Search found 26 matches

by Alice Ranch
Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are 55+ Communities a Baby Boomer Thing Only? If so, who will buy when Boomers want to sell?
Replies: 237
Views: 30271

Re: Are 55+ Communities a Baby Boomer Thing Only? If so, who will buy when Boomers want to sell?

Good question. We just bought a small unit in an established 55+ community in Northern California east bay area. We are 5 yrs behind the leading edge of boomers so if we check out sooner, there should still be demand behind us.

The appeal is the safety of a gated community and many amenities. Yes the monthly HOA would be considered steep (mid 700s) but we are still upright and use two golf courses, three swimming centers, a 10 court tennis complex, pickleball, fitness center, events, classes. There are no property taxes because it's a co-op. We can graduate to an assisted living facility within the community.

Ten years ago we said we'd never live in a place like this.
by Alice Ranch
Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5802
Views: 574298

Re: What are you listening to now

Radio Classics on SiriusXM. Old time radio plays (no F bombs whatsoever), dated comedies, suspense, crime dramas, and many ancient but hugely entertaining pairs of Holmes and Dr Watson. Welcome respite from daily noise and irritainment
by Alice Ranch
Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Tesla truck]
Replies: 170
Views: 15927

Re: [Tesla truck]

Looks fitting for the aggressive driving we see on our roads in bay area :shock:
by Alice Ranch
Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Dog Car?
Replies: 70
Views: 6306

Re: Best Dog Car?

My best dog car when I had labs was my Dodge Caravan minivan. One took the back bench, the other the middle bench. Vehicle low enough for easy entry, although as they got older we helped them get in. They loved that vehicle and so did i :happy
by Alice Ranch
Thu Jan 17, 2019 12:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: John Bogle has died at age 89
Replies: 856
Views: 81237

Re: John Bogle has died at age 89

The only true fiduciary of our lifetime. Thank you Mr Bogle for your wisdom gift to regular people. God bless and Godspeed.
by Alice Ranch
Wed Jun 13, 2018 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Life in retirement - what did you do today?
Replies: 194
Views: 23729

Re: Life in retirement - what did you do today?

Had breakfast and coffee on our front deck as the sun rose. Drove to the barn, readied my (leased) horse and rode the John Muir land trust trails for a couple hours with a friend, retired from teaching. Me - from computer programming. Talked about books - water wars Cadillac Desert, demise of Ottoman empire A Peace to End all Peace. Art - she is a fine artist; music - piano and me. Don't put off any of these pursuits and you will surprise yourself. Tennis and traditional Hawaiian dance tmro, golf the two days after. Not wrapped up in "news." Think often of my parents now passed, how tough life was for them yet they gave us everything and more. Think a lot about faith after almost a lifetime of strident secularism. Do what you can,...
by Alice Ranch
Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does credit score matter if you never plan to borrow money again?
Replies: 44
Views: 5687

Re: Does credit score matter if you never plan to borrow money again?

Recently bought a car cash. Dealer still ran a credit report.
by Alice Ranch
Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Those with high savings rate: why?
Replies: 317
Views: 69830

Re: Those with high savings rate: why?

Was able to sustain 20% pretax savings rate for my last 10 working years after too many years of personal uncontrolled spending and little savings (no kids). Add to that, following BH guidelines. Result - financial independence. This is a big deal for me! Single senior woman, now retired.
by Alice Ranch
Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Class B RV. Travato vs Roadtrek vs Suggestions?
Replies: 12
Views: 5412

Re: Class B RV. Travato vs Roadtrek vs Suggestions?

We love our Travato. Purchased 2017.5 G this past July. It's 6'9" wide, 9'1" tall, 21 feet long. It fits in a regular parking spot but will stick out a bit like a work van. It's way easier to drive than pulling our 19" foot Forest River travel trailer which we love and still keep. The Travato gets anywhere from 14 - 20 mpg depending on conditions. Chassis is Ram and coach is Winnebago. Sleeps 4 but can't imagine 4 adults. It's just DH, me and 2 small dogs, its compact size is not for everyone. For more info on this rig and its folks there is a Facebook group, hope it's OK to name it, search for Travato Owners and Wannabees. It's a helpful group as Travato is fully loaded, solar, batteries, AC, propane, cooktop, heating and a...
by Alice Ranch
Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Class B RV. Travato vs Roadtrek vs Suggestions?
Replies: 12
Views: 5412

Re: Class B RV. Travato vs Roadtrek vs Suggestions?

