My Tireless Retirement - Week 236

 

Another beautiful week in paradise and my retirement has come to an end.  I’ve spent a fair bit of time outdoors enjoying the sunshine, blue skies and fresh air.  I’ve had some elk sightings too, but every time I grab the camera those little (huge) buggers go behind a tree or clump of brush.  It’s like they know and suddenly become very camera shy.  My cat does the same thing.

 

Saturday I raked up enough leaves to fill up two trash bags.  Looking around at the trees I’m sure I’ll be raking for a few more months, but I don’t mind at all.  It doesn’t take me very long on my small lot and the park staff cleans up the vast majority of them throughout the week.  We just need to take care of our own lots.

 

I took all day Sunday off and then was back at it on Monday tidying things up and doing the laundry.  After dust mopping and then wet mopping the floors I swept the porch and ended up taking my mid morning coffee break out there in my rocking chair.  I love how peaceful it is here.

 

Next, I put in an online Costco order and was able to get everything delivered at no additional cost.  Do I need any of this stuff?  No, but I wanted it so I bought it.  Most of it will end up in my LTFS, and the treats?  They’re for me.  I’m working on a Wal-Mart delivery order next and once I get that done I should be very well stocked for the wintertime as well as the upcoming holidays.

 

Having a well stocked kitchen once again is allowing me to prepare just about any meal I choose.  I even made some fish & chips for my lunch one day instead of driving into town for an overpriced meal at a restaurant.  It was pretty darn tasty.  I also made a pot of black bean soup in my little Crockpot to go with some leftover cornbread I had made the previous week.  With Fall in the air now I’ve been wanting to make soup again.  I’ll be sharing the recipe for the bean soup with you soon.

 

And can I tell you something?  I am absolutely tickled pink with my new refrigerator.  It is such a joy to have and use.  There are times when I look at it that I cannot believe I even have it in my kitchen.  In fact, I look around my home and it almost seems surreal that I am here.  I am just thrilled.

 

Tuesday morning I did a little project in the bathroom installing a timer switch for the bathroom exhaust fan.  I had done this in my previous house and it was a real game changer for me and I think it kind of spoiled me.  I decided the new house needed one too so I ordered the exact same one again from Amazon.  Now I can take my shower at night and go to bed without needing to stay up and shut the fan off once the humidity in the room is gone.  This is just a simple little luxury that doesn’t cost a lot ($15), but it really makes a difference.

 

Wednesday the new grocery ads came out and I was able to find a handful of items in my Wal-Mart cart that were on sale at Safeway.  I decided to remove those items from my cart and download the digital coupons instead.  I figured I needed a good excuse to leave the house and venture into town anyway.

 

Some new shelving units arrived Thursday so now I can begin my next “big” project.  These shelves are very much needed so I can get my storage shed cleared out and then organized.  Right now it is a complete disaster and difficult find or get to what I need.  I’ve also had a few crap-a-lanches that have spilled out the door or landed on my feet.  Time to do something about that!  I’ll keep you posted.

 

How was your week?  Did you do anything fun?  How is the weather where you live?  Ours has been really nice, but we’ve got some rainy days ahead.  I hope you have a great weekend.  Take care!

 

No Longer Rushing

My go-go-go kind of got up and went.  I am no longer in a rush to do anything.  That mode of operation simply isn’t necessary for me anymore so I let it go.  Something happened when I decided to sell my house.  I immediately went into what I like to refer to as living in “free flow” mode.  And!  I don’t make To-Do lists anymore.  In fact, I tossed out my carefully prepared planner and just did what felt right at the time, which if you’ve been around long you know this is not at all how I operate, but I do now. 

I decluttered this! 😬

I didn’t make a single list the entire time I was preparing to move or while I was moving either.  And guess what?  It all worked out just fine.  I got things done and I didn’t miss anything.  I think I actually accomplished a whole lot more this way without feeling any overwhelm so my plan going forward was to keep at it and that is exactly what I continue to do.  As I look back over the past three months I am in awe at all that I have accomplished in such a short amount of time.  This “free flow” lifestyle is really working!

 

While I’m in “free flow” mode I find I no longer rush to do anything and that has really changed me in a very positive way.  My stress level is pretty much nil most of the time and if I do get anxious it is very mild compared to previously and doesn’t last very long.  My mood is more calm and I feel good.  I am also far more patient and understanding when things don’t go exactly to plan.  I don’t even mind standing in line at the post office when there is only one person at the counter.  How about that?

 

I still marvel at how much more I get done, how much easier and more enjoyable it is for me to complete my tasks and how good the results are when I’m done.  I don’t feel stressed or worn out as I work or when I’m done which definitely makes life much more enjoyable.  Also, if I don’t really feel like doing something one day, I don’t.  I let it sit and wait until I’m ready to tackle it and so far nothing bad has happened.  The world kept spinning and life went on as usual.  I love it!

