I wonder if it is not scary for you? I mean the retirement.

I play with same thoughts and from the numbers it is doable. But it is soooooooo scary for me. What would people say. What if I suddenly need a lot more money. How could I ever justify it with my friends? I mean I live a broke student live style. And it is fine for me. I can continue to live like that and be happy, but the social pressure in my environment to work more, earn more, spend more is enormous. I am basically scared of being judged if I don't work.

I really don't think there is much of a social stigma issue. First of all, I'm almost normal retirement age and most of my friends are either already retired or planning it. In general, in the US, I think the sentiment is almost opposite. I think people here admire people that are able to do their own thing as long as they have found a way to support themselves, regardless of the lifestyle. The stigma here is drawing public assistance (welfare) that isn't social security and/or medicare.

My issue is all about the money. I'm pretty sure I have enough to do this, but not enough to not worry about it.

Hopefully it's just variance with the weight loss ... although, it seems like so many conditions are very treatable when caught early - so maybe getting a diagnosis and being able to get treatment could wind up being a net positive experience?

GL with your tests biggerboat - that's a nice shiny new truck you have there!

Thanks!

Yeah, you are right, I should probably have them. I'm sort of due for another colonoscopy soon anyway.

You can set my truck on fire and roll it down a hill
And I still wouldn't trade it for a Coupe de Ville
I've got an eight-foot bed that never has to be made
You know if it weren't for trucks we wouldn't have tailgates
I met all my wives in traffic jams
There's just something women like about a pickup man

-Joe Diffie

Just got back from court. Since Dad named me executor of his estate, I had to show up in person. There wasn't much to it. I just answered some questions under oath and signed a couple pieces of paper. Took about 15 minutes.

There is still a lot more I have to do, though. Right now I have to inventory Dad's estate. I have no idea how to do that but the lawyer said he would help me (for a fee, of course).



I visited Mom as well. I haven't seen her since she broke her arm. She looks like she has aged since that time. I see it in her face. She is also having memory issues. She is very aware of this and it bothers her.

She talked to me about taking over all of her financial stuff. She offered to pay me a monthly amount if I quit my job and just took over everything. I'm seriously considering this. She has left all her money to my sister and I anyway so it all comes out in the wash.

If I start drawing 401k stuff it wouldn't really take much to maintain my current lifestyle. Health insurance is a biggie, though. Geez, it is expensive.

I think the main thing preventing me from doing this is guilt and fear. The guilt is I feel like I'm sponging off Mom. I talked to my sister about this and she doesn't feel that way at all. In fact, she is strongly encouraging me to do this. The fear is not having the security knowing I have a paycheck (job) coming regularly.

However, I really need to start getting involved with Mom's finances. She is slowly losing the ability to manage them and honestly, at her age, someone should take this off her plate. Plus, she isn't going to be around forever and I will have to deal with it eventually.

Making a change like this is really difficult for me.

So, while I was at Mom's, she encouraged me to take some of Dad's ashes. We (Mom, my sister and I) agreed to split them up and do whatever each of us thought Dad might like.

Dad LOVED Florida and regretted not moving here his entire life. I thought I would find a nice beach with palm trees and spread them there.

The ashes were in a plastic bag that was in a box. I was surprised at how much there was. It was a pretty big bag and was fairly heavy.

I really don't know protocol here. I enlisted the assistance of Mom's caretaker, who had no clue on protocol either. We found some gallon ziploc bags and created a double bag just in case. We searched around for something to scoop them with and decided on a ladle. We opened up the ashes and ladled what we thought was about 1/3. We spilled some on Mom's porch but I don't think Mom or Dad would mind much.

After resealing the original bag, we put the double bagged ziplocs and put them in yet another bag.

Seemed like a decent plan. I left Mom's and headed to the airport where I was immediately stopped and pulled aside at security. I hadn't really thought about this before I got there, but when they pulled me aside it hit me. I explained the situation which generated several adhoc conferences with the security staff. They reran it through the scanner and did several tests on it, then conferred again. Eventually, they let me through.

I officially began applying for part time jobs today.

LOL, AT&T made me take some sort of goofy personality test. Here is my result:

Oh, wow. Chase has an online interview process. You have to set up your web cam to talk. They asked you canned questions and you answer them right then and there. I probably should have dressed better, but I wasn't expecting this.

Confirmed failure

Of all the part time jobs out there that offer insurance, Lowe's is my number 1 choice. I think it would be a really good fit for me.

