One more try — and then I’m done. Social mobility is affected by things like war. You were born in 1943 so were part of a small age cohort, don’t you think that influenced your job opportunities because of fewer people competing for jobs? And you were employed at a time and place favorable to white males? What I’m saying that it is easier for an individual to swim with the tide than against it. I think I should have stuck with my original post. Your responses are so predictable, we could bet on them!
You seem to believe that individual behavior is the determinant of success. It definitely plays an important role, but it’s not the sole determinant. The larger complex socioeconomic, geopolitical picture also has to be considered. I’m not going to waste my time explaining the patterns of 20th century social mobility to you and why you should consider them, but I’m sure your favorite AI will get you started.
Last month, I paid more in property tax on the house we bought in 1977 than our entire household income for that year. My husband and I worked hard and we never were extravagant, but we were — and I expect you too— were the beneficiaries of the enormous social mobility experienced by our generation.
When I read this article last week, my first reaction was to wonder how long it would take RQ to post another recital of how he skimped his way to his present luxury life. Maybe this is an opportunity to start a
lottery!
My husband are I are supposedly in our slow go years, but you’d never know that from the amount of traveling we do. We’ve done a lot of foreign travel—most of Europe, China, Taiwan, Australia, Costa Rica, Canada —so there is no bucket list of places we’d like to visit. But we do travel for interesting experiences— in the past year, the wild horses on the Outer Banks, the Beluga Whale Experience in Chicago, and the Gilded Age mansions in Newport. During that time, we also did several trips — driving and plane—from our home in Wi to our lake house in NY and a rented apartment we keep near our granddaughter in NC. i should add we have a small terrier. He hates to travel, but does accompany us on most trips.
I don’t see it as a “live on your own” vs CCRC dichotomy. There are other variables. My husband and I are both 83 and in good health for our age. Our kids are scattered around the country— the closest is a daughter two hours away. We have lived in our house for almost 50 years, so even with the married couple exclusion our capital gains tax would be through the roof— ideally, I’d like the kids to get the money rather than IRS! Also, there is the issue of where would we go— all the kids had serious job offers this year that would have required relocation. At the moment we’re doing nothing. We do have LTC insurance and our pensions solid. We are committed to assuring that we aren’t a burden to our kids. They have full information on our finances, know we are willing to move wherever and accept whatever paid care they think appropriate, (they are health care professionals so well equipped to do what is necessary to obtain it.) maybe we’re whistling past the graveyard, but at the moment we are in a wait mode. At some point that will change, but at this point I think any choice we make right now might not be optimal for us or our kids.
My example is accurate. Many private sector workers receive signing and end of year bonuses as well as stock options. Not public employees! My discussion of how the Wi trust fund pays pension increases was taken from their web site.
The Employee Trust Fund is very conservatively managed, and “gives away” nothing, A portion of investment results are smoothed over five years to avoid volatility in pension payments, and the fund has no unfunded liabilities taxpayers need to make up. The projection released in September indicated that with a 9.7% return, pension increases in 2026 would be between 1.2 and 1.6% — this takes into account the 2022 loss. A 5% return would result in no pension payment change. Annuities can also be reduced but not below the starting pension amount. I have experienced no reductions in the 11 years I’ve been retired, and have had increases in ten. If public employees were reaping the benefit bonanza you suggest, I would expect that huge numbers of workers would prefer public to private employment. That isn’t the case. A close relative recently left public employment for the private sector. He received a 6 figure signing bonus, stock options and an increase of $50,000 in base salary!
I don’t understand how you believe it’s unfair that taxpayers help fund the pensions of public employees. Would you have public employees fund their entire retirements?? Most private employees don’t. Aren’t the customers of the utility you worked for funding your pension?— and if youn didn’t have a pension, wouldn’t the customers be paying for 401k etc matches?? Wisconsin’s pension fund is well- managed and fully funded. There’s no COLA, but I do think I will get an increase in my pension in the coming months. That’s because the investments of the Employee Trust Fund earned better than 13% at year’s end.
