my first check in 07/23 yay!
 
So I am officially done, Navy/Golfing buddy that I’ve known since 93 recently retired from the port of Los Angeles as a harbor pilot and moved here about 20 minutes away, the Queen is crushing her job and has no intention of retiring any time soon (she will be 55 in Dec, don’t tell her I said anything). So we went golfing yesterday had a blast and he says “What the hell Jon, you want something to do I’ll just keep making tee times and you keep taking the boat out” How could I argue? Queen likes her house husband as well. Tough call but someone’s got to do it. :D

Edit: forgot to mention he is also a retired Navy Senior Chef from 97, I retired in 99.

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Congratulations on making it over the hump. I can honestly I retired 2 years ago and have worked harder than I did when working. But sooooooo worth it, because it gives you freedom to "worker harder" when and if you want to.
 
Pay attention to these wise words. Kids have a life of their own to live. Let them live it. You had yours, now let them have theirs.

I know I know that, but I'm not sure that message will get through to my wife. I shudder to think what will happen if the kids move away. They're 5 miles from us now.
 
Good friend of mine is looking at other countries to retire in for Cost of Living and getting more bang for his retirement dollar. I never thought about it before, he's pretty convincing though.
 
And I hear you get shot the second you put foot in Chicago, or thrown onto the subway tracks in NYC. That's how 24/7 shock news works. Don't believe all the hype.

Are there bad areas, absolutely. Are there spectacular places and people, absolutely. We'll be deep in the interior, nowhere near any tourist spots. Been many times and so far so good.
 
Ain’t no farking way in hell I going to Mexico. Everyone bitches about they coming here and I gonna go there? They kidnap Yankees for fun. Ha Ha! You got to be joking.
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I have a relative that retired from Air Canada as a pilot. When he did, they bought a place in a gated community near Mexico City because of the free/discounted flights he got for life as a retired pilot. The place was really nice. I asked them if it was safe. They said it was "totally safe" with the gates, armed security, and high concrete/razor wire walls around the subdivision.
I said that didn't sound so safe to me. They said there are "seldom" break ins, and only one or two home invasions in the time they lived there. Not for me thanks.
 
Congrats. you will have enough lead time from April to July to get it set up correctly. Got my first SSA check Feb 1. that was a relief, setup can be a pain as I found, but once the system gets rolling, its automatic. So I am glad that is done.
Get them to enroll you in Medicare at same time.
Another tip. (after I met with my taxman I learned this). SSA does not take out taxes, and at end of year you could pay a penalty if your taxes are over a limit (govt wants their vig). To prevent, We are doing an estimated tax for end of 2023 and sending in check to IRS quarterly this year, so we dont get hit with the penalty. Talk to your taxman about this.
Glad to hear you are liking it, I am as well. Checked all your advice boxes, going with 10% tax rate on SSA, same as my Navy pension, Medicare is auto for me Tricare rolls to it when I turn 65 and I can still use VA in south Charlotte, fantastic facility and I’ve had the same doc since 2005. Now if my golf game would come back from the abyss life would be, well pick any of the honeys from the bikini thread and you get the picture. ;)
 
I have friend ….. a lil cute 31 blonde going to Mexico today for a girlfriends birthday party….. I did everything under the sun to scare her from going…. Little phucker is still going….. I told her this morning I’m there for you if you need ransom. Why the Phuck would you go to Mexico

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Ya, lot of ex-pats in Belize and Costa Rica. I just can’t see me doing it. Not sure I want to hang all day with guys like Captain Ron.
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I had a friend that moved to Costa Rica. He liked it there, said it was good fishing there, even ended up marrying a little hottie about 25 years younger than himself.
 

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