u/Actual-General-4953

I had a good friend tell me that Bisbee was a nice quiet place to spend the winters that doesn't have a ton of snowbirds.

What are your thougts?

The world we live in is crazy. Inflation, taxes, housing costs, costs to have anything done as we age like house repairs, yard maintenance, etc etc.

Meaning - it appears that planning for retirement was a certain amount of money and it's looking like it will take a lot more to be comfortable.

I had a plan of may pulling the pin early with a VERA and rule of 55 but looking more and more like got to full 30 yrs and my wife going to the same time period. I would be 59 and she would be 62.

A few reasons for this:

1. We are finishers - we want to fully finish our career for our own accomplishments

2. We are looking at once retired to shoot the moon in life and not run out of money and do what we want when we want.

3. The costs of everything and the outlook of it all. We are gonna pile cash/assets to push through this non sense in life and help the kiddos out if they need it. Need it....they gonna work hard too.

4. These 401k type retirements.....I still think that someday there will be some crash that will either be a temp or long term disaster for retirees and we need to mitigate this as best we can.

What you think for current and planning retirees?

Hello - looking for some advice. I'm 52, happily married to my best friend, empty nester, good jobs, good finances, house paid off, retirement is solid and looking at 6 years to retire. I was in the Army Reserve for 25 years and retired from there in 2017, I have done a lot of projects, hunted, fished, etc etc....always a busy type guy. I've always felt like I was a survivor in that I did everything myself my whole life. It paid off financially and maybe mentally.

Anyhow the past couple of years I felt lost a bit. The summer of 2025 was very stressful with work, house, family drama (not the kids), my oldest bro died, we bought a different house and carried our other house till June of this year. This past winter I had some severe depression from Nov to May of 2026 and lingered until this August. It correlated with us moving into the house we bought in Nov. Very stressful time. I had some bad house regrets and still have some lingering.

It seems like starting last summer I started having a paradigm shift per se. My mindset changed. Bad timing. We bought a house that was dated and needed some work. I'm the kind of guy that can fix/build/do about anything. I don't feel like doing it anymore. My mindset has changed from survivor to enjoyer and I feel like this place (which also has 40 acres of woods/trails) may be too much work. We may sell this house and take a hit and start over and we can handle it financially.

Any advice for a guy that going through some strange changes in his mindset as he ages from a guy that can just keep working and keep busy to someone that wants to relax.

Me and my wife sold our old house and bought another house in Nov 2025. I had some regrets on it. I also had more of a timing issue in my life where I'm ageing and starting to see life as short.

We have it paid off. Its worth around $600k. Its dated. I started on some remodeling in the basement that I hope to wrap up this winter and put back together. I'm pretty good at carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.

The house has 50 acres with it. I had this plan/yearning/etc. Over this winter my mindset changed. I was hoping it would come back. I'm one of those guys that works on stuff all the time but I've changed....crazy bad timing for sure. The land maintenance is a like a full time job too.

Anyhow....the house does not seem like a good fit. Its a bit big for us, layout isn't to our liking, the work could go on with ideas (my original plan), its a bit far out of town where we used to live, etc.

We still want to give it at least two full years and seasons to decide anything but are leaning back to smaller, open concept, near town, other features house.

We do very well financially. Have this house paid off and it should be worth $600k+, have cash reserves, have a set retirement, have good jobs for the next 6 yrs till retirement. This was an eye opening time.

Question: At what point, should I say screw it and put it up for sale and get another house? I think we could swing a house purchase first (bridge loan) and then sell.

I've heard its better to just burn up sick leave vs tacking it onto your retirement calculation. I've ran the number and it looks like $35 per month extra. Thoughts on this?

Why would you anchor your life down with a dog. Makes no sense. They are expensive and are more of a luxury when young. Harder to get an apartment too. Its like they are substituting for human companionship. I don't get it.

I have two TSP accounts - one civilian and one military. Should I just combine them together?

I see no benefit in two accounts whatsoever.

In my life God has given me so many things.

I'm 51 yrs old and as I look back I see more of what God has done is about the timing of things vs what actually happened. It happens a lot.

