Closing the books

My books are closed for the year.
I paid every bill that we started in 2019
Some I pay forward
Here was today's work:
- groceries purchased
- cars are on full
- insurances
- electric bill
- cable bill
- Physical Therapy sessions
- Doctor bills (from injury)
and finally, the credit card bill is completely paid off.

We had two major purchases in 2019:
 new roof
 land for our new house

We did several trips this year:
Two to Phoenix
Israel
Idaho
New York
Hawaii

We had two major medical incidents and one pet incident.

Nothing changed in income.
We did rolled the last of my husband's Traditional IRA into his Roth.
That will increase our income tax.
We chose to keep that money out from the actual funds.
Probably better not to, but it seemed the best decision at the time.

I added the roof and land back into our current balance
-they added to our net worth-
 to see how our money grew.

Overall we made about 9% between saving and interest.
We will begin 2020 about 1% less then 2019.

Clear as mud?

Outside of our regular savings
We also keep separate savings accounts In there we have:
 enough for half of a new car (three more years on this one),
Taxes, gifts and  insurance  until June (we begin to save for Jun- Dec tomorrow),
a month of emergency money,
 enough to fill the propane tank in March.

We do not keep track of each other's allowance,
but I know we each have enough for a toy or two if something comes up.

It only got a bit tight when we thought we may have had to help with
other family medical bills
but that passed
and we are back on our road of retirement.


And with that 2019 is a financial wrap.

End of the year money round up

There is always this lull
after Christmas presents are purchased and wrapped
That I work on the books.

This year I am making a list of what I do in the next six weeks
for tax season
and next year.

Although I will have to wait to do taxes until March
because I will be waiting for documents
Everything will be ready for them to be sent.

Here is my list:

Close the books on my envelopes

Did I allocate correctly? What is left over.? What is the budget for next year?

Consider starting a new envelope for moving?

dogs and propane

auto repair and purchase

gifts and taxes (they are the same thing, right?)

education

travel

take out/ special groceries

House repairs

  Personal Allowance (only to figure out the budget)

Pay off, every single thing that has posted, 

between Dec 31- Jan 1.

All of my spending that I did in 2019

needs to be paid for in 2019. 

I do not carry any negative balances into the new year.

No carry of credit card debt on 2020 money.

Print off the final statements, 

from every account, when they post in January

I am a hawk.

This one thing has saved me so many hours when preparing our taxes.

This will be first year for:

Calculate my husband's RMD for the year 

and prepare where it will be applied.

He will turn 70 1/2 in December 2020.

Almost all of his Traditional IRA accounts have been rolled in the last ten years.

What ever is left is divided by 27.4 

(how long the IRS plans before he dies)

and place that into an account.

What account will be a discussion. 

Calculate how much of my Traditional IRA should be rolled into a Roth, and do it.

I still have a larger T IRA

Right now the taxes are very much in favor 

of me rolling as much as possible next year. 

Until this year the emphasis has been on his IRAs

There are three years before my Social Security comes into play.

Roll, baby, roll.

Check rates on CDs 

Several CDs will mature soon.

Where will they go?

I just rolled some IRA money into a 3% CD

Oh, how I long for the days of 7%.

Do you have anything on your list that I am missing?

Memories

My mother (89) and I had a chuckle yesterday
"It must have been crazy to try to
balance all Christmas things out for 22 people!"
"Seriously, I don't remember".

My mother does not remember much of our childhood.
No clear remembrance of any firsts except my oldest brother.

We all played tennis and swam, but there is no memory of meets, or games
or even sitting at the softball stadium all day, ever other day, in the heat of the summer
while each of us played in our own leagues.
Confirmations, even baptisms - five children in ten years.
It is all a blur.

She does not remember details after her father died when she was in high school
when the household went into poverty for a bit.
She does remember that she shared the wedding dress
with her two older sisters
but I had to explain why.