Comments
One more try — and then I’m done. Social mobility is affected by things like war. You were born in 1943 so were part of a small age cohort, don’t you think that influenced your job opportunities because of fewer people competing for jobs? And you were employed at a time and place favorable to white males? What I’m saying that it is easier for an individual to swim with the tide than against it. I think I should have stuck with my original post. Your responses are so predictable, we could bet on them!
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 6, 2026
You seem to believe that individual behavior is the determinant of success. It definitely plays an important role, but it’s not the sole determinant. The larger complex socioeconomic, geopolitical picture also has to be considered. I’m not going to waste my time explaining the patterns of 20th century social mobility to you and why you should consider them, but I’m sure your favorite AI will get you started.
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
Last month, I paid more in property tax on the house we bought in 1977 than our entire household income for that year. My husband and I worked hard and we never were extravagant, but we were — and I expect you too— were the beneficiaries of the enormous social mobility experienced by our generation.
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
If she’s living in NYC and living on her NYT salary, she may be renting.
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
When I read this article last week, my first reaction was to wonder how long it would take RQ to post another recital of how he skimped his way to his present luxury life. Maybe this is an opportunity to start a lottery!
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
My husband are I are supposedly in our slow go years, but you’d never know that from the amount of traveling we do. We’ve done a lot of foreign travel—most of Europe, China, Taiwan, Australia, Costa Rica, Canada —so there is no bucket list of places we’d like to visit. But we do travel for interesting experiences— in the past year, the wild horses on the Outer Banks, the Beluga Whale Experience in Chicago, and the Gilded Age mansions in Newport. During that time, we also did several trips — driving and plane—from our home in Wi to our lake house in NY and a rented apartment we keep near our granddaughter in NC. i should add we have a small terrier. He hates to travel, but does accompany us on most trips.
Post: At what age did travel start feeling like work—and what changed your plan?
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
I don’t see it as a “live on your own” vs CCRC dichotomy. There are other variables. My husband and I are both 83 and in good health for our age. Our kids are scattered around the country— the closest is a daughter two hours away. We have lived in our house for almost 50 years, so even with the married couple exclusion our capital gains tax would be through the roof— ideally, I’d like the kids to get the money rather than IRS! Also, there is the issue of where would we go— all the kids had serious job offers this year that would have required relocation. At the moment we’re doing nothing. We do have LTC insurance and our pensions solid. We are committed to assuring that we aren’t a burden to our kids. They have full information on our finances, know we are willing to move wherever and accept whatever paid care they think appropriate, (they are health care professionals so well equipped to do what is necessary to obtain it.) maybe we’re whistling past the graveyard, but at the moment we are in a wait mode. At some point that will change, but at this point I think any choice we make right now might not be optimal for us or our kids.
Post: Distance from family: inconvenience…or a financial planning blind spot?
Link to comment from January 3, 2026
My example is accurate. Many private sector workers receive signing and end of year bonuses as well as stock options. Not public employees! My discussion of how the Wi trust fund pays pension increases was taken from their web site.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from January 1, 2026
The Employee Trust Fund is very conservatively managed, and “gives away” nothing, A portion of investment results are smoothed over five years to avoid volatility in pension payments, and the fund has no unfunded liabilities taxpayers need to make up. The projection released in September indicated that with a 9.7% return, pension increases in 2026 would be between 1.2 and 1.6% — this takes into account the 2022 loss. A 5% return would result in no pension payment change. Annuities can also be reduced but not below the starting pension amount. I have experienced no reductions in the 11 years I’ve been retired, and have had increases in ten. If public employees were reaping the benefit bonanza you suggest, I would expect that huge numbers of workers would prefer public to private employment. That isn’t the case. A close relative recently left public employment for the private sector. He received a 6 figure signing bonus, stock options and an increase of $50,000 in base salary!
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from January 1, 2026
I don’t understand how you believe it’s unfair that taxpayers help fund the pensions of public employees. Would you have public employees fund their entire retirements?? Most private employees don’t. Aren’t the customers of the utility you worked for funding your pension?— and if youn didn’t have a pension, wouldn’t the customers be paying for 401k etc matches?? Wisconsin’s pension fund is well- managed and fully funded. There’s no COLA, but I do think I will get an increase in my pension in the coming months. That’s because the investments of the Employee Trust Fund earned better than 13% at year’s end.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from December 31, 2025