Nothing catastrophic but close to it. Jon's last unemployment check was this week. Management here is very nice, they aren't charging late fees and as long as you keep tabs with them about when I'll be able to pay they're cool.
Work is work, but let's back up a bit.
We've been here for three months now and the commute isn't so bad, takes about a half hour each way and my car is not as young as it used to be. It's using about a tank every four or five days, well 3/4 as I don't like to get that close to empty. Luckily there's a costco right near work and I can fill up there before heading home most of the days.
Car is in need of a major tune up being over 16k miles. Needs new tires and a few other fix ups, has an oil and a transmission leak. If it dies I have a possible help from work to get it fixed or a new car or try to transfer to the one close to me and take the bus. Don't think I want to go without a car again.
On my trips to work I pass a huge Lotto billboard that gives the latest totals and I fantasize what I would do with my cut of it the rest of the way to work.
A girl can dream, and I do.
Jon has had breathing problems more lately, ran out of his inhaler that the hospital gave him, told him it was an 'emergency' inhaler but he was using it every day three times a day. We went to urgent care to try and get a new one and the doctor was very stern with him about how that wasn't what it was for. That's what he was told to use it and she gave him a a prescription for a daily one with different medicine. Also gave us a list of doctors that takes MediCal and found one, got an appointment next week. Another dream is getting essentially a 'doctors note' saying for Jon's health we should move to someplace less polluted and cooler, ohhh say Washington state. (Yes I know recently they had as many fires as we did with worse smoke but the summers there aren't as bad as San Diego.)
So....
Amber and her core family (boyfriend and Ava) had to move out of their apartment due to mold issues that has been going on. Almost turned into a legal battle but they were able to find a new place immediately and moved in a few days. The previous place only gave them a 5 day voucher for a hotel and the contractor she talked to said it was going to take months since it involved three other units as well.
Their new place is in their old old neighborhood walking distance to where both of them work. Very happy with that for them and they have a spiffy gas stove AND a dishwasher! I am so jealous!
With everything going on, work is taking good care of their employees 'associates' and gives us $100 bonus with every paycheck which is indefinite likely until next year. Providing extra covid sick hours and overtime when needed.
On the other hand, work is work. We are out of a lot of things people are still asking for and it gets frustrating having to tell the umpteenth customer we don't have it, haven't had it for months and don't know when we'll have it again.
I'm kind of the third string department head and everyone looks to me for guidance and general info, especially plants. It's nice to be needed but I'm a garden geek. I can wing my way through most other home stuff but it's getting to the point of forgetting some plant names that I used to know off the top of my head.
Yeah some of it could be age. I turned 62 today but I have always prided myself on my 'rolodex' of plant names. Some of the cards are fading and it worries me sometimes.
As for me (and Jon since we're the same age), too young to truly retire and not enough in the new retirement account yet to do anything with. If I chose to take SS retirement I wouldn't be making anymore than I am now, maybe even less. I could work part time and supplement it but the whole point of retiring is not having to work. I don't want to wait ten years for full retirement, here's hoping we both last for at least another four years and try it at 66 1/2.
I have gone over various scenarios of winning the big jackpot lottery. Subtracted taxes (for California), how much I would need immediately and throwing the remainder in a very nice account and live off the interest. I have houseplans I like as well as interior ideas and various color combinations all picked out on my pinterest boards. Been researching housing costs, land cost, parcel/land tax and maintenance amounts. Just found out today that someone in a nearby area won the $28 million lottery here. Wow..even if you take half off the top for taxes, that's still 13M, then if I take just 1 M for right now and toss the rest.. it's still a good chunk of change. Okay figure immediate taxes on that million there's still enough to get my car fixed (or a new car), my teeth fixed, find a bigger place to live and have enough to coast for the rest of the year.
Did you know that Washington state does not tax retirement income because it's considered personal income? They also don't have a state tax so pros and cons of that.
So that's basically it. I hope all who read this are dealing with the weather, politics and distancing well.
Here's hoping come November we will have a ray of sunshine to brighten our future and the light at the end of the tunnel will get a little closer (and that it may not be an oncoming train).
That's enough update for now I think.
As a birthday, nothing spectacular other than getting an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and the girls practically sang happy birthday to me. Gave me an ice cream cone in a cup of my fave flavor, Jamocha Almond Fudge. I gave them whatever I had in my pocket (three or four dollars) as a tip. They were adorable.
So here I am, daydreaming and pining for better things and better days. Makes me feel like I've already cursed myself to not ever getting there but then they say focus on what you want and you can get it. Right. Still waiting.
Love to all, and all for love to everyone.
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