My two adult kids spend on some things I find surprising but overall they are great savers and have never carried debt. Some of their friends and cohorts, not so much. I suppose I did a good job of pounding my favorite mantra into them ... "The absence of economic stress is invaluable"
Great post - We are 72/63 and done some domestic trips along with Iceland Portugal Greece Can't say I enjoy the jet lag and sleep disruption. Lovely wife can sleep on any plane. Not happening for me. Probably will go back to more domestic trips for the two of us. As a bit of a compromise my daughter and wife have started ladies trips and will be heading to Italy this year. While I stay home and dog sit. Help me out Kristine Hayes - this dog doesn't do well with disruptions! :)
I retired 6 years ago. Had a mortgage left on my house and kept it. Now down to the end but I'm glad I did as it was @ 2.75% and my $ was better used elsewhere. Best of luck to you.
This might be a topic for another place but I have always wondered about the "we have to be fair to all the children" stuff. I have a cousin who was very wealthy (like fly your own jet wealthy). One of his siblings was a plumber. When my uncle passed I often wondered if he really thought it was necessary to give equal shares of his estate to them. As of now both of my kids are solidly middle class and have comparable incomes. But if the day ever comes when I see a huge disparity in their incomes like my cousins I wouldn't have a problem sitting down with the very wealthy one and explaining myself.
"So much comes down to luck" ... indeed I have always wondered how the "the harder I work the luckier I get" crowd (and there are a few on here) comes from. When I engage one of these folks I frequently remind them that every year a quarter of a million people are literally struck by lightning
Great post Dan. I'm right with you, especially with the watches. My son the engineer has some ungodly large and expensive watches. I of course sport a 25 dollar Timex. Occasionally I will mention his and ask "By the way what time have you got there"? He answers and I reply -- "Funny, I have the same time"!!
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My two adult kids spend on some things I find surprising but overall they are great savers and have never carried debt. Some of their friends and cohorts, not so much. I suppose I did a good job of pounding my favorite mantra into them ... "The absence of economic stress is invaluable"
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
Great post - We are 72/63 and done some domestic trips along with Iceland Portugal Greece Can't say I enjoy the jet lag and sleep disruption. Lovely wife can sleep on any plane. Not happening for me. Probably will go back to more domestic trips for the two of us. As a bit of a compromise my daughter and wife have started ladies trips and will be heading to Italy this year. While I stay home and dog sit. Help me out Kristine Hayes - this dog doesn't do well with disruptions! :)
Post: At what age did travel start feeling like work—and what changed your plan?
Link to comment from January 3, 2026
I retired 6 years ago. Had a mortgage left on my house and kept it. Now down to the end but I'm glad I did as it was @ 2.75% and my $ was better used elsewhere. Best of luck to you.
Post: Mortgage in Retirement
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Please see the above ... Smile, the fresh air is good for your teeth
Post: Social Security – Why I Chose FRA
Link to comment from December 23, 2025
My beautiful bride of 39 years has permission to call me anything she wants but "late for dinner"
Post: Social Security – Why I Chose FRA
Link to comment from December 22, 2025
Was in Portugal recently - can't get over how inexpensive food was - and just about everything else
Post: 27 Months
Link to comment from December 16, 2025
This might be a topic for another place but I have always wondered about the "we have to be fair to all the children" stuff. I have a cousin who was very wealthy (like fly your own jet wealthy). One of his siblings was a plumber. When my uncle passed I often wondered if he really thought it was necessary to give equal shares of his estate to them. As of now both of my kids are solidly middle class and have comparable incomes. But if the day ever comes when I see a huge disparity in their incomes like my cousins I wouldn't have a problem sitting down with the very wealthy one and explaining myself.
Post: $92,000 a year is quite an investment. The ROI is real, but maybe not.
Link to comment from December 11, 2025
I feel you with the claustrophobia ... mine was in the burial chamber at Newgrange
Post: They lied to us.
Link to comment from December 4, 2025
"So much comes down to luck" ... indeed I have always wondered how the "the harder I work the luckier I get" crowd (and there are a few on here) comes from. When I engage one of these folks I frequently remind them that every year a quarter of a million people are literally struck by lightning
Post: Bearing Witness: Retirement From the Wrong Side of the Divide
Link to comment from November 28, 2025
Great post Dan. I'm right with you, especially with the watches. My son the engineer has some ungodly large and expensive watches. I of course sport a 25 dollar Timex. Occasionally I will mention his and ask "By the way what time have you got there"? He answers and I reply -- "Funny, I have the same time"!!
Post: The Point of Diminishing Returns
Link to comment from November 3, 2025