 

 

Setting Up My Laundry Area

 

The laundry situation at my new home was a bit of a head scratcher.  The previous owner had gone to great lengths to install plumbing for a washing machine and a gas line for a dryer.  He had built a platform to place the washer and dryer and that was about the extent of the operation.  The appliances sat outside, completely exposed to the elements with only a tarp screwed to the fence as a drape to try to protect them.  Not only was this ineffective, but it looked atrocious.

 

As part of the sale of the home I asked that these appliances be removed upon closing.  The washing machine no longer worked (wonder why?) and they were filthy dirty.  They were also much larger than what I need in this stage of life.  I had larger capacity front loaders in my previous home, which was great, but after the kiddos grew up and left home they were really too big for my needs.

 

After doing a lot of research, and having lived in an RV with a portable washing machine, I knew that was the scale I wanted in this stage of my life.  A cute tiny washer and dryer for a cute tiny house seemed perfect.  I even did a lot of research and discovered that in many Asian and European countries these washing machines are what they typically use along with drying racks and clotheslines.  I already had the drying rack so this was making more and more sense.

 

With a lot of thought I mapped out my plan to upgrade the previous homeowner’s attempt at a laundry center and I even asked the home inspector for some input to make sure I wasn’t going to do something stupid.  He wholeheartedly agreed that what I wanted to do back there would work and a couple of my neighbors thought so too.  With those ringing endorsements I forged ahead and was able to order a resin trash bin storage shed kit on clearance (60% OFF) over Labor Day weekend and have it delivered to my house.

 

Assembling the shed took me a little over an hour, was surprisingly easy and I was thrilled once I was done that it was the perfect dimensions to fit the washer and dryer inside.  Although I had taken a lot of measurements and read the specs on several sheds you just never know until it is actually sitting in front of you.  It was also light enough for me to easily move and maneuver.  While I waited for the oscillating multi-tool I had ordered from Home Depot to arrive I was left at a standstill to move forward for about a week.

 

The wait was worth it as it gave me extra time to think about things and come up with a methodical execution plan.  This tool worked perfectly to cut the openings I needed to accommodate the water line, electrical outlet and even the cutting of the round hole for the dryer vent.  I was able to reuse the vent hose and cover from the previous set up, but the water line (there is only one on this washer) needed to be replaced because it leaked.

 

Right now I have it set up in place with everything connected.  My next steps will be to add the proper water line and the foam insulation.  I’m able to reuse what was on the previous owners water lines as well as the existing heat tape.  I will also be adding some insulation to the walls, doors and the roof (which opens on hydraulic lifts so I have plenty of access to do my laundry).  Because I’m in the south the winters are a bit more mild than where I come from which is why this outdoor setup should work for me year round, but I do want to take precautions in case we get a cold snap.  I will also be adding the option of an oil filled heater should the need arise.

 

And that is it!  The washing machine does a fabulous job.  As soon as my laundry basket reaches the top I know it is time to do a load.  The dryer takes care of the lighter weight items so my undies and sexy lingerie (I don’t own anything sexy) don’t need to flap in the breeze and my drying rack handles the towels.  I have always hung my bras, pants and most of my shirts to dry so nothing there has changed.  I’m just very happy to have this neatly contained and protected area in my backyard where I can wash my laundry at home, regardless of the weather.

 

Streamlined LTFS Plans & Preparation?

 

Of all the things I needed to downsize in preparation of my out of state move I found my long term food storage (LTFS) really tugged at my heart.  All of that hard work, money and time spent to reach my ultimate goal to see if I could create two years of food storage left me feeling rather sad as I dismantled it and gave the majority of it all away.  The BFF and several friends benefitted from this surplus and I’m happy it is helping them, but it was still pretty tough to let it go.  Logistically, it just wasn’t going to be practical for me to try to take it with me.

 

So long, farewell 😭

Nonetheless, I did manage to bring a little bit of it with me which helped greatly as I transitioned into hotel rooms while I completed my new home search.  It proved to be very convenient to have home canned shelf stable items with me to easily make healthy meals in my hotel room.  My 12V camp refrigerator allowed me to take quite a bit of my frozen Butcher Box meat and some butter with me too.  I was able to keep it running with the solar generator which I charged while driving down the road and later once I got to my possible home town I brought it into the hotel and plugged it into the wall.

 

This is all I brought with me including food for the cat 🙀

As mentioned before I packed a banker box as my starter pantry so I wouldn’t have to completely start from scratch.  I also packed another banker box filled with spices, pickles, olives and condiments.  Both of those went into the car for the journey as well.  A third box held three flats of home canned goods.  For daily use items I set up what I needed in two Trader Joes bags and that turned out to be just right for what I needed while in the hotels.

