u/061826heart

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?