Retirement can be a bit scary

Retirement is a bit scary.  For 33 years I have worked for the same company.  I followed all the advice to save for retirement I donated generously to my 401k and saved along the way in a normal retirement account.  Now here is the scary part, how much do I need to retire?  Does anyone really have the answer to that one?

I of course consulted with my financial advisor before deciding to quit my good paying job, that has keep me very busy and engaged working.  He ran my savings and told me if I could live off x amount monthly I was free to retire.  I am lucky the only debt I have are normal living expenses and a vacation home I will sell after I retire.  Selling now would create to much tax burden so that can wait.

Well you would think this all sounds great but daily I have those twinges of how will we live without a bi monthly paycheck.  Things live medical insurance will no longer de subsided by my pay check and I will need to cover that expense.  Health reform will mean next year you can't be turned down for per existing conditions, of which we both have, but costs are really uncertain.  Hopefully we can find a policy that works great for us.  We plan to live between Isla Mujeres and our Oregon home.

RetireBut I do question my self all the time.  Bruce my love of 34 or so years has HepC and has cirrohsis that is already effecting his energy level and ability work and to do things so if were going to have a few quailty years we better do it now and not wait to turn 65.

So I just decided to set a plan for next spring and go for it.

86 days till toes in the sand

Making a list. It is time to do some shopping for the casa.  I like doing this kind of shopping, I dont have to try anything on and depress myself.  Now i need to find someone who wants to haul down an extra suitcase for me.  It was so much easier when you go 2 free bags per person each trip.

I am starting to feel better so some of these medications are doing their job.  I found a natural option for the blood glucose problem and Iam going to give it a try instead of the prescription.  It is derived from cinnamon and I am much more comfortable with that than a chemical.

My brother made his room and flight reservations so his family will be attending Kylei's wedding.  It will be great to see them.

Here is my photo today

94 days till toes in the sand

Today was a better day-   Kylei, Dylan and the girls have found a house she really likes to rent. Still a few lose ends with the earnest money on the house we had to back out of but I am sure that will work out.  By tomorrow I should have a payment in our account for the other problem so maybe I can calm down all this worrying and start focusing on my next Isla trip.

I am starting to feel better, hormones must be kicking in, now if I could magically lose 30 to 40 pounds the world would be right

I can almost taste the food and Mojitos.  Boy am I looking forward to lounging in the sun, well except the part of  stuffing myself in a bathing suit, but we all know that tanned fat looks much better that white fat.   I am making a effort to get some exercise.  Walking the mall at lunch and again in the evening.   Why does walking on a treadmill seem so much more taxing then outside or at the Mall?

Starting today I am going to post a photo a day of Isla to get my self in the mood.... enjoy

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

We are all headed to Sunriver for Thanksgiving.  Bruce and I went over this weekend to shop and it snowed last night and most of the morning.  About 6 inches of snow it was very pretty.  I hope some of it stays around for next week so Bella and Addison get to play on the sled.

I have had an awful cold, I actually worked from home for a day and a half, I am pretty sure last time I missed work was when my appendics burst 4 or 5 years ago.  I hate not feeling like doing anything, but I am on the mend now,  only a plugged head and ears but definately much better.

I am excited to have all my kids and grandkids together for the weekend.

Then I really need to get serious about losing some weight, the doctor weighed me last week and it was out of control.

We have decited to invest in a transformer at the Isla house.  We figure it will pay for its self in the long run and will make bills  much more bearable when we retire there.

Invites Dresses and Ida

This weekend a depending on when you looked Hurricane Ida or Tropical Storm Ida made her way past Isla. We spent time tracking the storm on the internet.


Kylei and I got started on things we need to get done for the wedding.  Kylei has picked out and we have ordered her invitations. We placed the order and are awaiting the proof.

I also found a nice mexican clothes shop that had wedding dresses.  Kylei  Bella and I went Sunday and she tried on 3 and we found one we really liked.  We can order made to her measurements but it takes 3 months, not a problem we have plenty of time.

I got to get busy this week and start working on flights.

Isla we have plans for you

Kylei has decided that she wants to get married on Isla next summer - July 24th to be exact, so we have some major plans to make.

Kylei has been picking out invitations and we have been in contact with Sabina to preform the ceremony. 

She wants to have Hortensia make her bridesmaids dresses in true isla style, and we have contacted Gladys to have her make the mens shirts and pants.

We have lots of things to get done but i think this will be a very special day for her so we best get busy.

Vacation 9-4-09

Still on vacation. Bruce has been enjoying his new motorcycle, he finds many reasons each day to run get something or the other. I am glad he is enjoying it but same time I worry about safety with the way cabs drive around here.  Spending lots of time at north beach and in the pool.  Too hot to do much but veg and relax

We had a couple trips to Cancun to shop for patio furniture, ended up getting patio chairs at Costco, i was not impressed with the tables so we will get that next time.  We found a great cab driver to haul is allover to shop. I also was able to get a couple small tables for the downstairs.  Now I have a place to put all that suntan lotion and bug spray.  I got his number so you can be sure we will call him everytime for now on
Had a great massage from Mary Ann, her husband finally is out of the hospital.  He was there for quite some time with H1N1 it was touch and go several times.

