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oladulce
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Newly Retired People
Tomorrow will be husband BigWooo's last day as a firefighter and mine as a Nurse. We've had these occupations our entire working lives and it must
have impacted who we both are today. It will be strange to wake up Saturday and be...
...well, a Retired Person I guess.
His co-workers are planning a retirement happy hour, and mine a farewell potluck. I'm sure we'll feel sentimental when the hugs, and back slaps, and
well-wishes begin and it will be really weird on that last walk out to our cars. I encouraged him not to look back at his waving compadres, but more
importantly, we should both try and stifle the hoots and hollers -at least until we're out of the parking lot!
- No more packing up to leave in the middle of a good Baja swell.
- On a whim we can turn off and explore any of the "I wonder where that goes"
roads.
- No more consulting the red.blue. and green calendar and I'll never have to buy
another pocket planner for shift changes.
I think I'll continue to wear my watch in my Baja Sur retirement. I like to plan the day around the tides and I can keep myself on schedule so we can
cram in as many activities as possible until the last glimmer of daylight.
Honestly, these soon-to-be former lives were really just the means to an end. Our true personas have always begun after we've crossed the border or
gotten on an airplane.
All these years we were really just practicing for our real jobs-
Retired People!
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Felicidades, mis amigos!
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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Congradulations to the both of you. I can't wait for the day when I don't have to drive back home on Sunday nights, so for now, I'm jealous!
BW
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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noproblemo2
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1088
Registered: 4-14-2006
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CONGRATS to you both!!!!!!!! HAPPY RETIREMENT..........
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
      
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Good for you both. C'mon down.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3533
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Make sure you read and understand Osprey's rules for a happy retirement. The most important one is to give away every last bit of house painting
equipment.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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You cannot imagine how jealous I am right now. Enjoy, you two. You've obviously earned it.
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 4346
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Congrats and best of luck to both of you. Hope to hear about some of your adventures. Catch a set wave for me!
MAGA
marooons Are Governing America
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Paula
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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[color=green red]Congratulations!!!!!!!![/color]
Now you'll have time to figure out how to do silly things on Baja Nomad
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Wow! Both retiring on the same day! How Cool is that?!?
And about that whole watch thing...
"I think I'll continue to wear my watch in my Baja Sur retirement. I like to plan the day around the tides and I can keep myself on schedule so we can
cram in as many activities as possible until the last glimmer of daylight." .....
Somehow I believe it won't take long for your bodies to get in tune with nature and you will just "know" when it's high tide........
Some day, your watch will end up on the night stand....
HEY! This sounds like a perfect time for a pool!
Anyone wanna place bets on when Oladulce's watch ends up on the night stand?
All the best to both of you, GO FORTH AND ENJOY!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Fantastic!
When we retired, John adjusted much faster than did I. It took me a little time, but now I really can't imagine having the time to work----
Enjoy your new adventure.
Diana
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grace59
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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Wow, Congratulations and I am sooo Jealous!!But you both have had very stressful occupations and deserve a bit of rest and relaxation. Enjoy all
those back roads and perhaps someday we'll meet up on one of them.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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ha
you'll be busier now...
you are just changing careers
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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Bob hit the nail on the head. I don't know how I coulld possibly have the time to do all the things I do and have a job too. I have tried it working
and I have tried it retired and retired definately wins hands down.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Congratulations both of you!!!
We look forward to sharing this wonderful slice of the planet with you...
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Congratulations guys,
and welcome to the Baja community of retirees.
We would love to meet you and if you have a chance to stop by on your way down, we'll have some cold ones waiting for you. We're close to visible from
yhe Highway here in Nopolo, so not much of a detour.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Santiago has opened the door for me to talk openly about retirement. THIS LITTLE PIECE I WROTE IS JUST FOR MEN. MAYBE I'LL DO ONE FOR COUPLES/FAMILIES
WHO MIGHT BE RETIRING TO BAJA CALIFORNIA.