We love our Travato. Purchased 2017.5 G this past July. It's 6'9" wide, 9'1" tall, 21 feet long. It fits in a regular parking spot but will stick out a bit like a work van. It's way easier to drive than pulling our 19" foot Forest River travel trailer which we love and still keep. The Travato gets anywhere from 14 - 20 mpg depending on conditions. Chassis is Ram and coach is Winnebago. Sleeps 4 but can't imagine 4 adults. It's just DH, me and 2 small dogs, its compact size is not for everyone. For more info on this rig and its folks there is a Facebook group, hope it's OK to name it, search for Travato Owners and Wannabees. It's a helpful group as Travato is fully loaded, solar, batteries, AC, propane, cooktop, heating and ai...
by Alice Ranch
Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to slow down.
Replies: 33
Views: 6951

Re: When to slow down.

You are an amazing person. Good luck and God bless.
by Alice Ranch
Thu Jan 19, 2017 12:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Still Struggling to Understand How Bonds Work
Replies: 10
Views: 1749

Re: Still Struggling to Understand How Bonds Work

Thank you everyone for the examples and reading references. I think I've got it now.
by Alice Ranch
Wed Jan 18, 2017 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Still Struggling to Understand How Bonds Work
Replies: 10
Views: 1749

Still Struggling to Understand How Bonds Work

Recently I heard this headline on the car radio:

"Treasuries rally, yields drop."

I just don't understand why if yields drop that this would be considered a rally. Could someone explain?
:confused
by Alice Ranch
Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
Replies: 945
Views: 150251

Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car

We have approx 526k miles racked up on 4 cars, the newest car is 10 yrs old and the oldest is 20. The problem with holding on to vehicles for this long is getting so attached to them, they're like family!
1997 infinity
2000 bmw 323ci
2005 mb
2006 xterra
by Alice Ranch
Wed Sep 14, 2016 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712442

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Poor Economics, a radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty. Banerjee and Duflo, 2011

Have felt disillusioned and angry about our decades of global aid. This work redefines the problems. Has local implications as well. Cheers
by Alice Ranch
Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Self-made Millionaires: how did hitting 7 figures change you?
Replies: 304
Views: 62890

Re: Self-made Millionaires: how did hitting 7 figures change you?

Hitting 7 figures (late 50s) was a huge deal for me, being a single gal who's worked all her life and took nothing from a prior divorce.
by Alice Ranch
Thu Jul 14, 2016 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: VG vs. Fido - The Grass Is Not Always Greener (or Is It?)
Replies: 69
Views: 16446

Re: VG vs. Fido - The Grass Is Not Always Greener (or Is It?)

Love JB and Taylor et al and how they've helped regular people get smart about their financial futures. Love Fidelity because I must have seen their poster ad at Penn Station in the mid 1980s and deposited the very first 2K I ever saved into an IRA with them. Which I still have, happily, and use to show my nephews a real case of compounding. So I have accounts at both, but the larger portion of my portfolio in F, also to satisfy need to not keep all eggs in 1 basket. Love love love Fidelity's tools, portfolio analyser and retirement calculator stand out. Access to Fidelity offices. Regular reaching out from my F rep. No pressure to go into managed. I think if I showed more uncertainty about managing my own portfolio, they would probably spe...
by Alice Ranch
Sun May 08, 2016 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Plan to break up with advisor, but feeling nervous
Replies: 30
Views: 4822

Re: Plan to break up with advisor, but feeling nervous

Call Vanguard as soon as you can. I started the process online and finished up with a real person who explained to process step by step, this was reassuring... It was a huge revelation when I realized that money professionals do not care about preserving and growing my savings for my benefit and only my benefit. And as my parents had no financial savvy, learning about basic finances came from co-workers, Suze Orman and JB and the BH. Havent done much in life except work and (proudly) pay taxes but have saved and managed my own money for the last 20 years, held fast over the downturns and still holding my own, satisfied with my returns, generally following age approp. asset allocation and index funds. In 5th yr of retirement, all good. Read ...
by Alice Ranch
Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anybody else get phone calls from Fidelity?
Replies: 40
Views: 10607

Re: Anybody else get phone calls from Fidelity?

