tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post3979154669876578177..comments2024-03-18T19:45:58.932-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Taxes and other heavy stuffOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22764965430997691802019-10-17T16:21:58.575-07:002019-10-17T16:21:58.575-07:00left CA for Iceland in the 1970s and really wanted...left CA for Iceland in the 1970s and really wanted to return to the state, but got assigned to homestead FL. loved it. and as all things military it comes to an end with an assignment to OK. and then another OK-okinawa- and lets just say other points further east. never got back to CA. In the end, I had picked up some property in CO, and am considering a return to FL or TX as soon as I find someone to buy the steading. two taxes I detest are income and sales. I do wish CA expatriates would leave CA policies and politics in CA. CO is just as screwed as CA now. I really enjoy retirement. I just wish I could afford it.capt fasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14374459887067010071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-43606963142913124512019-10-16T04:31:33.424-07:002019-10-16T04:31:33.424-07:00I bought the Sunnyvale house in, lessee, 1988. So...I bought the Sunnyvale house in, lessee, 1988. Sold a bit after the peak, so I didn't get quite the crazy amount I could have gotten had I been ready half a year earlier, but it was still a tidy sum.<br />And, once we get everybody moved, we'll be selling my father's house. In Palo Alto. Which he bought in... 1959? With the cost basis having been reset as of October of 2017, he may end up showing a paper loss on the sale, while actually bringing in enough cash to top up his retirement fund rather nicely. (This assumes that the market for Eichlers doesn't collapse in the next few months.)Eric Wilnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04351991168469225129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-50216251526459192502019-10-15T21:39:39.871-07:002019-10-15T21:39:39.871-07:00It's not just that they profit from their posi...It's not just that they profit from their position, but they believe that their actions are turning CA into some sort of utopia. But that doesn't exist, and they're actually just making it worse with every decision.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74849220924400941982019-10-14T23:10:44.110-07:002019-10-14T23:10:44.110-07:00Well done, sir!
Geez....Sunnyvale. How long were ...Well done, sir!<br /><br />Geez....Sunnyvale. How long were you in the house you sold? Hopefully you've had it a while.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-29073229031129171632019-10-14T23:09:11.337-07:002019-10-14T23:09:11.337-07:00I guarantee you'll be happier out of that asyl...I guarantee you'll be happier out of that asylum!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26555847079622693752019-10-14T16:36:21.685-07:002019-10-14T16:36:21.685-07:00My long-delayed CALEXIT is now underway. Slowly, ...My long-delayed CALEXIT is now underway. Slowly, but underway. Traded in my 960-square-foot Sunnyvale mansion for a modest hovel in rural Sevier County, TN - over three times as much living space, plus a basement, plus a potential workshop building, all on 10 acres. And a modest pile of working capital left over from the "downsizing".<br />Should be settled in by the end of the year. There's much to be done on the house and workshop, and the move itself is complicated, but we'll get there. Much stress and expense now, but we should have a much more pleasant lifestyle, and much lower living expenses, in future years.<br />(No, it's not a lakefront property. But there's a good-sized seasonal pond in the back yard, which maybe we can turn into an all-year pond with bluegills in it. And it's about a 5-minute drive to the nearest public boat-launching ramp.)Eric Wilnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04351991168469225129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-82660585098824350382019-10-14T13:55:41.243-07:002019-10-14T13:55:41.243-07:00As one who lives and works in California, it is bo...As one who lives and works in California, it is both maddening and saddening to know Sacramento politicians are working to the max each an every day to squeeze those of us in the middle. In my opinion there are three groups in Califoria: 1) Those in power who profit from their position of influence, 2) Those who are quite happy being dependent on the government and/or are too poor to leave, and 3) Those planning an escape. As for me, I'm in the latter.TARPS Spyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08534833475339082853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21555914927196453862019-10-14T13:16:55.836-07:002019-10-14T13:16:55.836-07:00Jeanie and I have watched all sorts of rockets and...Jeanie and I have watched all sorts of rockets and stuff off the deck either at night or during cocktail hour. Thrilling use of our tax dollars. And of course, you HAVE to drive the seventy or so miles South to actually HEAR one of those things go off.<br />As someone who has moved from the high desert (George AFB - Victorville/Apple Valley) where the humidity was in negative numbers to here (Ormond Beach, North of Daytona)on the beach, I can say the humidity didn't hit me as bad as those who get to live inland. Don't much notice it. Sorta like a 90 minute ACM flight debrief- wet wise. There's A/C every where. Just don't buy a black car without an indoor parking space.Dave's Daily Day Dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491764990082380190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-67159178257316879932019-10-14T12:00:44.848-07:002019-10-14T12:00:44.848-07:00We have tornadoes, just they're usually parts ...We have tornadoes, just they're usually parts of very much larger storms...