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If the MIA have a friends list that can be aquired through their profile, maybe someone can contact/DM a friend or two and see if they know what has happened to the missing poster?
Just for the hell of it I went back to the "last page" of the Retirement Forum, which takes us back to 2007. Most of the user names are unfamiliar to me, but here's three which I recognized: John1960, PNW-type-gal, and TuborgP. So here's a question for you old timers who go back to 2007 on City-Data: Do you find the Retirement Forum much different now?
It is different and I am different. I am not sure which accounts more for what I see as the overall difference. My interest in City-Data was pre retirement and was in local forums. From there I began to use various local and retirement/economic forums and a few others. Retirement moved up on the list in importance. This was before the Great Recession and I think that was a game changer for many of us.
What many don't realize is that much of what folks are saying now just reflects the current status of a journey that began many years ago on here and has constantly been updated. Folks aren't necessarily bragging about their current status but just sharing in many cases their progress:
DARN we did it. Some as they have settled in retirement have just faded away as their journey sharing has begun to not be understood as part of their previously shared history but more of a show and tale. A lot of us were scared about tomorrow when the melt down began and our current comments are about how tomorrow eventually became today and then yesterday.
Again I will share that we are now just beyond year nine of actual retirement and just over a week from our ninth official year of retirement. A lot has happened since then and a lot of what could have been awful has turned out pretty darn well.
Some of you may remember me from the political forum. I was pretty darn intense in there and had many friends and enemies. Many were fearful after the 2008 election and many were celebrating. Many of those fearful are pretty well off these days even if they don't actually admit it. Their fear of the last eight years has not personally been what they thought or what they might even be saying now. They may state it is bad for others but I remember what the tone was eight years ago and the horror of the 2008 election results for some and the economic downturn that was beginning and growing.
So now we have had an election that has many upset and fearing the worse. Well to them I say remember 2008 and how many had both a political fear and a very real economic fear? I sure as heck do.
So while some may have a political fear, we don't have the economic fear. In fact we have just the opposite and for that we should be thankful for the difference between then and now. So while it might offend some or fly over the head of others. I will say again as a long time sorta senior City-Data poster THE LAST MONTH HAS GIVEN US A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
Consider that just a thread to remind folks how the backdrop for this change election is different than the last one we experienced in the forum eight years ago.
So CD here's to tomorrow and may it be a great one and just remember today will be part of that history. So make it as good as it can be and appreciate the good that is almost always there to be found if we want.
As a side note consistent with this topic. I want to give a shout out to NewtoCA and say my old friend it is time to change your name. You aren't new anymore
Your description sounds more like SCGranny, another disappeared one, who lived in Nebraska but was tough as nails. It is possible that Gandalara also raised chickens, but she lived in California, not in the metro areas but out in the boonies somewhere.
So while some may have a political fear, we don't have the economic fear. In fact we have just the opposite and for that we should be thankful for the difference between then and now. So while it might offend some or fly over the head of others. I will say again as a long time sorta senior City-Data poster THE LAST MONTH HAS GIVEN US A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR )
Tuborg, please admit it. You and those in your economic bracket are those who "do not have economic fear." I am glad for those who do not, but please don't speak for all retirees on this board or across the country. You speak of those who had high education, great opportunity, terrific careers, and no devastating life downturns. Many, many seniors are not living in cushy retirement homes and breaking out champagne over the WS gains. They are struggling, either with health or under a crushing weight of bills and financial problems. Your comment doesn't offend me, it just dismays me that those who have done so well have such tunnel vision. And no, your comment does not fly over the heads of others. You cannot assume that retirees who are not in your particular boat are dumb about the finance world.
Tuborg, please admit it. You and those in your economic bracket are those who "do not have economic fear." I am glad for those who do not, but please don't speak for all retirees on this board or across the country. You speak of those who had high education, great opportunity, terrific careers, and no devastating life downturns. Many, many seniors are not living in cushy retirement homes and breaking out champagne over the WS gains. They are struggling, either with health or under a crushing weight of bills and financial problems. Your comment doesn't offend me, it just dismays me that those who have done so well have such tunnel vision. And no, your comment does not fly over the heads of others. You cannot assume that retirees who are not in your particular boat are dumb about the finance world.
Just forget it, sorry I responded. Enjoy your life. Yes ER things are very different than years ago. The skin of people has lost density.
River Bird you have no clue about challenges and real threats I have faced and how bad it could have really been even of late.
So yes there are downs and ups and some of us just appreciate the good for what it is knowing it can change.
So while some may have a political fear, we don't have the economic fear.
What? I'm another person who joined back in 2007. I was retired, newly and unexpectedly divorced, and facing the unknown. I had thought I was financially all set--I had been a school librarian, ex was a CPA. We had always lived frugally, I had investments, I never thought I would be divorced. But ex had a breakdown and embezzled from his employer, opened up credit cards in my name and had the bills sent to a post office box, and so on. Finally, when he tried to strangle someone, the VA took him in, kept him for three weeks, and advised me to get a divorce. By that time I was just about penniless from trying to pay back his bills.