But there are things she does remember:
Her year as a clerk at the local hospital
Her year at college
Her time as the Vice President of the Junior League.
Her taking the trolly to school in downtown Phoenix.

The mind is an amazing thing, isn't it?
My mom can argue politics until she is purple
she keeps up with technology
she gets upset when her books don't balance.

Still, the memories that I treasure most in my mind
Are gone.
Mom has been older for a long time,
she hit elderly about three years ago...
and with that, only clearly happy memories come through.

It makes me ponder,
what will I remember?

Who Knew?

About two weeks ago
A bout of anxiety and depression started.
Was it the news?
Or the move?
Or being tired?
Or surgery?
Jet lag?

The spiral has been significant.
Even with the trip to Hawaii,
I cannot seem to shake it.
My crazy driving (60,000 miles to see grands in two years)
has come to a sudden halt.

Tonight I expressed to a dear friend that I am just sad,
Really sad.
She and I shared prayer.

The back story is that I take very few medicines.
Vitamins
That is it.

Since I shattered my elbow I have been taking
2000 mg of Ibuprofen a day for the pain.
It does great.
My arm is comfortable.

I was prompted to look up Ibuprofen.
This is what I found on WebMD:
"Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: easy bruising/bleeding, hearing changes (such as ringing in the ears), mental/mood changes, unexplained stiff neck, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine), visionchanges, symptoms of heart failure (such as swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness, unusual/sudden weight gain)."

I did mention to my doctor that my ears are now ringing ALL of the time.
I am also bruising a lot! I have a stiff neck, and 
the mood...oh the mood.

Who knew?
I am taking myself off of it,
Praying that is the answer.
At least I feel guided to this possibility.

Many hands make light work

The food pantry at my Church is in full swing.
We are small.
We normally giving enough groceries for a week
to 15 to 20 families.
Families come on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Our families usually are referred to us by the city
since we have no real "clearing" team.
I am on a mission to begin to get our elderly to come for help as well.

Most of the food is by donation in the bins at the Church hall.
You would be surprised how much food comes in two cans at a time.
Favorites are canned chicken, hearty soups, spaghetti and PB&J
A local deli gives us loads of bread
and a grocery gives us their "almost ready to throw out" produce
AND all of their 'old cakes"!

This time of year we are on double time.
I am sure you have seen lots of "State Food bank" ads for donations.
Unfortunately for us, the food bank charges us to buy the donated food.
Bummer.
Soooo---we set out begging.
Actually, people don't seem to mind
because they know we distribute well.

Last year we packed Thanksgiving for 82 families.
The families of one or two get turkey breast. The rest get a full bird.

We have a neighboring fully Spanish speaking parish
Usually we provide for about 20 families.
This year the number has jumped to about 40.
They prefer pork or chicken to turkey
and we are happy to fill their bags.
They get corn meal of tortillas as well.

This year the parish has been very generous.
We are still short about 20 turkeys, but we still have a week.
We have enough cakes, stuffing, milk, beans and corn for everyone
The Amish donate bags of potatoes and onions.

We also supply much of the base for the homeless shelter foods.

Many hands make light work,

What happens in your community during Thanksgiving.

PS- we turn around and do the same thing for Christmas!
Busy bees we are. Busy bees!

Celebrating with my sister in law

Two nights on the Pacific. Five to go. It is snowing at home. I love my life.

Boomers age and housing

The last few weeks there has been one man who has shown up at the food pantry.
Pretty well dressed.
A ten year old car, that is immaculate.
First he came once a month,
then once a week and now every three days.

Our food pantry primarily cares for the working poor.
We have about 150 families in a month
who come to help get over the line from not enough to eating daily.
About a fifth are "poor life choices" people.
many take their lunch break to get the food.

And then there are the few elderly who are slowly showing up.
Mr W is 88. Mrs S is 69. Mr T is 72.
All live in a house/townhouse.
In our area the safe housing begins at $120,000.
They all have mortgages.
Mortgage is paid first, and then utilities, then food.
All have a cat or a dog.
All are single- widowed.
None have "family"around.
All are apologetic for even showing up, embarrassed.