 

Lots of miles ahead with time to think

As I drove across the country I had plenty of time to think and one of the topics I thought about was whether or not I wanted to create a new LTFS and how I might go about it this time.  Ultimately I came to the conclusion I would definitely want to have a LTFS because I truly enjoy doing it and I think it is simply in my nature to want that type of preparedness in my life.

 

I came up with a new plan! 😊

Oddly enough, before moving some of you had requested me to talk about how one might start a LTFS and I was in the midst of writing a couple of blog posts about it when I got the offer on the house.  Now I’m going to change gears a little bit and just take you along as I do it in real time.  I have far less available space this time around and I’ve decided to really streamline what I am going to have on hand, especially as right now grocery prices are so high.

 

I'll be taking advantage of this area over the fridge

I’m very much looking forward to my next great adventure as I begin a brand new long term food storage system.  It will be a good project to work on this winter.  I hope you will all enjoy coming along with me as I get started.

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 235

 

This week was a quietly productive one for me.  First up was to go to Home Depot and do some “unshopping”.  I had a pile of storage items I realized I didn’t need so I wanted to get those out of the house and my money back.  But, the big reason to go was to make a big purchase.  I bought a new refrigerator.

 

This is the fanciest refrigerator I have ever owned 😍

When I moved into the new house the fridge in the kitchen was in bad shape.  I’m pretty sure it was in someone’s garage and the previous owner used it to replace the one he took with him.  I don’t know that for sure, but that’s my guess.  Especially as this one was scratched, dented and had a lot of dirt sitting on top of it, I suspect it sat in a garage or on a patio somewhere.  Inside it was surprisingly clean, but missing some of the shelves on the door.  The top freezer didn’t seal properly and it wasn’t long before I could tell it was struggling to keep things cool.  That being said, it did last long enough for me to research and figure out what exactly I wanted to replace it with and what I chose, to me anyway, is absolutely beautiful.  I am so happy with my new refrigerator which was delivered bright and early on Monday morning.

 

At Home Depot I also picked up a set of doorknobs with deadbolts for the front and back doors.  Replacing the locks was one of those things that was high on my list, but with everything else on my plate it took me over a month to get this done.  I was okay with waiting because the previous owner now lives in another state.  But still, it was something I felt I should do soon and with only one key I definitely wanted to get it done before I lost it.  I feel very safe here, but having new locks makes me feel even more secure.

 

I treated myself to another new appliance last week.  I purchased a new toaster oven, a size larger than my old one and it has the air fryer function.  I have to say I do love having an air fryer option.  I realized that I don’t want to heat up the big oven on my stove just to cook a small thing like a couple fish fillets, a corn dog or a small pan of cornbread muffins.  I needed something tailored more for the way I actually cook for myself now and this new appliance is perfect for that.  Surprisingly it wasn’t much more to purchase than just an air fryer.

 

Along with the projects I had the usual everyday tasks to keep me busy as well.  I did laundry, made a batch of chili in my cute little Crockpot, baked cornbread in the new toaster oven, among some other things, and kept things neat and tidy.  I love that every day I can keep house neat, clean and tidy in only a few minutes and the rest of the day is mine to do with as I choose.

 

When the ads changed on Wednesday I did check them out to see if there was anything to tempt me to drive into town.  It turned out there wasn’t anything so I was content to just stay home.  It had been steadily raining all day and night beginning Monday and I think the best part of rainy days is staying home with a cuddly kitty, a hot beverage and relaxing.  Doing only what one truly wants to do. So, that is what I chose to do.

 

Other than my cute little ghosts in my kitchen I had no Halloween décor with me so I had popped into Dollar Tree the previous week and selected two new items to decorate my porch.  I hung them up on Wednesday to welcome the month of October.  It is hard for me to believe it is already October.  The past three months have been quite the whirlwind for me.  I’ve really come a long way in such a short time.

 

So, How Exactly Did I Make This All Happen?

 

When I was doing my retirement planning and getting ready to retire I always knew that selling my home would be a big part of that plan.  I needed to use the equity from the sale of that home to invest and grow my wealth for better financial security.  I always knew that Social Security alone would not be enough for me to live on without a lot of frugality and sacrifice.  In preparation of my retirement I took full advantage of my employer’s matching funds for my 401(k).  I also added a lot to my savings accounts, made sure my emergency account was fully funded, added as much as I could to my health savings account (HSA) and paid off all off my debt.  Only then did I submit my retirement package and start to count the days until I was out of there.

 

While I built into my financial plan wiggle room to account for inflation, I did not expect or plan for things to go the way that they have this past five years.  After filing to start receiving my Social Security benefits I received my new tax assessment on my home from the county.  Utility rates were going to increase as was my homeowner’s insurance, car insurance, etc.  For the first time I realized that my beloved home that I had owned for over thirty years was becoming a burden, both physically and financially.  It was becoming difficult and costly to keep it up and it was beginning to feel a bit like having a full time job.  It was time to do what I had always intended to do in the first place and put it up for sale.  Fortunately I didn’t have to list it with a realtor.