<br /><br />The Villages south of Ocala is the happening spot. They even got Trump to come down to them. Very conservative, in the middle of the state so mostly protected from hurricanes and tropical storms, while being close enough that you can reach a beach in an hour or so.<br /><br />But, yeah. Like you, I am stuck for various reasons where I am. Love to be near my family, but the air down there literally kills me due to allergies.<br /><br />Oh well. Such is life. Now if I win the lottery big enough? Whooo!!!Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36860666097790006092019-10-14T04:05:33.219-07:002019-10-14T04:05:33.219-07:00Beans. My wife and I have talked about leaving Phi...Beans. My wife and I have talked about leaving Philly, but both our families our here and her parents are elderly. <br />Our checklist includes, <br />Seeing the changes of season, but moving the needle more to the middle of the range. <br />No tornadoes. <br />Gun friendly.<br />Retirement money friendly. <br />Conservative. <br />Access to good medical care, 'cause getting up there in years.<br /><br />In reality though, we aren't going to move, and we are just talking. But it is a fun exercise.<br />John in Phillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196033252818387245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-23962163749351927092019-10-13T23:24:27.392-07:002019-10-13T23:24:27.392-07:00Nice one. I'm sure you can handle another con...Nice one. I'm sure you can handle another conservative or two, despite how horrible it is there. My friend has actually influenced two others who are closer to retirement. They are seriously looking your way.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-58602026460744243202019-10-13T23:17:52.394-07:002019-10-13T23:17:52.394-07:00That is one consideration- the programs. Who know...That is one consideration- the programs. Who knows. Never say never.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-78836995212476156982019-10-13T21:01:53.170-07:002019-10-13T21:01:53.170-07:00I dealt with snow and ice here in Alachua County, ...I dealt with snow and ice here in Alachua County, FL in North Central Florida (it's a thing) during the great freeze before Christmas in 1989. Went from 80 to 18 in five hours. While raining for the most part. All the bridges and overpasses were iced over, as was the airport. Then it snowed. I even made a snowman, about 5" tall, as the snow actually finally stuck and didn't melt. You could hear cars sliding on the interstate. And they had to get heavy trucks to go rescue people off the interstate as cars couldn't move for a day or so.<br /><br />Driving down south to go to mom's for Christmas required dodging black ice, or at least start on the winward side of the black ice so we'd end up still on the road. <br /><br />Y'all can keep your cold frozen stuff. <br /><br />As to living near the coast, I miss it, but I don't miss living in the allergy zone (just north of the Orlando mega-are to the bottom end of the state is warm enough all year that the plants, especially the exotic plants, put out pollen year long. Moving north above that line was the best thing I could have done. <br /><br />Should have moved to Tennessee when we had the chance, and the money. East Tennessee specifically. Foothills of the Smokeys. Like near Townsend. But those days are past, sigh...Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-62763620691167915952019-10-13T20:52:31.693-07:002019-10-13T20:52:31.693-07:00Problem with those pets is they are one of the thi...Problem with those pets is they are one of the things keeping the homeless from going full crazy. They serve as, well, emotional support.<br /><br />Best bet would be to move all the homeless to some abandoned but re-furbished military base in the middle of no-where and let the people prove that they can live in the real world. In other words, well, re-institute mental institutions. Pet-full or pet-free, gotta get the homeless out of the cities.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-46395934176509036252019-10-13T20:24:24.377-07:002019-10-13T20:24:24.377-07:00Tuna, as a lifelong Tennessean (excepting 4 years ...Tuna, as a lifelong Tennessean (excepting 4 years on aircraft carriers), I must disagree.<br />Tennessee is a HORRIBLE place to live. It seems affordable & pleasant, with friendly residents who leave one to one's own devices, low taxes, cheap property, mostly-lenient firearms policies, beautiful scenery---but it's all a cruel lie! Believe me, nobody (especially a liberal) wants to move here! It's hell on Earth!<br />That's my story, & I'm sticking to it.<br />--Tennessee Budd<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26453957421026048742019-10-13T17:01:14.189-07:002019-10-13T17:01:14.189-07:00Yep, it snows here, and gets (BRRRR!) cold at time...Yep, it snows here, and gets (BRRRR!) cold at times.<br /><br />I understand the attraction of year-round "Nice Weather", but the cost got to be too high.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-60052697179281144642019-10-13T16:47:28.381-07:002019-10-13T16:47:28.381-07:00Beans. A bit of snow is magical and fun. A winter&...Beans. A bit of snow is magical and fun. A winter's worth of snow, even in Philly, not so much fun. <br />Some time in the nineties, we had back to back snow and ice storms, (might have been back to back to back and so on)<br />The three season room had a flat roof and it began leaking and creaking. I had to SHOVEL SNOW OFF OF OUR ROOF!<br />On the other hand, our snow was light in 2019 that the snowthrower got zero use. <br />Although, snow is better now that we are both retired.<br />John in Phillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196033252818387245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70434037173917413372019-10-13T16:31:57.949-07:002019-10-13T16:31:57.949-07:00And SNOW!!!And SNOW!!!Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11546457783426203432019-10-13T16:30:58.475-07:002019-10-13T16:30:58.475-07:00It is a tad wet down here.
