I’m 72 and still have a cast iron stomach. I eat anything and everything, the hotter and spicier the better. I take after my mom who was like that into her 80’s. My wife is the complete opposite. She indulges my adventurous palate and can usually find something edible.
I’ve done a lot of jobs since my official “retirement “ 15 years ago at age 57 due to a layoff. Fortunately I was fully vested in my union pension. Moved from California to Colorado, got my CDL and drove a gas truck for 6 years. Did a lot of very scenic (and sometimes scary) mountain driving. My wife tired of the cold winters, so we reretired, sold the house, bought a motorhome and started traveling. Found a company that paid us to travel doing gas line surveying across country. Did that for about 4 years and settled down near my oldest son to be near grandkids. To keep from being bored, I drove a school bus for 2 years. Now I only drive for overnight and longer field trips because they pay me for every hour I’m away from home. So it’s been a very gradual transition to fully retired.
I learned how NOT to invest from my parents. I have absolutely no formal education, never took any kind of financial classes, but I’m a do it yourselfer when it comes to most things, including investing. I purposely keep it simple and boring. I was a Teamster, blue collar guy, but we managed to raise 3 kids, 2 with Master’s degrees with little college debt and accumulate a 7 figure portfolio thru years of modest saving and investing, index funds only thru Vanguard. If I can do it, anyone can.
We get cable, exterminator, lawn maintenance salesman frequently. That comes with having a neighborhood in the process of being built out. Having a camera is definitely the way to go. Unless it’s someone I know or they’re delivering something, I just don’t answer. If I’m outside when they approach, I cut them off pretty quickly. They have no business going door to door if they don’t have a thick skin.
We are 5 days in to having our 2 grandchildren, ages 2 and 4, for 2 weeks! Too much of a good thing! Just kidding. At age 72 and 67, it’s exhausting but I wouldn’t trade this time with them for anything!
I’ve used Gemini to research an auto immune condition I’ve been experiencing. It actually suggested a relationship to other auto immune problems I’ve had in the past. Lots to talk about with my rheumatologist. You can definitely go down a rabbit hole with these AI tools!
My parents had almost all of their retirement savings invested in a small second mortgage company. I tried to get them to diversify, but they were addicted to the interest rate returns. Long story short, one disgruntled investor sued the company, they declared bankruptcy, and it took years to sort out. Both my parents died before they were made whole, on the principal only.
Your bias is showing. The media wasn’t quieter. You also conveniently failed to mention Covid and its impact. Covid and it’s repercussions, unlike today’s wounds, were not, for the most part, self inflicted.
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I’m 72 and still have a cast iron stomach. I eat anything and everything, the hotter and spicier the better. I take after my mom who was like that into her 80’s. My wife is the complete opposite. She indulges my adventurous palate and can usually find something edible.
Post: Subconscious Frugality
Link to comment from August 2, 2026
I’ve done a lot of jobs since my official “retirement “ 15 years ago at age 57 due to a layoff. Fortunately I was fully vested in my union pension. Moved from California to Colorado, got my CDL and drove a gas truck for 6 years. Did a lot of very scenic (and sometimes scary) mountain driving. My wife tired of the cold winters, so we reretired, sold the house, bought a motorhome and started traveling. Found a company that paid us to travel doing gas line surveying across country. Did that for about 4 years and settled down near my oldest son to be near grandkids. To keep from being bored, I drove a school bus for 2 years. Now I only drive for overnight and longer field trips because they pay me for every hour I’m away from home. So it’s been a very gradual transition to fully retired.
Post: How Did You Find Paid Work After Retiring from Your Primary Career?
Link to comment from August 2, 2026
I learned how NOT to invest from my parents. I have absolutely no formal education, never took any kind of financial classes, but I’m a do it yourselfer when it comes to most things, including investing. I purposely keep it simple and boring. I was a Teamster, blue collar guy, but we managed to raise 3 kids, 2 with Master’s degrees with little college debt and accumulate a 7 figure portfolio thru years of modest saving and investing, index funds only thru Vanguard. If I can do it, anyone can.
Post: How financially illiterate are Americans?
Link to comment from June 21, 2026
We get cable, exterminator, lawn maintenance salesman frequently. That comes with having a neighborhood in the process of being built out. Having a camera is definitely the way to go. Unless it’s someone I know or they’re delivering something, I just don’t answer. If I’m outside when they approach, I cut them off pretty quickly. They have no business going door to door if they don’t have a thick skin.
Post: He Said I Wasn’t Very Nice
Link to comment from June 19, 2026
Thank goodness for a few hours of daycare during the week!
Post: A Sunday Thought About Money
Link to comment from June 17, 2026
We are 5 days in to having our 2 grandchildren, ages 2 and 4, for 2 weeks! Too much of a good thing! Just kidding. At age 72 and 67, it’s exhausting but I wouldn’t trade this time with them for anything!
Post: A Sunday Thought About Money
Link to comment from June 16, 2026
I’ve used Gemini to research an auto immune condition I’ve been experiencing. It actually suggested a relationship to other auto immune problems I’ve had in the past. Lots to talk about with my rheumatologist. You can definitely go down a rabbit hole with these AI tools!
Post: ChatGPT’s Portfolio Advice
Link to comment from June 7, 2026
My parents had almost all of their retirement savings invested in a small second mortgage company. I tried to get them to diversify, but they were addicted to the interest rate returns. Long story short, one disgruntled investor sued the company, they declared bankruptcy, and it took years to sort out. Both my parents died before they were made whole, on the principal only.
Post: Private Credit Stress?
Link to comment from March 25, 2026
Your bias is showing. The media wasn’t quieter. You also conveniently failed to mention Covid and its impact. Covid and it’s repercussions, unlike today’s wounds, were not, for the most part, self inflicted.
Post: My Window is Open – Come In
Link to comment from March 23, 2026
Schrodinger’s investment 😏
Post: Buffett’s 90/10 is Wrong. Even Though it’s Right.
Link to comment from March 9, 2026