The conversation among workers has been pretty negative about these older people.
"Looks like" they have money.
They should give up their animal.
Why don't they get public housing
(which you have to qualify for and has a five year wait).
They are taking from others who need it.

I am taking this article into the pantry tomorrow.
It is about housing and the elderly.
We are about to be hit with a whole new wave of elder poverty.
The surprising part is those people WERE middle class.
The scary part is that WE are a part of the age group.

Relationships

I shattered my elbow a few weeks ago.

Yes, that is it now. 

Ice, sleep, exercise, Morton.

The take away?

Relationships.

My husband and I don't hold hands, or any of that.

We have different hobbies and interests

I travel, a lot, he loves the doggies and home,

Satisfying Retirement Bob gave some tips on keeping a relationship going.
Good ideas

My tips are loyalty and laughter.

I am fiercely independent,

 but my best friend rubs Blue Emu on my back 

and finds funny movies on the tv.

We talk politics, 

world news and 

family.

He giggled when I came out in a crazy outfit-

and then clothes pinned me in.

I can say the same about long time friends.
My daughter and I grouch and laugh daily.
My son calls with tips to help.

 My sister and sisters in law are amazing.
Just checking in
I am so excited to start living closer to all of them.

And my dearest friends
Who knew you could text message philosophical questions
in between laughs and tears of every day journeys?

Jesus lays down my path
and relationships are my trees to lean against along the way.
In that I am peaceful.

And this is what  I think about
on pain medication
on a lovely fall day.

I'd take a picture,
but I have a tough time with being a lefty :)

Birthday week

I turned 62 on the 30th.
It was a wonderful weekend with grands,
fudge brownie birthday cake
and my first real decision to wait for Social Security.

The grands left
and I to hustle to the food pantry.
We have been slammed lately, and I so cool goodies.

Then the hazard of three began to happen.

I got pulled over for going 62 in a 40 zone.
When the trooper got to my car I could not find my insurance.

That was number one.

Seven am the next morning,
 we were taking the puppy to get spade.
She got off the lead.
Running to traffic she turned when I screamed her name.
She ran back,
I leaded down to scoop her up
and.....as she went under my legs, I fell.

Number two.

We got home from 14 hours at  the hospital
and got an email
with the CCRs for our almost purchased land.
there were some pretty weird things in them.
If they were not fixed...
our week trip to find land would have been a waste.

Number three.

On the "good" side
The trooper took pity on me. I was the only one who stopped in  a line of seven cars.
Instead of a huge fine and taking my license.
He wrote me a pseudo ticket for 44 in a 40
which I have already paid.

The fall? I have a dislocated fracture of my elbow.
Very nasty mess.
Rebuild will be  on Tuesday.
Can you imagine if I had hit my head?
I am relearning how to write and type with my left hand.

The land?
Since we were the first people to buy to live in the development
(many spec home lots)
they took out what was crazy
and explained the rest- in writing.
We are happy again.

Here is hoping that the second week of my sixty second year goes better,
If not,
I will be applying for Social Security next weekend!

If you pray,
I could use all prayers for my surgeon on Tuesday!

Downsizing begins

First thing to go through are our books.

After for teaching for 30 years and moving for 35 years, 

we have accumulated a huge collection of books.

Most have been read and reread. 

I cannot decide wether or not to keep them.

We both have Kindles.

Will that be our option for the next twenty years?

Weeding will begin in a week.

I am learning- packing 3.0

Last week my bag was full of a down coat, clothes for a week, a rain coat and my hiking boots.

This week I am beginning my pack for Hawaii.
Here are the short cuts that have helped.

 How did I travel almost a million miles without these?
These are worth every penny!

 Old Navy sells off their flip flops at the end of the season. I bought six pair! If they return with me, great. If they don't, I have more and someone else will have some fun flip flops.
Same with my IKEA bags. Tiny to pack, carries everything!

