Things to do when you get older

[Tucson Grower]

Hopefully the info in this thread may help others who might be in similar circumstances.

In about 2 months I will be 67. That's the age my father was, when he passed.

I've been FRA (full retirement age) for SS (social security), since January 2023. I recemtly realized that I qualify to collect SS at 50% of the rate my first wife will qualify for, when she reaches FRA, January 2024, which, presently is the max amount of, $3627/month, half of which is $1813, about $500/month more than my work history provides me, presently.

My first wife, Ann and I were married from March 1977 until April 1988, a few days longer than 11 years, and we knew each other since she was 15 and I was 16. I was single for another 11 years before remarrying. I was married to my second wife, Diane for almost 25 years, before she passed from MS, which plagued her for the last 20 years of her life.

As soon as Ann divorced me she went to school, studying to become a nurse. [BTW, Diane had just started studying to be a nurse, when she was hit by MS]. I helped with this by sending extra money when I had it, and sent the money for her initial licensing fees. She did this in her homeland of southern California, where nurses make $100,000/year, plus. She began her nursing career in 1994, and retired from nursing in 2022 (28 years later).

Now that I will be getting this extra money, I hope to finish my degree in horticulture and start my own plant breeding business, or get a job working for a seed company.

[Tucson Grower]

I was just thinking; I'm past FRA, so, other than paying my taxes, I can earn as much $$ as I want, and not have SS withhold any of my SS benefits. I'm over 60, so I could even remarry, if that ever became a thing, without affecting my benefits, even getting them on my ex's earnings record. If my ex were to pass before I do, and I really hope that doesn't happen, I'd get ex-spouse survivor benefits, which would be, twice what I get now, or her full amount. You can probably tell, I still love the mother of our children - I hope she has and is, living a rewarding life. She's really helped me to become who I am, today.

I already tried reconnecting with a wonderful gal, I knew in the early 90's, but she, unfortunately, had developed dementia and is in assisted living.

I basically own, free and clear, 2 acres, separated by 18 miles. My brother, and his two sons live at the property, which is 18 miles farther North of the acre where I live. My brother and I share ownership of that property.

My brother, also on SS, and two nephews, one who works restocking a local supermarkets shelves, at night; and the other nephew is crew lead for a solar PV (photo-voltaic) system installer company, working all day baking in our long summer heat and frequently getting electrical shocks - (he's wanted a less stressful job, for some time now).

I think I'll start making plans to begin a business with my local family members. We can produce seed of, at least 2 okra varieties (one at each property), to start. One being, of course, "Diane's Purple". If I finish my greenhouse, and put it into operation, I can probably finish that project, much sooner, than later. I'm still growing several varieties of bamboo, and I'm friends with our only local "bamboo only", retailer. He always seems in need of more, locally produced, stock. There's also, plants like roselle, I'm sure would sell well at our local farmer's market.

[Tucson Grower]

Another hobby/avocation, of mine is computers. I've been working with them since my senior year of HS, in 1974. Back then their were no PCs, the computer we were learning on, was called a "time-shared basic". It was the size of a refrigerator, and smart phones, as well as other hand-held calculators, today, can easily do much more than that computer could do.

I'm, just now, purchasing the components to upgrade my brother's and my PCs, I'd already shopped them, and developed a list of desired components, but now I have the $ to purchase the components. Earlier, I had learned a way to upgrade our PCs from Windows 7 to Windows 10, even though their hardware wasn't really, up-to-snuff, but once Windows 10 upgraded itself to Windows 11, they became, large and expensive paperweights.

About $300 each, and I should have them humming before next Wednesday.

[Tucson Grower]

I can easily say, I have various other hobbies and one-time avocations. One of my favorites is what I think of as wordsmithing. I really enjoy, proof-reading, editing, and etc. It helps to have a touch of OCD.

One of my most recent excursions into this realm, is with Amazon. Their webpage told me that my package was, "Left in the residence's mailbox." I told them that their actually is no such word as "residence's," since residences cannot be possesive, a residence cannot own a mailbox, neither can residences own mailboxes, or vice-versa. I told Amazon, - I believe they meant to say; "Left in the resident's mailbox." Indicating that the mailbox in question belonged to me, the customer, and not to my abode or domicile.

[rdback]

Aug 19, 2023 0:50:01 GMT -6 Tucson Grower said:

...About $300 each, and I should have them humming before next Wednesday.