My local Fidelity rep emails or calls annually to check in, asks if I have any questions. I've enjoyed attending their free financial presentations, not sales pitches but topics like quarterly market reviews. Am a loyal Fidelity fan, as it's with them that I placed my first $2K IRA in 1984.

Also have a portion of my portfolio with Vanguard; like with Fidelity, I appreciate their business model and message.

Both are great companies, great competitors.

It's straight forward enough to tell either you don't want to be bothered. Both have customer service lines which are there when you have questions.

Bon chance
by Alice Ranch
Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost of piano lessons
Replies: 44
Views: 8509

Re: Cost of piano lessons

65/hr, SF bay area.

Am retired. Starting my 3rd year of study with a teacher who focuses on classical and theory. Am devoted to study and practice, 15 hrs a week minimum. Risk injury if I do more. At the end of my 2nd year tested successfully at late intermediate level - roughly 5-6 year level. It is amazing, I can tolerate and even enjoy my own playing.

Study requires so much from kids, who are doing so many other things anyway. There is the rare kid who feels compelled to express him/herself musically and it will be very clear, lucky you. These are the musicians and artists.

If you'RE inclined, go for it. It's the journey, not the destination.
by Alice Ranch
Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacations this Year?
Replies: 28
Views: 2087

Re: Vacations this Year?

Maine is beautiful. You'll have a wonderful time. Hadn't traveled much in the last 20 years what with working and caring for pets (no kids). But recent retirement and a couple health scares have given me some wanderlust. You're all so right...it's the shared experiences that count the most. I am adding emphatically to that, get your hands on a reading list of people and history and stories of the places to which you're headed. If you can find them for your kids too, for them to take along. As for spending. Had a pricey but unforgettable trip on the VS Orient Express linking Venice, Budapest and Paris this year. Amortize the cost over the 4 years in which I've been retired and 20 years since I had last been in Europe. The pre-reading made th...
by Alice Ranch
Thu Mar 19, 2015 12:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is There a Next Jack Bogle
Replies: 37
Views: 5794

Re: Is There a Next Jack Bogle

Ah yes Louis Rukeyser! Found this 1998 article about the start of W$W and note that in the first episode in 1970 LR asks his guest about the "avg investor." I always felt so small when I couldnt afford to buy 100 shares of anything but mutual funds gave me courage to start. Thanks to Peter Lynch with whom I socked my first measly IRA, to LR who buckled my knees when I got his autograph in the 1980s, and to JB who is the ablest financial companion of my senior years.
http://www.current.org/wp-content/theme ... eyser.html

To anyone who recalls Margaret Mead's thoughts on women and marriage, hope this brings a smile.
by Alice Ranch
Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:27 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!
Replies: 256
Views: 78021

Re: Roll Call for the Retirement Class of 2015!

Just received my medicare card so count me in. Took buyout in late 2011 and never looked back. Many thanks to Mr Bogle and Bogleheads for financial education and moral support. Cheers!
by Alice Ranch
Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keurig Coffee Makers
Replies: 57
Views: 8585

Re: Keurig Coffee Makers

We were channel surfing a few weeks before Christmas and made the mistake of landing on one of the home shopping channels. Fell hard for the Keurig 2.0 pitch, being sold at a price we were willing to pay (about 150) with a few dozen K-pods and K-carafes thrown in. Yes it's convenient especially if you have folks over, and there are more beverage choices than I expected, to the point where shopping for flavors takes time. However, I suspect my hot water electric kettle and instant coffee, with occasional bean grinding and French press when I'm in the mood for something heartier, is simpler, possibly cheaper in the long run.
by Alice Ranch
Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]
Replies: 785
Views: 82812

Re: What do you splurge on?

Fine musical instruments which laugh at me when I play them.