Glad to finally find something that can help me sleep! I will never go with a neck pillow again.  Then lumbar pillow packs super flat and served me well in a yucky seat. I doubled it as a pillow in a questionable hotel.

Did you hear about the person who lost their phone in a river---for a year? 

Here was her case. I used it at the Jordan River. It makes the cut for Hawaii!

These two are becoming a staple. I only take a few sheets of each in snack baggies. Both have saved me after a long day on the road/flight.

Have you found anything new?

Yellowstone

Fall in Yellowstone.

We took a quick trip into Yellow stone. 

There were about 40 in this herd.

They decided to cross the road.

The first walk.

This is US.

Paint pots. 

Old Faithful in the dark.

Short but sweet. 

Yellowstone is about an hour from where we plan on building.

Neil

I wrote this four years ago. 

We still miss him

I will never forget.

Pentagon 9/11

Sitting on a train in China

In 1991 my husband was sitting on a train in China.
His work took him there often.
He and his traveling companion were sitting in a car with two mid grade Chinese officers.
Before you think that is unusual, 
everyone in China is in the Army
until they are dismissed (usually around 60).
If you figure on one tenth of the population could travel in those years, and one tenth of the middle aged men were officers in the military. That makes about 60 million officers (Our entire military is 1.3mil)
Ok, you get the idea.

The conversation was fascinating enough for him to come home to me and relate it back. Let's start at the beginning.
China's symbol for itself is a box with a line through it
China is the center of the world.
China was still relatively poor at that point. They had limited their population and taken the best and brightest to their cities to educate them. Still, it was not unusual to see the majority of the population out in the fields harvesting rice or potatoes. 

There was a plan a foot to get to that center once again. 
They figured that they could not beat us militarily, but could economically. 

And so the discussion
How to beat the US economically.

They knew they could manipulate their own currency.
They also knew that they could make the US/Western companies, who wanted cheap labor and  pollute their land (instead of their own), give them everything they wanted to make a buck.
 They knew that they could depend on the grace of the US to educate many of their top people.They also had watched the droning of Japan with PacMan and Tetrus and knew they could do that other places. Placate the masses. 

Hummmm. And right there they began discussing China 2025. Did these two Americans think it would be possible to manipulate the US into believing China just wanted to grow and not take over?
Did they think this was possible?
Of course, our men told them, no way. 2025? That was SOOO far away. 

My husband left that all behind when he retired the first time.
But his traveling companion continued in the field
and worked in and around China for the next 20 years. 

Fast forward to 2016 election time. Our friend was sitting on our couch, stating that the US was no longer a leader in the world, but a follower. His think tank was full of proof. 
The Chinese had exploited their way through Africa and Western Asia- enslaving in many ways- by paying off oligarchs of every country. Human rights were being ignored by the "free world" because it was the cost of doing business. 
He was still in a bit of shock that the US had become so dependent on China to build some of the most sophisticated technology, but that was capitalism. Even more so  the Western world had signed a treaty that would give China ten more years to pollute even more so they could get their policy done. They had even purchased many corporate farms in the bread basket of our country.
He was explaining how that conversation-so many years ago- was now China policy. And China 2025 was a reality.
He was sad that our country would be much like England.- a power of the past. But we would be fine. China really doesn't want to be in charge of the low people. Just go with the flow.
Our friend had been "gloated to" and 2025 was a "go" since Hillary was a shoe in.
And then the election happened.

What does it look like?

This morning I was wandering in my backyard.

Butterflies are plentiful right now

and the hibiscus are all blooming.

My sweep of the asparagus gave me a stem or two to enjoy.

Peppers are still producing. 

 The mint is enjoying the last rains

Even the caterpillars are trying to get in on the last of the carrot and dill tops.

The spinach and broccoli need to get into the ground

Soon!

And yet

I keep thinking,

What will it look like in 2040?