I had absolutely no fear about the 2007 election so I don't know what you're talking about. Although I have remarried, I still have financial issues (not from "bad decisions" or "poor choices") but due to bad luck. Out of my control.
With this election, I, as a non wealthy retiree, am terrified. I can't afford health care if this new administration does what it wants to do: dismantle Medicare and any safety nets that I might need some day. I can't afford to have my SS raided or not increased each year. I may not be able to afford housing if I ever need a subsidy--something else I assume they will try to take away. AND I don't want to see any of my fellow retirees suffering either. At our age we've all worked and I would think that almost all of us have tried to make this a better world.
Many of us are trying hard to find something to be thankful for this year; many of us have tremendous economic fear now. Some only have political fear but many have economic dread.
So while some may have a political fear, we don't have the economic fear.
What? I'm another person who joined back in 2007. I was retired, newly and unexpectedly divorced, and facing the unknown. I had thought I was financially all set--I had been a school librarian, ex was a CPA. We had always lived frugally, I had investments, I never thought I would be divorced. But ex had a breakdown and embezzled from his employer, opened up credit cards in my name and had the bills sent to a post office box, and so on. Finally, when he tried to strangle someone, the VA took him in, kept him for three weeks, and advised me to get a divorce. By that time I was just about penniless from trying to pay back his bills.
I had absolutely no fear about the 2007 election so I don't know what you're talking about. Although I have remarried, I still have financial issues (not from "bad decisions" or "poor choices") but due to bad luck. Out of my control.
With this election, I, as a non wealthy retiree, am terrified. I can't afford health care if this new administration does what it wants to do: dismantle Medicare and any safety nets that I might need some day. I can't afford to have my SS raided or not increased each year. I may not be able to afford housing if I ever need a subsidy--something else I assume they will try to take away. AND I don't want to see any of my fellow retirees suffering either. At our age we've all worked and I would think that almost all of us have tried to make this a better world.
Many of us are trying hard to find something to be thankful for this year; many of us have tremendous economic fear now. Some only have political fear but many have economic dread.
Many of the folks not fearful now were fearful then and many not fearful then are fearful now. I understand that but let me ask all of the folks fearful of the political extreme that may be emerging. Would you rather have that be occurring with the backdrop of the Great Recession, stock market crash, jobs lost etc etc etc. Which set of conditions reminds you of the backdrop that a certain guy with a mustache used to seize control back in the 1930's? Perhaps for posters the shoe is now on the other foot. Those like you who had no fear in 2008 have fear now and are wearing a shoe on the other foot. The difference now and 2008 other than the issues and the people is the theater it is playing out in is a lot different. My suggestion is simply not to let emotions cloud your decision making as a lot of folks sold their portfolio because of the new President in 2008 and locked in losses. I am hoping that folks fearful this time don't make the same mistakes.
That's all this is a chat thread and obviously my chat is the stuff this thread isnt made of so out of here! Next time someone asks a question be careful about answering in the current CD forum.
Oh one last thought. I never mentioned you in my post about being afraid so no need for a disclaimer. Since you were around you may remember the folks afraid and angry about the new President with a sun tan, a strange Muslim sounding name and a Pastor named Wright etc etc.
I am not taking up talking politics with you. I think you spoke for yourself in your last paragraph.
Just one thing: After I had to take out my investments to pay my ex's bills (yes, I even HAD investments) I was near full retirement age. It's even harder NOW, eight years later, to be threatened with the loss of SS and probably Medicare. You were still young enough to recover.
Turborg - I wasn't fearful of Obama - I was hopeful. This guy has so many people buffaloed that it scares the H out of me that they refuse to see what's going on - enter the guy with the mustache - same mentality.
Turborg - I wasn't fearful of Obama - I was hopeful. This guy has so many people buffaloed that it scares the H out of me that they refuse to see what's going on - enter the guy with the mustache - same mentality.
OK - I'm done also.
Sorta funny, I should add was part of and a leader in the politics forum in 08 of the pro Obama folks and am no fan of the new guy. I was fearful of the market tanking as there was a consensus of a immediate 10 percent drop in the market. You might remember the night of the election Dow futures were down at one point 800 points and it was thought that the next day would be a blood path. In fact the time since has been just the opposite so not as bad as it could be. Agree? Capital gains are a major source of taxes, pension revenues and many other things that folks facing challenging conditions rely on. If fact jobs and rising incomes create more tax revenue and higher SS payroll contributions along with Medicare taxes. If state revenues pick up as a result some states facing budget cuts might not have to and that is good for programs for the needy, education etc . December is normally a peak month for capital gains being taken. That may move to January this time around because of the possibility of capital gain taxes being reduced for 2017 by congress. Like many other minorities I have many concerns about much going on but I can't let that cloud my thinking and decision making about things that I can control. Please understand I was deep in the City Data political wars in 2008-09 and was clearly on the side of Obama and change. It is because of that probably that I am so mindful of how many on the other side may have undercut themselves or and I have a good memory how well they have done over the last 8 years. They would never admit it but I remember them and the things they said.
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