Re: Shaz's journal
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:12 pm
@theanimal @mooretrees thanks for checking in. The reducing has slowed down. I got to a point where it felt like I got rid of nearly everything I don't need. I know that isn't really the case. I'm still slowly getting rid of things and I expect it will pick back up once I get used to the new lower amount of possessions.
~General Update~
A scarcity mindset has been creeping back in as DH and I get closer to our retirement dates. It's scary seeing the firehose of cash about to be cut down to something more resembling a garden hose. Which part of my brain knows will be plenty but part of my brain finds to be terrifying.
I also find myself putting off all sorts of things until after I retire because I know I will have more time for them then. I'm not sure that is exactly a good idea but also I don't have the emotional energy to fight it right now.
Last month my body found another creative and unprovoked way to try to kill me (my small intestine literally tied itself in a knot). I spent a week in the hospital with a tube down my throat and had another surgery. I finally got cleared to resume normal activity 2 days ago.
DH set his retirement date as May 3, with April 19 being his last day actually working. He submitted all of the necessary paperwork to HR so we are committed.
I am wavering on my date. My employer has offered to allow me to be 100% remote if I will put off retiring. On the one hand, my recent hospitalization took me to my max out of pocket for the year so changing health insurance mid-year means I will end up spending thousands of dollars needlessly because I know I have 2 sets of expensive scans that I still need to do this year. On the other hand, I would like to retire while I can still enjoy it. On the gripping hand ... I suspect what will happen is that I will retire as soon as the weather warms up enough to make me totally envious of DH's freedom to be active outside.
As of January we hit our target retirement savings so that worked out pretty much as planned.
I'm putting my oldest cat to sleep today because her quality of life has declined to the point where it is the kindest thing to do. I'm overwhelmingly sad to lose her. I slept on the floor with her the past 5 nights because I didn't want her to be alone. I also recognize that the reduction in pets is also happening pretty much the way I projected.
I'll try to put together a more coherent update soon.
~General Update~
A scarcity mindset has been creeping back in as DH and I get closer to our retirement dates. It's scary seeing the firehose of cash about to be cut down to something more resembling a garden hose. Which part of my brain knows will be plenty but part of my brain finds to be terrifying.
I also find myself putting off all sorts of things until after I retire because I know I will have more time for them then. I'm not sure that is exactly a good idea but also I don't have the emotional energy to fight it right now.
Last month my body found another creative and unprovoked way to try to kill me (my small intestine literally tied itself in a knot). I spent a week in the hospital with a tube down my throat and had another surgery. I finally got cleared to resume normal activity 2 days ago.
DH set his retirement date as May 3, with April 19 being his last day actually working. He submitted all of the necessary paperwork to HR so we are committed.
I am wavering on my date. My employer has offered to allow me to be 100% remote if I will put off retiring. On the one hand, my recent hospitalization took me to my max out of pocket for the year so changing health insurance mid-year means I will end up spending thousands of dollars needlessly because I know I have 2 sets of expensive scans that I still need to do this year. On the other hand, I would like to retire while I can still enjoy it. On the gripping hand ... I suspect what will happen is that I will retire as soon as the weather warms up enough to make me totally envious of DH's freedom to be active outside.
As of January we hit our target retirement savings so that worked out pretty much as planned.
I'm putting my oldest cat to sleep today because her quality of life has declined to the point where it is the kindest thing to do. I'm overwhelmingly sad to lose her. I slept on the floor with her the past 5 nights because I didn't want her to be alone. I also recognize that the reduction in pets is also happening pretty much the way I projected.
I'll try to put together a more coherent update soon.