My daughter was discussing parking at the high school in six years. 

I blurted out that the e car would probably drop him off and then pick him up after to take him to his apprenticeship with the computer place he will be working at. She laughed. I remind her that she wears a computer on her arm and Alexa keeps her organized.

What will it look like when my grandchildren all "leave the nest"?

Two of the six grands plan on living in space full time.

One wants to be a ballerina (3 year olds...)

The oldest grand would like to be a geneticist.

Heck, I did not know what that was when I was 11!

2040? 
We are planning on robots/AI to be an intricate part of our household.  Who cares about privacy?

We will be on our way to our 90s and life will be pretty sweet.

 We will chat, Jetson style, with our "kids" daily. 

They will know our house will keep us safe- monitoring our bp, weight, and food consumption. Between our e car and no grocery shopping, we will have even more time to garden and woodwork. 

Our grands will visit us and wonder, even louder, why we bother. 

But the butterflies will be flying

and the mint will be blooming

and the asparagus will be just right for the grill. 

Closing summer. Getting ready for Fall.

My bucket list for summer is done. 
Travel and health issues dealt with. 
Today I go back to the Y and begin to swimming again
(I suspend during the summer when there are WAY too many people in the pool.)

The grandparenting section of the house will slow for fall
so things cleaned up and covered to keep spiders in their place

Art centers are ready for Nana alone time.

Our new roof should keep us safe from the fall rains

including the hurricanes.

The paving of the driveway is almost done

and the fall woodworking projects are on their way.

A few trips to the beach are in order- 

now that the summer crowds are gone.

Rehobooth is my favorite beach and 

boardwalk. The small restaurants will close

and parking will be free.  

 Lewes ferry to Cape May is always a good fall trip. 

We go to look at property in Idaho soon.

We built this house in Flagstaff in 1991- so you get the idea

that we were never ones for a plain house.

We have two houses to tour.

This crazy house is in the middle of no where  

and they are expecting to make a killing 

but we just want to see it. 

The top part is the house.

It is too large.

This one is in the middle of the woods

ten miles from Yellowstone.

I never want to live in a place that could be burned out again,

and this one is too small.

But we love the idea

 We will talk to a contractor and look at building that is just right.

After that it is time for leaf raking
 and apple sauce making
October is such a pleasant month in Delaware. 
Work at the food pantry and the Y will keep me busy otherwise.

Novemeber will find me in Hawaii.
My sister in law turns...well, older (but younger then me). 
We love to visit  this place- but it will, probably, be my last visit 
for a long, long time.

Fall, my favorite season, will solidify to winter. 

It is supposed to be a cold one. 

Labor Day

Labor Day

A time to remember all those who work to keep our society going.
There are no real parades for the working person
Except in certain parts of Europe.
There should be.
A parade of the farmworkers and factory workers of our society.
I would go to that one.

We had a long group discussion on
what is a living wage in the US.
Both men were brought up in rural poverty-
one a farmer's son (before farms were corporate0
and the other a plumber's son (before most plumbers were in a union).

Both women were brought up in middle class with perks-
One the daughter of a business owner
the other a daughter of an older Army officer.

Surprisingly the men were against the rise of wages
They felt there was ample opportunity
to rise from minimum wage to higher wages
if so desired.
 "People only appreciate what they have worked for".

The women felt that it was wrong to have people in poverty
but they conceded that they had never lived that way
and in turn had no idea why some people worked their way out
and others did not.

One of the men said, "Darwin"
Eventually those who choose to work their way out
either by labor or education,
would bring something to the table.
Those who did not, would die off
to be replaced by immigrants who desired to work
their way up as well.

The women pointed out that they may die off,
but they often left behind a trail of children.
"Not anymore"
 according to NPR the live birth rate of poverty has dropped with the access of abortion. Along with the crime rate.
Soooo Margaret Sanger was correct, pointed out the men.

