Ed, thanks for a great article and for your work as a physical therapist. I'm a fan of PT as an alternative to other treatments (surgery) when possible. When I was younger (30's & 40's), it was for sports injuries like rotator cuff. As, I've gotten older (now 70) PT for knee replacement and to help with loss of strength due to RA joint damage. My attitude is to impact those things I can and not to worry about those I can't. PT helps with those things I have some ability to affect.
Great overview, Jonathan. I will reach 70-1/2 in 2025 so I plan to use QCD. In recent years, since the standard deductible was increased, we have been doubling up our donations to make it worth itemizing every other year. For example in 2023, we made our usual donations for 2023 in Jan. and those for 2024 in Dec. 2023. We then itemized in 2023. In 2024 we will take the standard deduction. The QCD will, I think and hope, simply our giving while retaining a tax advantage.
My wife and I have been on the Wellcare plan in 2023 & 2024. In 2024 premium was $0. Out of pocket has been minimal. My wife is on 1 med and I am on 4. Two of mine also have no cost when I fill them at our local Costco under the Wellcare plan. Very happy with it.
Jonathan, your "attitude of gratitude" is an example for all of us. I hope your reflection on all you have done and the lives you have touched bring you much joy.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with OAT. We have friends who have used Rick Steve Tours a few times with very good results. I've used his guides and audios since the 90's and like his style & philosophy of travel.
Kathy, I encourage you to travel as long as you can even if you have to make adjustments to the way you've traveled in the past. I can relate to much of what you wrote. I also retired early at 54 in 2008 largely to travel more, only to be diagnosed with RA in early 2010. A rough couple of years but I went into remission in 2014. I got the travel bug while on a job assignment in London, England 1997-2000. During those years my family (wife & 2 teenagers) and I saw a good bit of Europe and had one visit to North Africa. Now 70, we've traveled to all 50 states and over 40 countries, until recent years mostly as independent travelers. We cruise occasionally, once every couple of years, but nearly always book private excursions at the ports. We've done 3 transatlantic repositioning cruises and have another scheduled next year. For cruising, we've shifted from mega ships (thousands of passengers) to smaller (100's). In 2021 we did a small ship (50 passengers) of the Dalmatian Coast. It was one of the rare tour groups we've done. It was with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). It was excellent. They also do land tours. You may especially be interested in OAT as most of their tours do not charge a singles supplement. I hope this gives some food for thought and that you have many more happy travels!
Jeff. thanks for an interesting read. I've bought new cars a few times but my normal strategy is to buy 2-4 years old, low mileage from the original owner, though there have been several exceptions to this strategy. Much like you, I drive until the maintenance and repair costs become frequent and significant. Sometimes it is hard to determine when that point is reached. I used to do the normal maintenance but over the years I have migrated to using an independent, trustworthy mechanic.
Comments:
Ed, thanks for a great article and for your work as a physical therapist. I'm a fan of PT as an alternative to other treatments (surgery) when possible. When I was younger (30's & 40's), it was for sports injuries like rotator cuff. As, I've gotten older (now 70) PT for knee replacement and to help with loss of strength due to RA joint damage. My attitude is to impact those things I can and not to worry about those I can't. PT helps with those things I have some ability to affect.
Post: A Lifetime of Loss
Link to comment from December 28, 2024
That's a favorite C.S. Lewis book of mine. Entertaining and thought provoking.
Post: A Lifetime of Loss
Link to comment from December 28, 2024
Great overview, Jonathan. I will reach 70-1/2 in 2025 so I plan to use QCD. In recent years, since the standard deductible was increased, we have been doubling up our donations to make it worth itemizing every other year. For example in 2023, we made our usual donations for 2023 in Jan. and those for 2024 in Dec. 2023. We then itemized in 2023. In 2024 we will take the standard deduction. The QCD will, I think and hope, simply our giving while retaining a tax advantage.
Post: A Taxing Retirement
Link to comment from November 16, 2024
My wife and I have been on the Wellcare plan in 2023 & 2024. In 2024 premium was $0. Out of pocket has been minimal. My wife is on 1 med and I am on 4. Two of mine also have no cost when I fill them at our local Costco under the Wellcare plan. Very happy with it.
Post: Wellcare for Part D by Andrew Forsythe
Link to comment from October 19, 2024
Rick, glad to hear you recovered from the spill. I hope you enjoy the Dalmatian tour as much as we did and I look forward to hearing about it.
Post: Exercising Caution
Link to comment from September 7, 2024
Jonathan, your "attitude of gratitude" is an example for all of us. I hope your reflection on all you have done and the lives you have touched bring you much joy.
Post: No Regrets
Link to comment from September 7, 2024
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with OAT. We have friends who have used Rick Steve Tours a few times with very good results. I've used his guides and audios since the 90's and like his style & philosophy of travel.
Post: Go-Go or Slow-Go?
Link to comment from August 18, 2024
Kathy, I encourage you to travel as long as you can even if you have to make adjustments to the way you've traveled in the past. I can relate to much of what you wrote. I also retired early at 54 in 2008 largely to travel more, only to be diagnosed with RA in early 2010. A rough couple of years but I went into remission in 2014. I got the travel bug while on a job assignment in London, England 1997-2000. During those years my family (wife & 2 teenagers) and I saw a good bit of Europe and had one visit to North Africa. Now 70, we've traveled to all 50 states and over 40 countries, until recent years mostly as independent travelers. We cruise occasionally, once every couple of years, but nearly always book private excursions at the ports. We've done 3 transatlantic repositioning cruises and have another scheduled next year. For cruising, we've shifted from mega ships (thousands of passengers) to smaller (100's). In 2021 we did a small ship (50 passengers) of the Dalmatian Coast. It was one of the rare tour groups we've done. It was with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). It was excellent. They also do land tours. You may especially be interested in OAT as most of their tours do not charge a singles supplement. I hope this gives some food for thought and that you have many more happy travels!
Post: Go-Go or Slow-Go?
Link to comment from August 17, 2024
Great article on things we need to consider as we age.
Post: Taking the Keys
Link to comment from August 10, 2024
Jeff. thanks for an interesting read. I've bought new cars a few times but my normal strategy is to buy 2-4 years old, low mileage from the original owner, though there have been several exceptions to this strategy. Much like you, I drive until the maintenance and repair costs become frequent and significant. Sometimes it is hard to determine when that point is reached. I used to do the normal maintenance but over the years I have migrated to using an independent, trustworthy mechanic.
Post: Racking Up the Miles
Link to comment from June 29, 2024