I used to do the same thing - upgrade different pieces of hardware, software, etc.

Then, it dawned on me, with all the businesses that lease computers and replace them every 1-3 years, the refurb market might be the place to go. I checked it out and haven't looked back. Over the last 7 years, I've bought 3 laptops, each with all the horsepower and storage I need, for an average of $100 each. So, seven years of computing for $300. Not bad in my book.

HERE is an example on Amazon. Personally, I go the eBay auction route. There are tons of them there.

Just another option for you to consider, now or in the future.

[Tucson Grower]

Thanks rdback, for that interesting tip. I'll definitely check it out. For more than a year now, I've been using a laptop in place of my non-functional desktop.

[macmex]

I do like RDBACk. My main computer, right now, is a HP laptop I purchased for $150, some years ago. I upgraded the memory and replaced the hard drive with a 2 terabyte drive (needed because of all the videos, photos and documents I've accumulated through years of teaching, preaching and homesteading work on the internet. I doubt I'll ever purchase another new computer.

Along that line, if a person isn't stuck on using a proprietary, very specialized program, I found that I get everything done better and ... without paying money for either the operating system or applications, by going over to Linux. I use Linux Mint Cinnamon, which somewhat mimics Windows, but it runs faster, is easier to fix when there's a problem, comes with a complete set of programs already included (with thousands more easily available for free, via internet repositories). 

One really neat feature of most Linux operating systems is that they can be downloaded and burned to a DVD. Then, one can boot up on the DVD and get a taste of the OS before installing it. Running it live doesn't touch your hard drive.

[Tucson Grower]

macmex, definitely a good plan. Every so often I've tried one of those flavors of Linux, I've even tried the mint version, though not the cinnamon variety, yet. I usually configured PCs I did that with, as dual boot systems, at start-up you can choose which operating system to boot to.

Since Diane's PC is now idle, instead of upgrading it, so it will function again, I think I'll just make it a Linux only PC. Thanks macmex, for that suggestion, that will save me some $$.

I have two, external CD/DVR reader/writer drives that use USB for both power and data, and one USB 3.0 external optical drive that reads and writes all current formats, including Blue-ray.

I have lots of harddrives; older IDE, newer SATA, typical (platter) and SSD, even a couple of M.3 SSD's and lots of flash drives; some external drives that use a "Firewire" IEEE 1394, connection interface. I am not particularly fond of flash drives, though they can be convenient; I once configured a flash drive with Linux, that could boot and operate many different PCs. For me, flash drives should be made hot-swappable; I've killed way too many, when I forget to dismount them before pulling them out. I don't forget to do that, any more, but the lesson was harsh.

In my earlier years, I spent almost as much time using mac PCs as I used IBM type PCs. I ran PCs using DOS, DRDOS, and Windows, from its earliest versions; wow, were they ever rough compared to what we use now.

[heavyhitterokra]

Aug 18, 2023 21:42:53 GMT -6 Tucson Grower said:

I've been FRA (full retirement age) for SS (social security), since January 2023. I recently realized that I qualify to collect SS at 50% of the rate my first wife will qualify for, when she reaches FRA, January 2024, which, presently is the max amount of, $3627/month, half of which is $1813, about $500/month more than my work history provides me, presently.

Tucson,

Those all sound like good plans.  I guy needs to stay active at all costs.  

I'm only 62, but I'm retired through disability, after having had brain surgery and a stroke.  It never ceases to amaze me, or might I say, "annoy" me that my present income is higher than it was while I was still teaching.  Things like that just seem so wrong to me.  Little did we now how low our working, living, wages were until we retired.

[Tucson Grower]

Last Saturday a baby Sonoran Desert Tortoise appeared at the bottom of our wheelchair ramp. It looked like -->
 


I almost stepped on it. Thank goodness I didn't. Fortunately, a few days later I was able to deliver it to the Sonoran Desert Museum, where they operate a sanctuary and adoption program. It's only a few miles South of my location. For many reasons they cannot safely be returned to the wild.

[Tucson Grower]

On a way more serious note: I just heard from my brother about his recent, and ongoing nightmare with the USPS. His mail delivery, to their property, which includes he and his two adult sons; stopped being delivered nearly two weeks ago. A few days ago they did get a letter from the local postmaster. The letter claims that a parcel had been, unintentionally mis-delivered to their address, and their mail will not be delivered until they turn over this mystery package. Problem is, they often get mail that is mis-delivered - they always correct that issue, by either finishing the delivery properly, themselves (if the correct address is nearby), or placing it back in the mailbox so the USPS can correct the mis-delivery, themselves. Problem is; they never saw the package in question, the USPS letter provided a photo of the package and its delivery address.