We had a nice dinner at French Bistro and headed home. We eat dinner late on Isla because it doesnt cool off until after dark. Bruce had a nice big T-Bone maybe a full tummy will help him sleep, I had kebobs. Both were very good.

We took a leisurely drive around the island home. When we almost made it home there were 3 motorcycles and a cop car chasing down a bull that got away from the rodeo last week. They have been chasing 4 of them all week trying to catch them. Dang thing almost run into our golf cart he was more scared then we were.

We got up early had BLT's from Elements very good. Bruce took a short hammock nap and we played tourists in the afternoon doing some shopping. Stopped by Soggy Peso for pineapple juice and a pina coloda for me.

Some friends Tim & Joanne came out to spend the night it was nice to have company but I realized I need to send a new blender down with Jeremy next week.

We go home early Sunday so we make it an early evening, but I had to shop for Jamica to take home. Just cant get that in Medford  .

I offered to leave the golf cart with Maryann so she can get her husband around until he can around.

vacation week 8-29-09

Isla still has all the charm and friendly people.  It is so great to come back home to my friends, Donna Jane, Mary Ann, Dani, Paco, Julie & Dean, Mark Carmita & Jim and all the friends we have in town. We have been relaxing and taking it easy all week. 

Were eating very well. Great Ribs at Soggy Peso, love the Rolandi pasta special, Vivans  salads and cuban sandwiches and potatoes to die for, fish tacos at Bally Hoo, breakfasts at the luncherias, cochinita, great BLT from Elements.

Drinks well Bruce is on NA beer but me I made a list of my favorites.  Bloody Mary's at Soggy Peso, Mojitos at the Vive Cuban Resturant, Pina Colada at Villa Bella, Margarita's from Bally Hoo.
 
Picked up the golf cart and Moto.  Bruce is like a big kid with his new toy, need anything he will jump at any chance to run get it for me.  I am loving having our own cart.  We did have a little problem with one wheel, drove to town and got it fixed for 200 pesos.

It is really hot here, but I am not complaining at all. We are on a 2 hour time difference so we have been rising really early with the sun and staying up reading each night. We spend most of our days cooling off in the pool.

We have the best caretakers. Donna is fabulous, Paco our gardner is the nicest guy, Luis our pool boy is just the cutet kid.

We came home from dinner and town to find the washer had overflowed and we had 6" of water in the laundry room. Luckily it is a stepdown and we spend about an hour bailing out water. I wonder what it is about water and my houses some karma for sure. When we finished Bruce took his shot and tossed and turned all night. Neither of us slept much. because it has been very hot so I had turned on the A/C to try to make him comfortable but no such luck.

We bought a double hammock from a vendor who came to the door. We had Paco come over and install Hammock hooks. After breakfast Bruce fell asleep in his new hammock for a couple hours  how cool is that.

Spent some time at north beach and actually scored on pool lounge chairs at Queen Bar -- now we dont have to lug them back on the ferry --hooray

I have been using magic jack for US phone calls and works great and free calls so I can talk to the kids any time I want. This is the coolest thing ever.

Isla here we come

Bruce and I have to get up early and fly tomorrow to Isla. We are both looking forward to the trip but I am worried he will be sick while flying. We got up early 4 am to head out. Long flights and Bruce was uncomfortable the whole way. Two little boys behind us kicking seats, 3 more across the isle so no rest on the flight from Salt Lake to Cancun. We get settled have dinner a quick swim and head to bed.

His aches seem to get a little more tolerant as time goes by.

We have 2 weeks to relax and enjoy.

This one of the few vacations where we have no plans to work like manics but to relax.  Well we do want to do some shopping for new patio chairs and furniture. 

The water is still the same color- sometimes I cant quite remember all those colors, but they are still there.  This trip is just Bruce and I been a long time since we have been on vacation alone.

We got the drugs

 Another scorcher out there today 109 in Medford.

Think we are all ready for vacation yahoo

Lots going on golf cart moto

We are headed to Isla in 24 days and yes I am counting. Today I found a Golf cart and motor scooter to buy from a friend on Isla who has a house there but is selling it. We will check them out when we are there and if all is fine they will cash the check I sent them. It will be nice not to have to rent a cart. They get pretty expensive when you add it up, so in the long run this should be a savings. Bruce is excited about the moto it is a Honda wave with only about 500 miles on it.

Bruce has been helping Travis for the last couple weeks rip out his old pool and deck and install a new pool and rebuild the deck. Major progress the pool is now up. I didnt get to see it because I had a work dinner meeting but tomorrow I am going to go look.

Cant wait to get to our island home.
casaviveconfe.com

OH NO

My son says I need to start a blog --OMG -- now what