God has a plan for us all. Its on his timeline. He has other things to fall into place too.

Keep that in mind.

We all struggle and when we do we want things changed now.

God will take care of you when the time is right.

I have two TSP accounts - one civilian and one military. Should I just combine them together?

I see no benefit in two accounts whatsoever.

I keep seeing/hearing that jobs numbers are good, places are hiring, but young people don't get the job.

I talked with employers and it isn't good. Most have told me they'd rather hire someone older or go without. They have been stung too many times hiring young people. They don't show up, call in sick, can't work, won't work, expect too much, have to hand hold them constantly, etc.

In the end they say it isn't worth it

I am 52 yrs old and will be eligible for a govt pension at age 58 3/4 with a supplement till age 62, a military reserve pension at age 58 1/4 (E8 pay grade), a TSP balance of $500k and social security at age 62. Cash on hand is expected to be $300k. House is paid off and value of $600k

My wife will have $1.2M in 401k and social security. She is 54 and may retire at 59 1/2 or go a bit longer to align w me. She makes twice my salary.

We may both work part-time in retirement.

The anticipated gross retirement is around $220-250k around age 60.

Looking for advice on retiring from others. I don't think the higher IRMAA will apply and I think I can dodge it with changing TSP/401 k withdrawals if needed.

If I die and she is the survivor it appears my income will keep her IRMAA under the thresholds.

I think we may work some part time gig just to keep busy, travel non-stop, wiggle the grandkids if we get any by then, do yoga, stay healthy and live life.

Not sure if I'm missing anything or any screw ups other did they didn't catch.

thanks

How can we fight the service dog narrative?

The laws are pretty strict on this. They owner just has to say 'Its a service dog' and the business owner is kind screwed.

I live in NW Wisconsin and just starting to see dogs in grocery stores and bars/restaurants.

Bars w/o food service are allowed. With food service, has to follow state laws on dogs.

I was in the bar on Sunday and the older couple, of course, had a dog dressed like a human laying on the bar stool.

I can see dogs, someday, eating in the restaurant with people at the table. I can see dog bathrooms coming. I can see dogs rights laws. It just keeps going.

I have come to the conclusion that privilege and entitlement are alive and well in the middle class, if not lower.

I live in a rural area of Wisconsin. I see almost everyone, every year take their kids on a spring break vacation, I see kids never told no and parents buy them everything they can, most kids get a car when they turn 16 and its usually a very nice car, etc.

This isn't just the rich class. Everyone is complaining about money but it appears they all have money to blow. It is crazy. Maybe good for them.

The main part of all this is we are and have been creating a society of kids who think all of this 'easy money' is normal and its apparent for their attitudes of: I should get paid the highest starting wage, I should get as much time off as I want, I should be able to work remote, I should be able to take my dog everywhere, I should I should I should.

We are doomed.

I had a friend for years from my Army time. We went on trips, fishing, hunting, etc.

A couple of years ago we planned a hunting trip and he was gonna bring his hunting dog as part of this process. I went with him as a test to a game farm and all seemed well. I thought seems fine.

We planned a week long trip that was traveling from the Midwest down to Texas. The dog was in the back seat of the truck. The truck smelled like dog.....ok. The first gas stop started the issues. He tied the dog to truck and left it with me....the dog started howling like a crying baby. Here we go.

We got to the first hotel stop. He laid a sheet down on my bed. I said "what are you doing?' .....he said "to keep the dog hair off your bed"....I said 'the dog isn't going on my bed'. I saw the nutter look...you know the 'look'. Next step.....I came back into the hotel room and there was an awful smell....he was microwaving the dogs food. Gross. Gross. Gross. I said 'what are you doing'......microwaving the dogs food......why.....because he wants it like this. He put the food down and like typical dogs of nutters he didn't eat it and he sat and talked the dog into eating. Yup.

We hunted a few days. The next few nights were the same. Smell. Dog hair. Etc. We talked about sightseeing on the trip but that faded and he had excuses as why to not go. I thought this is because of the dog. We only hunted and stayed in the hotel. This trip is starting to suck. I asked him that there was a nice Mexican Restaurant next door and we should go there. He was reluctant and went for one hour and was obviously in a hurry to get back to the 'precious dog'.

