Mal: Does she understand that? River: She understands. She doesn't comprehend.

'Objects In Space'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


dcp - May 01, 2024 5:48:42 pm PDT #51 of 3567
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

Just got the first hummingbird of the season!


P.M. Marc - May 01, 2024 5:56:40 pm PDT #52 of 3567
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

My mom and stepdad are in great shape financially (they're leaving for Scotland in 2 weeks, because they are by god going to travel until they're unable to) (which I totally support!), so I don't worry about them.

Not to freak you out, but P's grandmother was in great shape financially! The nest egg, it was a large one, and she's very frugal. Then she outlived her finances (hastened by the kind of health expenses that pile up after 95--recovering from breaking her hip last year cost a lot out of pocket, recent dental emergencies took their toll, etc.). That said, independent living retirement care here is $$$$$.

(Assisted living, obviously, is even worse. When I ran the numbers, if we were able to get my parents into assisted living, it would be about $132,000 a year for both of them. I try very hard not to think about this, though I guess that the silver lining to both my crazy siblings living in my childhood home with them is that there are so many obstacles to it that getting them into it is a complete pipe dream.)


DavidS - May 01, 2024 6:37:40 pm PDT #53 of 3567
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Just got the first hummingbird of the season!

A great good sign!

I've always felt fortunate that I didn't have to care for a parent in dementia, nor have to worry about assisted living situations. On the other hand, my mom died when she was 50 and my dad died in his 70s, so no parents left, and now my sister is gone too.

So my family is my kids and my niece and nephew and their kids. And to a lesser extent Jacqueline's sibs, kids and mom. EM too. Jacqueline's brothers are already taking over care of JZ's mother, so that won't fall to me.

My niece has finished her Death Doula certification (she's already a RN), and setting up her practice. We joked that if her business card was accurate it would read "Crusty Old Swamp Witch Will Help You Die."


msbelle - May 02, 2024 5:13:57 am PDT #54 of 3567
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

Then she outlived her finances to

This is why I’m looking at a continuous care retirement place with a buy in. If my finances run out they will still keep me. The issue will be having enough to qualify. I actually spoke with the guy with my IRAs and we’re going to meet about that soon and figure out 1) can I do it 2) how much I need to start saving if so.

I know I can’t afford the place my parents are in in CA as things stand now, but I bet the places in MD are a bit cheaper and honestly if I have to move to a location with lower cost of living I will absolutely do it.


Toddson - May 02, 2024 6:47:43 am PDT #55 of 3567
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

Post Deleted!


JenP - May 02, 2024 7:02:33 am PDT #56 of 3567

This is why I’m looking at a continuous care retirement place with a buy in. If my finances run out they will still keep me.

This is what we did for my mom, and it's ether that or retiring abroad for me (which is not at all out of the question -- my friend, Dave, and I have always talked about it... my husband can come, too. Or building the commune my friends and I always talk about.) She didn't run out of money, but if she had, they were obligated to keep providing care.


Jessica - May 02, 2024 7:18:17 am PDT #57 of 3567
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?

David, I've seen several posts recently from crafty people who have installed paper mache or crochet wasps nests to keep the real (very territorial) ones away.


DavidS - May 02, 2024 9:17:42 am PDT #58 of 3567
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

David, I've seen several posts recently from crafty people who have installed paper mache or crochet wasps nests to keep the real (very territorial) ones away.

I bet I could buy one from a craft person on Etsy!


Atropa - May 02, 2024 11:14:40 am PDT #59 of 3567
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

I am still in the "La la la not time to think about it" stage of even vaguely thinking about retirement plans. Bluntly, our household is fucked. There's no such thing as retirement for freelance artists, and I know I'll eventually age out of tech.

And I KNOW part of this mindset is growing up poor, where planning for the future was not a thing. Getting through the month was a thing.


Steph L. - May 02, 2024 11:21:51 am PDT #60 of 3567
the hardest to learn / was the least complicated

And I KNOW part of this mindset is growing up poor, where planning for the future was not a thing. Getting through the month was a thing.

This is still a big part of my psyche. I freak out at the idea of moving money -- that was budgeted for, and is *supposed* to be moved -- from checking into the retirement account, because it feels like then the money is gone forever. It's literally still our money; it's just in a different bucket. I'm still adjusting to having multiple buckets.

My rational brain is all, "Compound interest; right on," but my lizard brain wants to lie, Smaug-like, on top of a pile containing all of our money and hiss at anyone who wants to move any of it anywhere other than under my butt.