Discussing Your Retirement with a Financial Planner

 

Yesterday I had a phone appointment with one of the brokers at my brokerage firm.  He had mentioned that a financial plan is included with the account, so I decided to take him up on his offer.  Everything I read online said that there would be a fee, so I made sure to get it in writing.  He assured me there would be no charge. 

He asked me some interesting questions.   I think they would be helpful to anyone. 

 Do I have any debt?  How much do I pay for health insurance?  Do I have Long Term Care Insurance?  How old is my car?  Will I need to budget for a new one?  How is my roof?  (Fortunately, I replaced it recently, as well as the original windows.) 

I gave him the basic numbers of my budget.  We discussed when I would take Social Security.  Although I had planned to wait until I am seventy, I decided to take it earlier, following my dad's advice.   He invested the money himself and made far more than 8%.  I think I could do the same thing, based on what my stocks are now averaging.   I manage the portfolio myself, and I enjoy the challenge.  

He asked about my health.  My dad lived to be 88, so he came out ahead, even taking Social Security when he did.  My mom didn't live nearly as long, so it was also better for her to take Social Security as soon as she was eligible.  How long we think we will live is a big factor.  We just never know.

I really enjoyed the meeting.  We will have a follow up Zoom session next month.  He praised me for handling my property and legal matters without paying a lawyer.  Being self-employed prepared me for a lot of those issues.   I also am glad that I had my hips replaced when I was fifty. 

Have you consulted a financial planner on your retirement plans?  How was your experience?

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Invited to Another Lovely Party

 

On Saturday I attended a fantastic party for a Broadway conductor that I worked with when I was twenty-two.  His wife and I were in the chorus together.  We got back in touch on Facebook, and they have invited me over to their gorgeous home on a couple of occasions.   I just love going over there; I always have such a fun time. 

I went around and took photos.  Everyone looks so happy.  My friend was thrilled when I sent them to her.   She said that I had gotten better ones than she had taken with her phone.  I wanted to contribute something to their gorgeous party.  I brought a bottle of wine and a bar of goat's milk soap, (with a birthday card.)

They had a delicious taco bar.  It was amazing!  I told the chef that it was the best Mexican food that I had ever tasted.  There were so many wonderful, artistic people there.  Conversations were rich and educational. 

My life in retirement has become much more social.  I enjoy meeting new people and talking with them.  I think traveling has taught me how to start conversations and interact with people I don't know.  This was a terrific group of artists.  

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Your Lifestyle in Retirement

 

I have been surprised at how different my daily routine is in my late fifties, compared to when I was a busy dancer in show business, and later, as an enthusiastic dance and yoga teacher.  Work was my life.  I thought I would be teaching students donned in a leotard and tights into my late seventies.  

How wrong I was.  Two replaced hips later, that chapter is in my past.  Fast forward to now: I never dreamed that I would be traveling as much as I do, enjoying cruises and hotels, and spending a large amount of my time taking care of my investments.  A great deal of my energy goes into the home: scheduling repairs, cleaning, cooking and food shopping.  Those things I took for granted as a young artist, but now I find they take more energy.  They are still my foundation and a top priority.  My mother always taught me to take care of my house and animals, and my father kept a close eye on his stocks.  

The trees and garden are very dear to me, and keeping up on both is on the schedule at least three times a week.  My neighbor told me that before I bought the cabin, he would look up at my land and saw that the pines and oaks were turning yellow.  A huge number of those sick trees had to be removed, due to a bark beetle.  "Now the trees are green," he mused.  That gave me a relieved feeling of satisfaction.  I sense that they like the extra space, the natural layer of mulch, and the consistent watering schedule.  Also, they know that they are my babies.  The wildlife greatly enjoy and use this corridor, as well.  I keep it as natural as possible.  

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Inside England’s Most Luxurious Train - The British Pullman

Exhausted From Housework

 I have been pushing myself to do a better job cleaning my house lately.  Today I mopped the hard wood floors.  My home now looks very nice, but I am exhausted.  My body is aching from lugging the hose around to water the Jeffrey Pines and California Live Oaks.  I spotted my friend on her walk this morning and called out a hello to her.  "Your place looks great!" she encouraged me.  The trees really open up and shine after being watered.  They give off such a vibrant energy.  "It's so early," she added.  I have to start at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. in order to finish on time.  We are on intense watering restrictions.  I planted some Cosmos and a strawberry plant this afternoon.  The Hollyhocks are in bloom.  They are my favorites.

I think I will do some easy and gentle yoga before bed.  The house painter who was supposed to come and give me an estimate this afternoon didn't show up or call.  That was disappointing.  It really needs to be done.  Hopefully he just forgot and will get back in touch with me.   I tried to call him, but his mailbox was full.