HOW TO STOP
Retirement Debriefing for Men
The Twelve Step Program for Workaholics
When resumés are received, the prospective human resources person in charge will usually flip right to the sections marked WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION
OR CURRICULUM VITAE. They want to know IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, HOW MUCH TRAINING DO YOU HAVE, HAVE YOU DONE IT BEFORE, HOW LONG, TO WHAT END,
ARE YOU GOOD AT IT? As you can see by the dust cover of this book, my qualifications for being able to GIVE YOU A LIFE are not based on WORK
EXPERIENCE. This is not one of those I'VE BEEN THERE AND BACK, I FEEL YOUR PAIN, I CAN HELP YOU books. I HAVE NOT BEEN THERE. Those are my
qualifications -- I NEVER BOUGHT INTO THE WORK THING.
FOR YOU SKEPTICS
A. This little book IS ONLY $1.00 ($1.40 Canadian)
B. It could SAVE YOUR LIFE
C. Ask yourself this question. "Do you think movie stuntmen trainees would rather be taught by Tom Selleck or by a guy in a full body cast?"
D. Or, question 2 "Do you think alcoholics want to be lectured to by a sober guy with a nice smile and great muscle tone who has more chicks than he
can date or a burnt out, gaunt strawman of a figure who willingly admits that he was ravaged by the thing he wants you to shun.
E. Who do you know (except your kids and your brother-in-law Earl) has not come close to cultivating any kind of work ethic; has been able to
survive, thrive without the benefit of A CAREER, A WORK PLAN, A UNION BADGE OR NUMBER?.
I can hear your answers. You are ready. Hold your breath, take my hand, turn the page to THE FIRST STEP TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NIRVANA OF NON-WORK
RETIREMENT LIFE.
STEP ONE
Get Over It
Consider the fact that you are not the first person to retire from an active work/business life. People grow old, wear out, outlive their usefulness
on the job. Life goes on. The world turns, stocks fluctuate. Unless you have a need to pinch children and flip burgers part-time then your
retirement is not just an option....if you can't work any more, you must be retired. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU NO LONGER WORK FOR A LIVING. YOU MUST
BEGIN TO FORGET ABOUT AMALGAMATED THIS, ACME THAT, CONSOLIDATED THOSE. Ole Marvin or Phil can carry on without you. You have left behind a solid
base, a timeless cornerstone of work/business principles and concepts they will carry into the future. Engine House 31 will still fight fires, Santee
Sanitation will still make trips to the landfill, kids will still get to school on the big yellow buses (in fact, on your bus #1026) of the Tri-County
School District WITHOUT YOU.
STEP TWO
Get Rid of The Captain's Hat
Those of you who were Alpha Males, CEO's, The Boss, The Forman, Shift Supervisors need this book more than others. You must learn to STOP TRYING TO
BE USEFUL. You finished all the tasks that needed to be accomplished -- otherwise you would not, now, feel you are actually RETIRED. My little FIVE
MINUTE PRETENDING DRILL CAN HELP. Close your eyes. You are with Hannibal's army crossing the alps. It is very cold. Hannibal is in the lead of a
long column of people and animals. He is followed by his personal legion of guards, then lots of soldiers, then the elephants, more soldiers, wagons
full of provisions, then you. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BE THE LEADER. Get used to the idea that THERE ARE NO LEADERS IN THE WORLD OF RETIREMENT. We are all
lowly followers, the further back in the line, the more fulfilling the retirement experience. Do the drill whenever you feel like jumping up to phone
your congressman, pack your wheel bearings, WD 40 some creaky hinges. Switch around, be with Fremont, Sherman, Rommel, Macy. (forget Donner)
STEP THREE
Stop Puttering
Sell or give away your tools. The opposable thumb has evolved to hold forks, spoons and shot glasses. Have nothing around the house, in the garage
THAT HAS A HANDLE. If you must: one hammer, one adjustable wrench, one combination screwdriver. NO PAINT, NO PAINTING EQUIPMENT. This includes
masking tape, drop cloths, thinner, brushes, rollers and trays. No Electrical Tools or Equipment --- this is the stuff you might say about "oh, this,
this is just a little sander. I don't do the work, the little motor inside does all the work." Who are you kidding? Only yourself. Want to be
convinced? Drive around any Senior's Mobile Home Heaven retirement center and check out the siding on the mobile homes, the paint on the pickup
trucks. The siding is twice as thick as it was when installed WITH ALL THE EXTRA COATS OF PAINT IT MORE RESEMBLES ARMOR THAN SIDING. The paint on
the trucks CANNOT BE MEASURED BY A MICROMETER -- THE VEHICLES ARE WASHED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY.