Fortunately, they are hiring a ton of part time positions. Unfortunately, most are in Tampa. I'm not making that drive any more.

I've applied for a couple of positions in Clearwater which is a drive, but not as bad as what I'm doing now.

The more I think about this, the more ready I am to do it. After doing what I'm doing for over 20 years, I just don't want to do it anymore. And, I'm really ready to work less.

I don't know if my resume will hurt or help for a Lowe's job. I think they'll look at it and go "wat?".

Just link them to your boondoggle logs as a resume.

Lowe's called me back about the job. I was out on the boat and didn't have the phone handy. I called back but the number they gave me was the main number so you get the front desk. I asked for the guy that called me but nobody answered and the call kept going back to the front desk. Seems less than ideal.

As with any major change, I'm getting second thoughts. I'm pretty sure I could make it work, but it would be nice to tie up some financial loose ends first.

Not sure if this would be a positive or a negative

The place I'm getting the colonoscopy called to confirm everything. It will cost me $950 out of pocket. (insert butt joke here).

I might still cancel. I gained another pound and I feel good. I dunno.

Tomorrow is the big day. They'll be going in from the top and the bottom. Today is purge day. Fun fun.

Yesterday I was not supposed to eat red meat. I didn't realize how much I ate until I couldn't have it.

The prep today is two laxative pills this morning. I will be making a laxative cocktail this afternoon that I have to start drinking at 3:00 PM. Then, I have to do it again at 3:00 in the morning tomorrow. UGH! Not gonna be fun. Just not eating anything is bad enough.

On a semi-related matter, gf's Dad went into the hospital for chest pain. They did a stress test and some other tests and found almost nothing. He's a pretty active guy and has never complained of being tired or having pains before so they didn't think there was much to it. They did see one little thing and decided to do more tests. They ran cameras or up his veins or something, not sure exactly the procedure. But, they found that 5 of his arteries were severely blocked. Like 90%. He is having a quintuple bypass tomorrow.

It sort of pushed me to go ahead with my tests. Even if it seems ok, it might not be.

Early predictions are indicating Irma is coming my way.

What part of FL are you living in BiggerBoat? Enjoying your writings about parents who are at the final stages of life in the same boat with my dad who is 92, mom only 59.

Thanks.

Wow, that's an age disparity.

I'm in St. Petersburg. It's on the west side of Florida. We had a couple of hurricane drive-bys last year but not too bad.

I just watched a forecast and now it's looking like it might just keep going West. Too early to tell.

Most of the predictions have Irma going right over me. We will ride it out at gf's dad's condo.

Hermine last year really ****ed up leon county where I'm at in Tally, 80mph winds torrential rain lots of downed power lines and trees. Hope Irma disolves over the gulf, high winds are very scary to ride in.

It looks like this is going to be a bad one.

Today's model seems to be taking it a little more to the east. I'll be fine if this happens. Anything to the west or a direct hit and I'm screwed.

I mentioned it earlier, but gf's dad has a condo near us. It is on the water but the seawall there is higher and the structure is concrete. He lives on the third floor and they have hurricane windows. It's pretty solid. And, we can park on the second floor concrete parking area. I think we'll be ok even with a direct hit.

But, I live on an island and a healthy storm surge will cover it. My condo isn't really constructed to withstand a serious wind either. And, my boat will probably be history with any big wind.

We've already stocked up on water and food so I think we are ready. I'll probably get some concrete blocks and try to raise as much stuff as possible.

We have our fingers crossed but I think we are as prepared as we can get.

Just got back from getting probed from both ends. He removed a couple of polyps but he said all is well.

The next step they suggest is a cat scan but I'm not going to do it. My weight has stabilized and every single test has come back clean. I can always do it later if there seems to be a problem.

Floridians are normally pretty blase about hurricanes. Not this one. Everyone is worried. It's the only thing anyone is talking about.

We have been instructed to remove all patio furniture and anything else that might fly around. Two of my neighbors don't live here so I've arranged to take care of theirs.

GF and I are making plans. We've already made a grocery run and we have gas in our cars. We'll be raising as much of our stuff as possible above the ground. Gf wanted to get sand bags and boards for windows but sand bags aren't really going to do much for us and boards don't seem practical for our situation.

In the middle of all this, Gf's dad just got out of triple bypass surgery with some complications. Not sure what will happen with him. Not good timing.

Go east, you *****.