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Sparkling Mallorca

 

Mallorca is a popular vacation destination with Europeans.  I met a woman on the plane from London who still visits the island once a year, even though now she lives in California.  Her parents maintain a small apartment and an older car there.  It's a quick flight from Heathrow.  She and her girlfriends have been going there together for years. 

This is where I parked my bicycle at the bike racks and stopped to take a swim.  The Mediterranean Sea is magical.  I had forgotten that in many parts of Europe, the women sunbathe topless.  Their attitude towards nudity is so relaxed and healthy.  I could easily spend a week in Mallorca and enjoy the sunshine, bike paths, and beaches.  The restaurants, hotels, and shops are impressive.  I loved the architecture.

This was our view at my friend Richard's wedding.  It was a spectacular venue.  Out of curiosity, I looked into what it would cost to retire here.  Depending on your assets, there is a steep wealth tax on foreigners.  They take a percentage of everything you own.  I think it would be wiser to plan vacations there a couple years in advance while getting a reasonable airfare.  I really liked taking the cruise with NCL, staying in London for a few nights, and then spending my last three days in sunny Mallorca.  It was quite costly.  However, I would rather not travel so far as often, and save up for a few years in order to go.  I definitely want to return.

What is your favorite place for a Holiday?

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Enthusiastic About London

 

You all seem to be as enthusiastic about London as I am, so here are a few more photos for you.  It is such a pretty city.  I love the combination of the clean streets, lush, mature trees, freshly painted buildings, and charming lamp posts.  After slowly witnessing the deterioration of San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, I was greatly impressed with this vibrant and well cared for city.  This is how I it should be, I think.  When I think of our homeless population and the crime problems in America, I cringe.

All of these beautiful sights were within walking distance of my hotel.  As you can see, people were out and about, but it wasn't jam packed.  The weather was glorious, which from what I hear, is unusual.  The people working at Hotel 41 joked that I brought the sunshine with me from California.  You still always need an umbrella.  I did get caught is a rain storm on my last day and returned to my room soaking wet.  It was worth it for a trip to Harrods, though.  Housekeeping helped me dry out my drenched clothes in time to travel the next morning to Mallorca.

This was taken from the bus on my London tour with NCL.  I didn't go inside, but someday I will return and enjoy a meal there.  Some a gorgeous entrance...I was wowed!  I love how theatrical the decor is...it reminds me of old Broadway and the vintage glamour days of Hollywood.

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Hotel 41 in London: A Posh and Elegant Experience

 

After reading the rave reviews about Hotel 41 on Trip Advisor, I decided to splurge and book a room for three nights.  I was not disappointed.  The hotel oozes charm, elegance and class.  It was a very luxurious and rewarding experience.  Located right across the street from Buckingham Palace, my daily walks were inspiring and filled with lush greenery.

The decor was tasteful and impressive.  I loved the detail.  There was a tray of scrumptious petite fours on this table to welcome me.  I was also given a complimentary glass of champagne when I arrived.  It was served in the Executive Lounge.  I asked to have a cappuccino instead, and they agreed.  It was the best one that I have ever had!  Their hotel logo was inscripted with powdered chocolate in the frothy milk.  The attention to detail at this hotel is superb, as is the food.  I bought breakfast there, as it was so comfortable to just walk down the hall from my room each morning.  The complimentary tea and scones each afternoon were delightful.  I looked forward to them.

After being on a cruise ship for nine nights, it was wonderful to have a bathtub again.  I did enjoy the jacuzzi tub in the sunshine while on the Norwegian Star, though.  I felt inspired by the decor at Hotel 41.  They had a delicious buffet in the late evening which I unfortunately missed the first two nights.  The first time I fell asleep, and the second night I met friends at The Ivy.   On my last day there, I enjoyed it immensely.  They served a hearty shepherd's pie, salad, vegetables, other items, and small desserts.  Next time I will eat there each night, since it is included in the room price.   The food was divine!

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My First Time in London

 After cruising for nine nights from Barcelona to Southhampton, I spent three fabulous days and nights in London.  What a spectacular city!  I am in love with that place.  The people, architecture, shopping and gardens absolutely thrilled me.  

My friend Sara and I took photos in this gorgeous art deco bathroom at The Ivy.  I love those pink marble sinks.  It reminded me of old San Francisco in so many ways.  My grandparents had majectic grey marble steps leading up to their 1920's house on Taraval Street.  I was always in awe as I walked up them to their stately front door.   

 I found this charming rose cafe near Hotel 41, where I was staying.  I  stopped in for a cup of tea.  Don't you just love the decor!   It reminded me of my cottage in LA.  Some of my ancestors are from England, and I really felt at home there.  It was as if I was connecting to my roots and style.  

This is the magical view from my hotel window at sunset.  It took my breath away; it was such a lovely scene.  The hotel itself was absolutely gorgeous.  I will post more photos of Hotel 41 in future posts.  