Garden equipment such as shovels, hoes, clippers, etc. should be locked in a special place -- the key made available only to your wife and/or
gardener.
STEP FOUR
Stop Counting Your Money
No one and nothing can help you adjust to a life of leisure unless you can PUT AWAY YOUR RETIREMENT FILE. IT HAS ALL BEEN VERIFIED, CODIFIED, COPIED,
SAVED, DOWNLOADED AND TUCKED AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, TO THE PENNY, HOW MUCH YOU HAVE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, STIPENDS,
DIVIDENDS AND COUPONS. You (and probably the missus) have been over the RETIREMENT BUDGET a dozen times, know it by heart; all the contingencies,
emergency, discretionary and slush funds, the high risk, low risk, no risk investments and holdings of every kind. YOU'LL BE FINE. NOW JUST STOPPIT.
STEP FIVE
Learn How to Sleep
Now that you have more time (you're not counting your money and you're not puttering anymore) you need to learn how to sleep a good part of your life
away -- and, I hasten to add, it is GUILT-FREE SLEEP. You worked at your job, at your house, for your kids, at your marriage YOUR WHOLE LIFE. You
never got enough sleep and what's more important THE RIGHT KIND OF SLEEP. Now you can catch up. This is not a walk in the park. This will take some
time. Don't rush it. Stay up as late as you can, the later the better. Rent a bunch of old westerns on video, stay up til two or three in the
morning for as many nights as you can. Eventually it will all catch up to you, you'll sleep like the dead until noon or so. Ease off for a few days
and then do it again. After NO MORE THAN SIX WEEKS YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF WANTING TO TAKE A NAP. Don't fight it -- nap anywhere, anytime. Snore.
STEP SIX
Stay "In the Moment"
Lots of retirees spend every waking moment RELIVING THE PAST. YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN, THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT, WHY GO BACK? A quick way out
of this killer habit is to use A DOG. If you already have a dog so much the better, if not, get one at your local pound. WATCH THE DOG. OBSERVE THE
DOG. Dogs do not live in the past. They live IN THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG. Not waltzing everyone that drops by BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE.
Former students have told me that occasionally they have not only been able to LIVE IN THE MOMENT but they have been able to live JUST OUTSIDE THE
MOMENT. Think of it! Not worried about the future, not drudging up the worn-out memories, not stuck on the thorns of the reality of HERE AND NOW,
JUST A STEP AWAY, ALMOST LIKE A CASUAL OBSERVER!! A caution. Don't get ahead of yourself. For now just focus on Here, Now, napping.
STEP SEVEN
Breaking The c-cktail Hour Clock
Those of you who worked for yourselves and most of you who worked for others probably didn't drink alcoholic beverages while you worked. So, no
matter what shift or work routine you were in, for that 8, 10, 12 hours you were employed you abstained. You drinkers held off until work was over;
popped the cap on a beer when you got home or stopped off at your local pub on the way home from work. Well, no more of that. NO MORE SUN OVER THE
YARDARM, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE winking and grinning. No more need for old saws, gimmicks or excuses. YOU MUST BEGIN TO DRINK EARLIER IN THE
DAY. Bloody Mary's in the morning will get things going. Remember there are NO LONGER ANY TOOLS TO HARM YOU. YOU HAVE NO HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE
-- IN FACT, YOU HAVE NO EQUIPMENT AT ALL. No ladders to fall from, no paint to spill, no potential fires or burns from Acetone, paint thinner. You
feel like a few double JB rocks about 2:30 in the afternoon (maybe after your nap), help yourself. You earned it. (stay away from the pool, out of
direct sun until after the evening meal).