But... P-Cola has pl...It is a tad wet down here. <br /><br />But... P-Cola has planes... lots of planes... And the Cape has big shiny rockets...<br /><br />Actually, Brevard County, as long as you live on the barrier islands or at least next to the Indian or Banana River, isn't humidity central due to the sea breezes. My mom and brother's place can have the windows open about a third of the year. Plus rockets... And Brevard is very veteran friendly, the Sheriff and past sheriffs are very gun friendly, and there are good social programs for your son.<br /><br />But, yeah, youse is a California boyz, so, well, hang in there. The Diego sounds like it hasn't fallen to terminal stupidity, yet.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-76837266481711293382019-10-13T15:30:06.192-07:002019-10-13T15:30:06.192-07:00We got out of Kommiefornia almost two years ago, a...We got out of Kommiefornia almost two years ago, and so far, so good. We have a much nicer house on a lot over twice the size we had in Long Beach, in a far better neighborhood. The streets are clean, and the rare bit of graffiti gets removed promptly, usually within 48 hours. Very few panhandlers, and haven't run into any of The Entitled here, although I'm sure they're here. The taxes are less, fuel costs are much less, utility costs are lower, and groceries cost less.<br /><br />And the people are wonderful.<br /><br />We were very fortunate in being able to make our CALEXIT, as our daughter-in-law is from here, and has well established family ties with the entire community here. Her parents have been here all their adult lives, and literally "know everybody".<br /><br />Some things cost more to get done (no "Three Amigos" from the Home Depot here...), but you generally get very good quality work, and they'll come back and make it right if you're not happy.<br /><br />The pace of living is much more to my liking, traffic isn't nearly as congested, and best of all, we have TREES!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22953342198184731672019-10-13T14:52:19.456-07:002019-10-13T14:52:19.456-07:00Can't stand the humidity, that is.Can't stand the humidity, that is.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-52443532719686089842019-10-13T14:51:29.052-07:002019-10-13T14:51:29.052-07:00Youse is welcome. I shared that first tax article...Youse is welcome. I shared that first tax article among some co-workers, (many of us are eyeing retirement) and received the more holistic view in response. My friend in TN was also a co-worker until he pulled the rip cord. My wife LOVED living in Tampa, but I am a native San Diegan and can stand humidity. Weather is a huge factor for me so who knows what I'll do in the future. Probably hold my nose, or just travel a lot.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-7105803734812333692019-10-13T14:46:57.609-07:002019-10-13T14:46:57.609-07:00Oh, and I think they should pass a law prohibiting...Oh, and I think they should pass a law prohibiting pet ownership by the homeless. Sounds harsh, but without a home, they could be considered unable to properly care for them. That way, they wouldn't have the pet excuse not to move into shelters and get help.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36901029676667638712019-10-13T14:45:06.022-07:002019-10-13T14:45:06.022-07:00Thanks Beans. When the economy is doing so well, ...Thanks Beans. When the economy is doing so well, I wonder why the homeless population in these cities is so high. Probably lenient or catch and release drug laws, coupled with weak mental health funding, and acceptance of the problem by cities.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22365853167539382122019-10-13T14:40:39.102-07:002019-10-13T14:40:39.102-07:00Good quotes from that article: "We knew he&#...Good quotes from that article: "We knew he'd sign any and all anti gun bills that land on his desk. We ain't seen nothing yet."<br /><br />"The California matrix of gun control laws is among the harshest in the nation and are filled with criminal law traps for people of common intelligence who desire to obey the law." - Hon. Roger T. Benitez<br /><br />Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.com