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Eating Out While On Vacation

As most of you know, I normally cook all of my meals at home.  I wait until I am traveling to splurge on restaurants.  Europe was no exception.  These photos are from Hotel Can Bordoy in Mallorca.  The food that they served was divine!  The dessert above was my absolute favorite.  It's called a Pavlova.  It tasted absolutely heavenly.

This is the gate that leads to the pool area.  The garden was so lush and colorful.  It inspired me to continue to develop my outdoor living spaces at home.  There is nothing like dining al fresco.  The flowers, birds and fresh air gave each meal such a delightful ambiance.

I went to the beach every day.  The water there is so clean and clear.  It feels incredibly healing.  I love contrast of the rocks against the Mediterranean Sea.  Mallorca really is a spectacular and magical island.  

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Why I Loved Cruising on NCL's Norwegian Star

 

Quite often I read articles written by first time cruisers on why they don't enjoy cruising.  I, on the other hand, absolutely love it!  My most recent cruise was from Barcelona to London on the Norwegian Star.  This photo was taken from my balcony.   I love to sit outside and gaze at the water.  It is so relaxing and mesmerizing.  It puts me in a trance.  Chores and responsibilities seem so very far away...

I love the fact that once I have unpacked, my work is done.  I can just enjoy the delicious food, entertainment, people and scenery.  I feel like I get so much more for my money when cruising.  The chefs on the Star were exceptional.  I was highly impressed with every meal that I had.  Because I booked my travel during the height of Covid, I got some excellent deals.  I was afraid that the journey might be canceled, but everything went as planned.  I bought travel and Covid insurance, just in case.  Our ship was only sailing at half capacity, so it wasn't crowded.  It was easy to get a lounge chair at the pool, find a seat in the bars, and quickly be sat at a table in the fantastic restaurants.  

To my delight I received a letter stating that I could enjoy my breakfast and lunch in the restaurant that is usually reserved for The Haven guests, only.  That was such a fantastic and unexpected perk!  The specialty restaurants are my favorite, especially Cagney's Steakhouse.  Basically, I was given two first class meals per day.  I felt so spoiled and pampered.  I even splurged for a massage, which was excellent.

Cruising suits my personality because travelers are so friendly.  I made friends wherever I went.  The staff went out of their way to make the trip exceptional.  I find it a wonderful way to travel solo.  You can have privacy if you want, or can join in on group activities when you feel like being social.  

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Back From Europe!

 

Hello Everyone!  I'm sorry that I haven't posted in so long.  I was on holiday in Europe.  We had an amazing time.  I went to Mallorca for my friend Rich's destination wedding.  It was glorious!  Here we are at the party after the ceremony.  We were dance captains together thirty years ago at Theater des Westens in Berlin, Germany.  The show was Anything Goes.

Since I was traveling all the way from America, I decided to stay a while, and booked a cruise on NCL.  It began in Barcelona, went through Spain, Portugal, Luxemburg, France, and ended in London.  This was my first time there.  What a spectacular city!  I stayed at the impressive Hotel 41.  My friend Sara and I met up a couple of times.  She and I danced together at MGM.  Here we are at The Ivy.

This is sweet Caroline.  We met on the Catamaran and became fast friends.  Everyone wore white to the party and we danced for hours.  

It was exciting to travel abroad after all of the Covid challenges.  The entire trip went very smoothly.  A negative Covid test was required to enter Spain.  It had to be take within 48 hours of leaving home, and also to get back to the USA.  To my relief, I passed it both times.  

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When Your Dog Food Sickens Your Pet

 Last night I was up with Jacques on ten different trips in the dark to go to the bathroom.  He had horrible diarrhea. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but he was miserable.  He kept panting and pacing in the bedroom.  Normally he sleeps quietly and soundly.  He had an urgent need to get outside to avoid having an accident indoors.  I praised him for being so considerate.  

Each time he woke me, I turned on the outside light, checked for wild animals, and listened to him squirt more liquid onto the bare earth.   I was getting very concerned.  This had started a week ago, and it really escalated last night.  I decided to Google the brand of food that I had bought for him, Iams.   I had even purchased a second bag, in case the first one happened to be a bad batch.

It turns out other pet owners have had the same problem.  Like their dogs, mine didn't express any interest in eating the kibble after feeling sick.  I decided to try Rachel Ray's brand.  They already seem much more energetic, and it's only been a day.  I normally would switch gradually to a new pet food, but not this time.  Whatever was in the last two packages was very toxic.  They acted like they had food poisoning.  (Lula's case was milder.)  She had blood in her stool.  Ugh!  

Hopefully tonight will be peaceful and serene.  They slept most of the day to make up for the rest we all lost last night.  I even nodded off during my Suze Orman podcast.  Quality pet food is so important.  What do you give your pets?

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