Anyhow, we got to our destination hunting lodge where we were going to stay for 2 nights. The owner told me "Why is this dog here".....I told him that it is "not my dog" and that I told my partner that "The owner needs dogs to be kenneled while at the lodge". I thought all was well. As soon as the owner left, he laid a sheet down on the couch and the dog obviously knew the couch was his. So much for me laying down.

Anyhow, the guy was really mad about the dog. Threatened to kick us out. He was really nice and reasonable and told him that I don't blame him if he did and that my partner doesn't get it. The next day we got up and hunted. He put his dog in the truck. At noon the next day, he took off and went into town to give his dog a walk. Never told me. The owner, who also raised dogs for a living, thought this was strange behavior.

In the end, we drove home. Squared up on the trip and never spoke again and basically ghosted each other. He knew the issues and I was really pissed at him. The only reason I didn't give him a piece of my mind is I thought he might leave me down there and I got really sick the last day w food poisoning and the drive home was brutal.

Anyhow, its sad that a dog relationship can ruin a friendship but it happens all the time.

I had a bad bout of depression this past fall/winter.

I've been using the VA for counseling also. I suffer from anxiety and its been about 20 years since I had any significant depression.

My background was an abusive childhood, alcoholic mother, not so nice dad, stepmom that wasn't very nice, struggled as a kid, lost all the time, drank, went to school got a degree, couldn't get a job, was in the military went over to Iraq/Afghanistan, struggle to find a girl, etc.

Then when I was 30 yrs old I met my wife and my life changed. She had kids. We became best friends and still are. Kids moved out recently. I feel like I attained my final highest career at work, built a cool garage, did some car work, retired from military reserve, traveled a ton, have great finances, great upcoming retirement, ....and basically life looks good on paper.

I don't feel that way. About two years ago, it seemed to start. I felt like I've done it all and needed more challenges. We'd do stuff and it started to have less meaning. We always thought about selling the house and getting something else.....I was restless. My wife was agreeable and we go together. Bought a new house this past fall and I crashed.

Since Nov of 2025, I am not the same person. I lost my drive. My motivation sucks. I'm one of these DIY type guys, work or fix anything. I don't feel like doing it. I've been forcing myself to do it lately.

Not sure what is going on....I feel better....slowly....and defiantly better than this past winter.

Any advice is appreciated on what to do or what is wrong with me.

thanks.

I'm 52 yrs old and have about 7 years to retire w a 30 yr pension from the fed govt.

To leave now....would probably be a bad idea.

Its been hard, especially this past year or so, working for the govt.

I assume many have been in this place before.

What do you do to ensure you stay positive and make it to the finish line?

thanks for any support or words of advice!

There is a climate change narrative for both sides, I get it.

Does it appear there is 'something' going on with our climate or weather. Absolutely. Is this man made climate issues, nature climate, weather pattern disturbances that are man made or natural, etc. Who really knows.

One thing for certain is you cannot have a reasonable discussion with a climate activist. Ask the benefits, ask the counter narrative, ask anything except it is all true and you get into a fight.

Why are they so mad.....why do they hate fossil fuel so much.....even tho they have a car, natural gas/propane heat/cook, etc.

It is just zany.

The best explanation I've ever heard was a John Stossel interview with a scientist, Judith Curry, that was banished because she countered the climate worship narrative.

Her answer was -parts of the environmental movement are driven by an aversion to capitalism, traditional energy, and big oil rather than practical science. She also

My son is a good performer, top grades in his class and will graduate with a CS degree in Dec of 2026. He wants to go into more of a hardware programming at a company vs a pure CS type environment. He wants a 9-5 job.

He will be in the Minneapolis or Eau Claire, WI area to look for work.

What do you think the job outlook will be?

I go into the shared conference room. It is Monday. The meeting is on Wednesday.

She got the agendas laid out on the table.

Bro - the conference room gets used all the time by others.

It looks like you got nothing to do.

Anyone's RA being cut or questioned lately for telework?