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OK, I'm impressed. I daydream about chucking the corporate lifestyle and retiring to a quiet area where I can raise chickens and have a garden. Sounds like several of you have done it successfully.
DH and I have a decent amount of money saved up and $150K equity in the house. But I can't get past one thing - what in the heck do you do for health insurance? I'm 52, he's 58 and has several health issues that don't cause him problems, but require meds and checkups. That's my primary reason for working but honestly, I can't stand the thought of staying in this environment for 7 more years until he's eligible for Medicare.
If I could figure this one out, I'd be scouting for my dream location right now!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda
Forget the corned beef.....I'd like to know where someone buys milk for 90 cents/gallon!
Actually it is currently $0.99 at our local 'upscale' food mart (so actually $.062 / cup, I will need to cut back $.36 / month). Probably another lost leader, but it is from local dairy and fresh, and even an ex-dairy farm kid can stand to drink it. But the dairy farmers are hurting, they need another bailout like in the mid 1980's. One is currently in the works... farmgate: The Dairy Herd Buyout Has Tax Implications. (http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu/archive/2009/07/the_dairy_herd.html - broken link)
I was hoping to continue that as well, tho it may no longer be an option if Obamacare passes. He wants to axe such cost effective avenues, need to spread the wealth, spread the pain. High deductible HSA won't work under his 'minimally insured' directive.
Last edited by StealthRabbit; 11-06-2009 at 02:14 PM..
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,741 posts, read 58,090,525 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonlady
OK, I'm impressed. I daydream about chucking the corporate lifestyle and retiring to a quiet area where I can raise chickens and have a garden. ...
If I could figure this one out, I'd be scouting for my dream location right now!
I'm afraid you need to consider living 'off-shore' for the years until medicare is available. I would itemize the health needs and go shopping . Malaysia, Thailand, US protectorates, Philippines... You might find a spot that is a whole lot healthier than USA & learning a few new languages and new cultural ideas would be good too.. I really miss the fresh fruit markets of Asia. We could eat out daily for under $5 for the family, and that was in an English speaking British colony (now free nation and doing well, exchange rate is hammering the USD). The 80F temps everyday got a little boring. But horrendous lightning storms for entertainment! For what we pay in USA for premiums you can buy some pretty good care overseas. Pre-existing conditions is a killer for current care and LTC in the USA.
I'll be retiring in February a day after my 54th birthday. I'm fortunate in that as a federal government retiree my health insurance (and premiums) will be exactly the same as that of active federal employees.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,741 posts, read 58,090,525 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livecontent
I do all my own cooking. I feed myself on about $60-80 a month. ... It is like a part-time job, shopping for bargains and cooking.
...
Livecontent
I only spend ~ 15 min / week looking for bargains, but I don't think I need to go to grocery for awhile, the freezer is full. Unfortunately it is full of berries and fruit and steelhead (cheap (free) and available local stuff). When I lived in Colorado, it would be mostly full of quality beef from a farm in Haxtun. (oh how I miss Colorado beef !!) It would also have some elk and a bit of trout, and lots of garden stuff. The benefit here in PNW is the fresh berries (front and back yard) and salmon (5 minutes to Columbia River). I have ~ 20 Blueberry plants in the yard (~50 yr old, ~ 6-10' tall, 10-12 ft canopy) They grace me with daily fruit from June till Sept, and beautiful red colors from Sept till Dec.
I wish I had cooking training, but it is a fun hobby. Cooking for this older couple is really fun because they even compliment on my last batch of Zucchini bread and the Smoked Salmon Chowder. They like the corned beef to (I only make ~ 2x/yr). Another staple is a Runza, cabbage and ground beef wrapped in dough. It was a very popular food in NE and now a few joints in Colorado, but the 'drive-ins' are not nearly as good as making yourself (They freeze nice too!). I used to help my Grandma make baskets of these for fund raisers. There are lots of fun cooking ideas on the Splendid Table and I like the 'road-food column' (where we eat) Splendid Cheap Eats: The Splendid Table
Next plan, $.19 turkeys available tomorrow, they will go in the Weber for smoked T Everything (grilled cheese, burritos, salads, casserole, soups).
Another Colorado benefit is Stoke's Green Chili with Pork (my monthly treat). I think I gave the UPS man a hernia when he brought my last case + shipping was getting expensive, so... I learned to make my own, and did ~ 5 gal while the garden produce was cheap (free).
Livecontent; I appreciate all your good ideas, perspective, and comments too! I spent many years volunteering at a state veteran's home + my dad had care in 3 Colorado facilities, and Sheridan, Wy (my favorite). I finally got him into Retsil, WA (Ideal community), but was also considering Hot Springs, SD.
OK, I'm impressed. I daydream about chucking the corporate lifestyle and retiring to a quiet area where I can raise chickens and have a garden. Sounds like several of you have done it successfully.
DH and I have a decent amount of money saved up and $150K equity in the house. But I can't get past one thing - what in the heck do you do for health insurance? I'm 52, he's 58 and has several health issues that don't cause him problems, but require meds and checkups. That's my primary reason for working but honestly, I can't stand the thought of staying in this environment for 7 more years until he's eligible for Medicare.
If I could figure this one out, I'd be scouting for my dream location right now!
I understand.
Health coverage today is a nightmare.
Up until the 50's there was not this wide array of new drugs, and $1million test equipment that docs could use. You could go to a doctor and reasonably figure that after he treated you, you could pay with the cash in your pocket.
But today the tests are expensive, and it is not uncommon to see a month's prescription drug bill at more than a person's gross pay.
In my case, my employer covers me.
After 20 years in the military, uh 18 combat tours, it is assumed that each retiree has a laundry list of medical problems. Which is why we do not even mess with 'disabilities' or the VA. The military simply gives us a pension and provides health coverage. I can walk onto any US military base and usually be treated [Active Duty are treated first, retirees are a lower priority].
Since I do not live near a base, they automatically cover me with a policy [Tricare].
I have a duodenal ulcer, I have absorbed massive levels of hard radiation, I had a spine injury which acts up from time to time, multiple concussions and a list of minor junk. Most of it is like time-bombs just waiting for the long-term effects to kick-in.
The average 'vet' who served for a tour and got out, has to mess with the VA. Commonly the VA will only treat the complications from documented injuries received while they were on Active Duty. It is good that the VA exists, but the scope of what they will treat is very limited.
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). Probably another lost leader, but it is from local dairy and fresh, and even an ex-dairy farm kid can stand to drink it. But the dairy farmers are hurting, they need another bailout like in the mid 1980's. One is currently in the works... farmgate: The Dairy Herd Buyout Has Tax Implications. (http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu/archive/2009/07/the_dairy_herd.html - broken link)
. Malaysia, Thailand, US protectorates, Philippines... You might find a spot that is a whole lot healthier than USA & learning a few new languages and new cultural ideas would be good too.. I really miss the fresh fruit markets of Asia. We could eat out daily for under $5 for the family, and that was in an English speaking British colony (now free nation and doing well, exchange rate is hammering the USD). The 80F temps everyday got a little boring. But horrendous lightning storms for entertainment! For what we pay in USA for premiums you can buy some pretty good care overseas. Pre-existing conditions is a killer for current care and LTC in the USA.
