u/061826heart

I turn 51 today.

I have a 26, almost 27 year old daughter, and we had to wait a bit to have her younger sister, 17.

The older sister did get her education, and then immediately became a mom and a year later, a wife. Little out of order, but no big deal. Starting life as their own family. I had hoped she could gain a “foothold” in the world before starting a family, but alas, that was not to be.

Her younger sister is more challenging. Senior in high school, seems unmotivated to do anything with life. Won’t hold down a part time job. Won’t apply herself significantly at school. Has begun experimenting with pot, as it seems teens are prone to do.

Her mother and I were raised so conservatively, and neither of us ever crossed that line. We were strivers, always reaching to do more and get more out of life.

So, when do you as a man just accept that times are different, and that some people will never be as motivated in life?

This song is not just on the boat, but scoring an 82.625. And it’s the best thing I remember about being 8 years old. Those Solid Gold dancers were a fan favorite with my old man (and me). The song? A winner in every way. Yachty as fuck.

I grew up with the sound of the Doobies and songs like this one. It is in my soul. Much love to the late Sergio Mendes, the vocals of Joe Pizzulo, and women’s legs.

Hello everyone. I am a father of a 17 year old daughter who has regularly exhibited depression, and diagnosed by a physician, who has her taking Prozac, small dosage, which my child takes.

Her depression is currently showing as effectively locking herself into her room for days on end. I can access if need be, and do several times a day.

Our health insurance benefit is of very little help with psychiatric services, though I did locate the therapist she’s seen irregularly all through this year using their assistance.

I’m at a loss which way to go next. She is effective at placing “walls” between her mother and I, and herself. Will close down and not speak for long stretches of time. She is eating a horrific diet of ordered in fast food, and is not communicating with anyone outside of our home (or us), to my knowledge. She will start her senior year of high school next week.

Anything else I can provide, I will try to do that. I’m afraid for her. I love her. She has an older sibling, her sister, who is of very sporadic contact with her, and is 9 years her senior, married, new mother, and does not live nearby.

I’ll be 51 years of age in 3 weeks. Good health for the most part. No debt, but also do not own a home, and no expectation that I ever will.

Savings: about $80k in retirement (contributing 13% from comp annually). about $75k in cash account from home sale 5 years ago. Expected I’d buy again, but priced out. Spouse has $65k in old 401k plan, and is not adding to it.

Relevant facts: married, children essentially grown now (26 and 17). Spouse works but is paid poorly due to location of employment and the fact that she no longer wants to be in “corporate”.

One more piece of info: my father passed at 53 due to undiagnosed heart issue. I’m way more up to speed on my own health than he was, but I anticipate a short life due to genetics.

The goal of the term insurance policy would be to provide spouse with enough to settle her living situation when I pass earlier than expected. Was considering $250k, so that she’d be able to pair that with our savings to buy a home and end our renter lifestyle. She won’t have the income to support anything other than food and utilities.

End: as I do not believe I can ever accumulate enough in a 401k plan now, I’m considering culling some of my contribution level and just adding a term LI policy.

Your mature and reasonable thoughts are appreciated.

We’re a pretty long way from any of the digital TV signals, over the air (OTA) in Pensacola or Panama City. Just curious if any of the other Destin people or FWB people have managed to build an antenna to pick those channels up.

A song also recorded by country music legend Ronnie Milsap, the entirety of the album many of you know very well. What you may not know is that this album was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, my birth place and home until 20 years of age.

Banger of a tune, and further cements the memories I have of Fame Studios, home to so very many chart topping albums.

My wife and I have been happily married for 27 years. Two daughters, one who is grown with a young family of her own now. The other who is coming up on senior year of high school.

We remained in one geographic location for 17 years, wanting a relocation, but constrained financially. We got that relocation 5 years ago, but now feel ostracized by family for not remaining “nearby” (we moved 4 hours south).

I’m looking for tips from those who have made adult decisions, on their own, using their own resources, but perhaps have had regret over those decisions. How did you become content that you, yourself, own your decisions, and become proud of that fact?

If anyone from far away is down visiting, please slow down your pace of everything. I’m not coming to you as a “dirty local”, I’m coming to you as someone who knows how very quickly our “vacation” days go by. We work hard for a scant week or two a year when we get to take a break.

It’s very crowded. I understand why. It’s lovely here almost year round. It’s so inviting not just from photos, but in person too. But, this business of rushing out there door at 6am to secure your beach spot, rushing off the beach later to get ready for dinner, rushing through traffic to get to a place to wait for hours, rushing afterwards, rush rush rush.

Slow down, enjoy the vacation. Stop for a while, not just 30 seconds. Try to leave behind the habits of normal everyday life, when we have to be in a rush. Enjoy the place for some rest and relaxation.

Kind of a disheartening topic today.

I just submitted into a popular AI tool the following command:

“Tell me what buying power I had on a salary of $50k in 2000 versus what my buying power is today on $95k salary in 2026.”

The answer, heavily paraphrased, was “the same”. Essentially, I’ve stood still financially for my entire working life.

Now, there is a silver lining- my children are grown. What was once consumed by childcare costs, credit card minimums, car payments, is now going to savings, at age 40-something.

Point behind this post is, my buying power has stood still, quality of life is a personal measurement, but I can buy no more of the other things in life, or less, than I could over a quarter of a century before. What I do with the remaining time I have left in life is fully in the air at my now age of 50.

Thanks for reading. Hoping for some encouraging comments, or at least constructive comments.

Kind of a disheartening topic today.

I just submitted into a popular AI tool the following command:

“Tell me what buying power I had on a salary of $50k in 2000 versus what my buying power is today on $95k salary in 2026.”

The answer, heavily paraphrased, was “the same”. Essentially, I’ve stood still financially for my entire working life.

Now, there is a silver lining- my children are grown. What was once consumed by childcare costs, credit card minimums, car payments, is now going to savings, at age 40-something.

Point behind this post is, my buying power has stood still, quality of life is a personal measurement, but I can buy no more of the other things in life, or less, than I could over a quarter of a century before. What I do with the remaining time I have left in life is fully in the air at my now age of 50.

Thanks for reading. Hoping for some encouraging comments, or at least constructive comments.

I know Evo told me the owner of the building had sold it, way back in late 2024-early 2025. Now, shops gone. Anyone know more?