One of my nephews has the hobby of collecting DVD movies he purchases through eBay - most are delivered via USPS. My other nephew is awaiting the license plate and registration document for his new pickup truck, which he uses to commute to work. My brother is expecting the card for his new HMO, so he can persue treatment for the degeneration of his right shoulder; neither the MRI nor doctors offices will see him without the card.

We assume these items are already hostage at the local post office. They've threatened him with the postal inspectors. He called the postal inspectors office to be told that, no matter the circumstances, it was not legal for the local postmaster to withhold delivery services and certainly not legal to hold mail hostage. They assured him they would look into the matter, immediately, and correct this situation.

Meanwhile he feels like he's in Nazi Germany.

[hedgeapple]

Sept 8, 2023 16:46:52 GMT -6 Tucson Grower said:

On a way more serious note: I just heard from my brother about his recent, and ongoing nightmare with the USPS. His mail delivery, to their property, which includes he and his two adult sons; stopped being delivered nearly two weeks ago. A few days ago they did get a letter from the local postmaster. The letter claims that a parcel had been, unintentionally mis-delivered to their address, and their mail will not be delivered until they turn over this mystery package. Problem is, they often get mail that is mis-delivered - they always correct that issue, by either finishing the delivery properly, themselves (if the correct address is nearby), or placing it back in the mailbox so the USPS can correct the mis-delivery, themselves. Problem is; they never saw the package in question, the USPS letter provided a photo of the package and its delivery address.

One of my nephews has the hobby of collecting DVD movies he purchases through eBay - most are delivered via USPS. My other nephew is awaiting the license plate and registration document for his new pickup truck, which he uses to commute to work. My brother is expecting the card for his new HMO, so he can persue treatment for the degeneration of his right shoulder; neither the MRI nor doctors offices will see him without the card.

We assume these items are already hostage at the local post office. They've threatened him with the postal inspectors. He called the postal inspectors office to be told that, no matter the circumstances, it was not legal for the local postmaster to withhold delivery services and certainly not legal to hold mail hostage. They assured him they would look into the matter, immediately, and correct this situation.

Meanwhile he feels like he's in Nazi Germany.

This scenario involving refusal to deliver sounds off to me. I used to be a letter carrier for the USPS, and other than properties with dangerous dogs and mailbox accessibility regulations, I’ve never heard of service being stopped.

[Tucson Grower]

It sounded out there, to me too; until I read the letter he received from the local postmaster of his Marana, AZ post office. In it the postmaster all but says they're suspending mail delivery to his address, and holding all their mail, until they surender the missing package. Using the, Informed Delivery service, which I'd signed them up for, many years ago. I was able to determine that packages, destined for my DVD collecting nephew where, "being held at the post office, at the customer's request". None of us has ever asked the post office to hold any of our mail. And I understand that a delivery attempt notice should be left, so the customer can make alternate delivery arrangements. Not a single delivery attempt notice made it to their mail box. By the way, said mail box is just outside the chainlink fence surrounding the property, neither they nor any nearby neighbors have dogs. The delivery person delivers by automobile, anyways. I had several Navy buddies who went on to be USPS delivery persons.

It seems the suspension of services and hold are being done under the guise of a legitimate customer hold request.

[Tucson Grower]

I was just skimming through countless emails from USPS, each one announcing the impending delivery of packages for my nephew. Between six and a dozen expected each day; however not a single one of them has been delivered for at least the past two weeks. I am extremely curious to know what's going on, here. It just seems bizzare to see this happen, here, in the USA.

[rdback]

Sept 10, 2023 5:53:10 GMT -6 Tucson Grower said:

I was just skimming through countless emails from USPS, each one announcing the impending delivery of packages for my nephew. Between six and a dozen expected each day; however not a single one of them has been delivered for at least the past two weeks. I am extremely curious to know what's going on, here. It just seems bizzare to see this happen, here, in the USA.

Maybe "somebody" submitted a "hold delivery" on your brother's address, either as a joke or of a more malicious intent. Sounds like a trip to said Post Office is in order to have a discussion with the Postmaster face-to-face.