Eating my breakfast going through my bills, as today is a much needed pay day. Post wedding expenses. Already worked out. Run was glorious - upper 58s. I won’t get many more of those in the next 4 months. Gym portion was fine.
Hopefully work will be better than yesterday. Blah. Tonight we’re going to see Backrooms at the theater. I don’t do horror in theaters, but H promises me this is more suspense.
I’ll be home all day waiting for two workmen. First is someone to finish installation of countertops. Second is the plumber to hook up sink, garbage disposal, dishwasher, and faucets. I’m a happy camper that kitchen and half bath will become useable again.
Another beautiful morning! I got up early so I could enjoy the weather and took my dog for a long walk. I’m now sitting on the porch, just finished my audiobook, John of John, catching up on the news, and scrolling here before I head to work. Dh is going to a “forced military retirement” (thanks to our current administration) for a very old friend. A great loss to our military leadership! Dh will likely go out with friends afterward so I’ll prob just pick up dinner on my way home.
Today, we were able to enjoy fjords & waterfalls, visit a viking village, try axe throwing (we were pretty awful), archery (we all hit the target with each arrow) and learn about viking life some. It was interesting. We then went back to the hotel to check out—say goodbye to the fjord and catch bus and then train to Bergen through some very lovely areas
We have 3 nights here and a farewell dinner with our friends tonight as they go back to US tomorrow.
Sitting in a waiting room while DH has surgery
I slept all night - didn’t wake up once, I was that tired. However, I was awake and up at 5:30 am. Coffee, caught up on some reading, picked up Sabapup at the kennel, waited in the Ticketmaster queue to buy tickets for another event and managed to get 4, then walked Sabapup who is very happy to be home. Now we are headed to Costco. It’s a beautiful, sunny, low humidity day here. No complaints - it’s great while it lasts!
Spending the day doing a little online searching about retirees and wishing they had #1) taken out a new travel credit card prior to retiring; and, #2) taking out a HELOC. HELOC not for use but for protection, emergencies, etc. We are very good at not spending money to manage the budget so not worried about dipping into HELOC but just knowing it’s there, with no fees, no penalties for non use, etc. seems like it makes sense to get it. Maybe I’m missing something but we have rest of year to decide, not sure if you can get one after retirement. We are late in the game getting a travel card because son was a points guy follower and we let him pay for all big events/meals/trips etc for the points (with reimbursement from us), but now that our travel is picking up, we’ll need those points!
I went impulse shopping.
First to TJ Maxx where for a change, they had tons of pants and tops. I ended up with a J Crew t shirt and linen/rayon pants (not well known company). I actually did have a wardrobe gap for lightweight long pants. And was delighted to find that the slightly too small size L looked better than the slightly too large XL.
I also got a wallet which I didn’t need but like better than the one I got recently at Nordstrom Rack.
Then on to Home Goods where I couldn’t find exactly the right hard plastic spatula. So I bought a pancake turner on sale for $2.40. And a small highball glass with finger grips so I don’t drop my Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey cream on the rocks. Also bought a couple of treats from the food section, including lingonberry jam so we can have Swedish pancakes.
Then on to Trader Joe’s where we needed milk, eggs, and Tuscan melon. We did not need the other treats I bought.
Overall a satisfying day. And the sun is shining, so off to get some Vitamin D by the pool.
I like the outfit, especially the pants. They are a nice summer weight & hang really nicely.
Very flattering outfit
So my puttering today turned into:
Ironed a few things so I could finally put away all the bedding that my son’s family used while they were here.
Went to Costco to return a pair of pants (when will I ever learn to stop buying clothes at Costco? They never fit me.) and bought a few things (of course).
Did one load of laundry.
Folded a ton of laundry.
Returned books to the library and picked up one for my next book club meeting.
Napped.
Took a walk.
A wonderful day, all in all.
I was advised to take out a HELOC before I semi-retired. I think it’s a good strategy for those of us who don’t find it hard to have it there for emergencies and aren’t tempted to spend it on something that is better saved up for. Ours is for $50k and other than upgrading if we decide to sell I hope to never use it. But it’s there if we need it.
Exactly! We also were advised but not by a professional, just a friend.
It was actually my financial advisor who suggested it. Never would have occurred to me but I thought it was great advice and so did it. Bank never asked if my income was likely to change and I didn’t bring it up.
We did get a HELOC just before H retired because it was totally free and H’s income was the major source of our household income. (We also felt sorry for the bank employee who asked us to open one—I think it gives them bonus points for every HELOC they get customers to open.) We never used the HELOC at all and it was open until the bank forced us to close for non-use after 8 or 10 years. When we closed it, we had to pay $25 or something to get it off our title.
We are touring Bergen, Norway with friends before they depart for US.
Sipping a steaming cappucino while listening to rain on the roof and catching up with all of you here.
Content.
Slept in this morning, did my puzzles, ate breakfast on the sunporch, put out the sprinkler, and now waiting for H to get ready so we can go to farmer’s market. We’ll take a long walk at some point and we have a symphony concert tonight.
We had hoped to kayak but it’s chilly and there is a beach hazard warning today. Maybe next weekend.
And, I can’t get Volare out of my head (IYKYK). 
After a rainy concert I am coming down with a cold. Sabapup and I had a great walk this morning, H went to the gym, I did some more laundry. Trying to plan out some meals for the week. Back to boring!
It’s a bit chilly here, but I think I will bundle up and go do some yard work…if it doesn’t start to rain!
Otherwise…nothing special going on here!!