No solutions, good discussion.
We return to our duties tomorrow.
Me- gardening food and grands while working the food pantry at Church,
The other woman will continue her classes while guiding children,
One man will pave the driveway and enjoy his retirement pension,
and the other will go back to the office and make the money for
his family to live in the middle class.

The US. So many issues.
I love being among people who can just talk about the issues!

Labor Day.

Where Have I Been.

July was brutal and August is shaping up to be the same.

Brutal and good at the same time.

Now that I look at my phone camera,
I see I was really busy.
But I am exhausted....

the weather has been typical for Delaware.
Warm to Hot and HUMID.
The mornings and evenings are usually beautiful.
We usually get to the beach (10 min away) several times a week in the summer.
I got there once.
My garden is usually at full tilt and my canner fired up.
Instead the garden had blight because of neglect.

Only 20 things have been canned.
At least one of the grands got to
enjoy the few blueberries that did not
get eaten by the cardinals.

Most of the time was spent with Grands as one
daddy worked with training soldiers







and the other fought cancer.
Really, it was a good summer, considering. 

My bags are packed...well, getting closer to being packed.

Today was spent in Cherries
Canned both raw sweet cherries and cherry syrup.
Totally missed tart cherries this year.
Nectarines are next

Schedule for July:

DC fireworks- done

Cherries- done

Nectarines

Holocaust museum with oldest grand- 8 July

Phoenix for Mom's birthday- 11 July

West Point for grand's birthday- 17 July

Peaches canning

Dentist- July 24

Kid watch at our house

 during dad's radiation treatment- 25-30 July

Mom begins the last of her 80's this year
She wanted a sample of my work
since she never canned
ever
And I am going to carry on my bags.
Even if you are very nice
and have a global entry
they won't let you take 
your mother some home canned things.

So....I improvised

Cherry, blueberry and strawberry syrups 

with my makeup and toothpaste.

Love the stand up baggies!

I'll spend one day in Phoenix looking at 

Air b n b for next summer

when all 12 of us come for Mom's 

big 90 party!

My bag is packed for Phoenix. 

Changing out for West Point won't take much
Minus swim suit. Plus raincoat.
Wash and go.

 I am hauling this box for the party
One little girl is going to be doll housed soon!



I need to get at least 20 jars of peaches this year.... it will be a squeeze in time.

And I need to make some beach plans 
for the grands staying with us
as to not drive my husband insane.

August will be here before I know it!

Celebrating the country

After a week of three:
new tires,
new dishwasher,
new roof

My husband was surprised when I boarded the bus to DC

 for the birthday party!

We drove through loads of corn, soy and wheat fields. 

Sweltering, but beautiful.

Across the Chesapeake

into the Frey.

Celebrating means remembering to me.

First stop, the movie on the Rim Pac 

Carrier - on the IMax.

Then a quick visits to my favorite 

air vehicles

A quick jaunt across the humid mall

I visited a number of my old friends

Then down the mall to see a parade with a million of my nearest and dearest

It was fun to count the number of languages

I heard spoken

32 (that I could distinguish).

I always remember Mary Todd Lincoln on this day.

Such a difficult life

Her family was southern

and her husband lead the north

What did she think about being an "American"?

The Smithsonian has a wonderful new area in the Natural History Museum

It is all about the process

Here is something from our newest state-

how those amazing capes are made.

They are also highlighting ether's work. Not the stiff Smithsonian of the past.

The rains came and went.

Actually the heavy rain went, the light rain hung out

With my trusty IKEA poncho

I ventured out to find a place for the fly over.

This is half the crowd. 

By nightfall, there was not one space on the grass 

from the Capitol to the Lincoln (5.5 miles).

Every walk of life and political POV on display

The flyover did not disappoint.

The Fireworks were great at the beginning,

but the humidity held them down 

And then it was back to the bus for the journey home.

Sometimes I forget where I live

I long to travel,

but there is so much to see here.

I love this country

and, after visiting over 25 others,

I would not choose another.

Happy Birthday USA!