 

Boxes & bins that went into the U-box

I got rid of so much stuff!

Literally through a friend of a friend who knew someone who knew someone I was contacted by a couple looking to purchase a home as an investment.  They made me a very generous offer and without over thinking it (first time in my life that ever happened) I accepted their offer and got to work.  With a thirty day closing I had no time to waste so I spent the first week packing only the things I wanted to take with me.  What was left was priced for an estate sale, put up for sale on Facebook Marketplace or loaded into my car and taken to my neighborhood thrift store.  The truck and motorhome were already sold, which was not part of this plan at all, and I let that momentum carry me forward.  Within three weeks I had sold everything listed on Facebook Marketplace and held my estate sale.  I added everything I had made from those sales to the money from the sale of the truck and the  motorhome.

 

During this time I had also booked a U-haul U-box to come a week prior to closing so I could load the boxes of packed items and get them stored until I landed.  At the time I booked this I had no idea where I was going.  I actually thought I’d end up staying with the BFF while I figured that part out, but as I was doing everything else I was also researching places and looking at all kinds of different houses on Homes.com.  And then I did something I never thought I’d do.  I opened ChatGBT and told it what was going on and what I was hoping to find including a general idea of where I wanted to live and what kind of town I wanted to reside in.  As a result, it gave me some really solid options to look at until I found my place.  It matched my criteria and magically Homes.com had homes in that area that were exactly what I was looking for at prices that fit well within my budget.  I reached out to a realtor and went from there.  Sorry BFF, I will not be invading your space after all.  I’m sure he was quietly relieved.

 

My little road warrior

With my appointment set at the title company to close on my Boise house I went ahead and booked my hotel stays.  My plan was to use the proceeds from my estate sale to cover all of my travel expenses like gas and food and the proceeds from the truck to handle the hotel expenses.  Amazingly the estate sale did far better than I ever expected and I was able to handle all of my travel and hotel expenses with those proceeds alone.  I still had money left.  It took me three days to reach my destination and the next day the realtor showed me around town and took me to see a handful of homes I was interested in, the first one being the one I was most interested in and it ended being the one I bought.  I had a budget and this home came in well under budget which I was absolutely thrilled about.  Ten days after I arrived I checked out of my hotel and moved into my new house.

 

I didn’t pack  any furniture except for the buffet I use as a TV stand and a night stand.  No bed, nothing to sit on or eat at.  Fortunately the previous owner left behind a rather decent faux leather recliner in like new condition so I had that to start with.  Still do.  Once I closed on my new house (and while I waited a week for the U-box to arrive) I was able to use the proceeds from the truck to get everything I needed – new carpet, a bed frame, mattress and new bedding, a dining room table and chairs, a washer and dryer, a shed kit for the washer and dryer, a kitchen island, groceries and a bunch of other little things.  The money left over from the estate sale paid for applications fees, charges to set up utilities, some more groceries and that sort of stuff.  I still had money left from the budgeted amount for the new house as well as the sale of the motorhome so I ended up rolling that along with the remaining proceeds from the Boise house sale to use to invest in my future and grow my wealth.  By the time all was said and done, I’d done alright.

 

This dining set is perfect!

My new house is a tiny home, a park model RV, in a 55+ community.  I have a land lease that includes my water, sewer, trash and cable.  I pay separately for electricity, internet and propane.  My homeowners insurance and property taxes are less than $350 per year which is a significant savings over what I used to pay and because this home is so much smaller so are my utility bills.  Even with the land lease I am money ahead.  By the time I subtract what I was paying for water, sewer and trash in Boise it makes my rent only $250 a month.  I don’t know anywhere you can rent a home for that price.  Based on my previous expenses this was a very smart move.

 

Blessed with plenty to eat

What this now means for me is that my monthly Social Security check is not only enough to cover my housing costs , but it still leaves me with about two thirds of that income left over each month for living.  I can now afford to live very comfortably on my Social Security alone and still contribute to my savings each month should I choose to do that.  I likely will because that will allow me to replace my car whenever that needs to be done, it will allow me to afford to travel more and it will also allow me to enjoy some other nice things from time to time.

 

Had I continued to live in my previous home things would’ve been really tight and I would’ve needed to regularly dip into my retirement accounts in order to make things more comfortable and cover expenses like a new roof or home repairs.  Traveling would’ve likely been on an occasional basis and there wouldn’t have been much in the way of extravagance.  But now, I can pretty much do whatever I choose, within reason, and that is something I’ve never had before.  This move has given me financial security and freedom for the first time in my life.  I don’t have to worry anymore, which is how our retirement years are supposed to be, right?  To me, that is absolutely priceless.