IF YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED STEP NUMBER SEVEN YOU MAY TAKE A BREAK HERE
Just because I don't need this book, was never serious enough about "The Work Thing", didn't have adjustments to make when I got older, doesn't mean I
am smug about it. I realize that for some of you WORK WAS YOUR LIFE. For some of you these lessons are killers, not child's play --- you don't take
them lightly and neither do I. So, now may be a good time to have some fun, a little break, some healthy diversion.
I have been told about ten billion times that I tend to exaggerate. I am not stretching it here when I tell you there are UNCOUNTABLE WAYS TO HAVE
FUN, NOW THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN WORLD. I will list but a few:
A. Follow your wife around the house, dusting and cleaning after her.
B. Rearrange the medicine cabinet over the sink, hide her Premarin.
C. Put on some Perry Como and Bing Crosby CD's when the kids and grandkids come over.
D. Pour a little beer into your bowl of stew.
E. Let the sprinkler pour down on the patio furniture.
D. Park your truck five feet from the curb.
E. Order some adult sexual toys online, have them mailed to your nearest neighbor.
F. Ask your wife to dye your Sup-Hose dayglo orange.
G. Get a tattoo.
H. Order brochures for Magnificent Mausoleums
There are scores of other fun things you'll think of to do to your kids, grandkids, the wife, other family members. You can spend SEVERAL WEEKS just
acquiring A NEW WARDROBE! Think about throwing away all your clothes (Goodwill or Salvation Army is a better idea) and getting all new
stuff....uglier socks, baggier shorts, T-shirts stretched so tight they look like cotton Spandex, plaids and stripes and dayglo enough for the circus.
OK. BREAK IS OVER. BACK TO WORK
STEP EIGHT
Become Ageless
Satchel Paige to the rescue. One of baseball's greatest heros "Paige the Sage" once opined "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you
were?" There's nothing cryptic about the message. Do you act or feel older, now that you're 68, than you did on your 66th birthday? I know the
answer. DON'T BUY INTO THE AGE THING. Let me try one "Who would you want to spend time with if you did not know you were old?" Old people? I don't
think so. STAY AWAY FROM OLD PEOPLE (Do what you have to do with Mom, Dad if they are still alive) OLD PEOPLE WILL DRAW YOU INTO OLD PEOPLE TALK.
You've come this far, don't backslide. Sitting around jawjacking with oldsters will drag you down. For recovering alcoholics this little slip would
be like a half gallon of Old Overholt Reserve for breakfast.
STEP NINE
Your Foolish Pride/Their Squandered Legacy
All your life you've taken a certain "pride of ownership" in everything you've owned...houses, cars, trucks, fishing gear, lawn tractors. Everything
has been scraped, derusted, painted, oiled, sealed and coated to last, to remain useful long after the warranty. Lately you've probably been looking
at the things in a different light --- THE THINGS ARE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE, THEY ARE GOING TO OUTLAST YOU. Maybe some of you have already had those
little twinges when you've looked into the future to see your kids and the grandkids having possession of these precious things. You're probably
thinking "This is my legacy. This is what I worked so hard for." YOU WERE WRONG! What you worked so hard for was making sure the kids had straight
teeth, got some education, had a chance for a good start. That should have been the last work you did for them.
The reason? The legacy, the cabin in the mountains, the condo in Cancun, the 29ft. Fairliner in the slip that you cherished, kept so pristine ---
your kids or your grandkids will never even see them --- THEY'LL BE SOLD TO UKRAINIAN GANGSTERS ON THE INTERNET LESS THAN MONTH AFTER YOUR DEATH.
STEP TEN
Give Up The Health Thing
You've stair-stepped your way to the moon and back, jogged around the world, took more pills then M. Monroe and where has it got you? YOU'RE GOING TO
DIE, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE OF PROSTATE CANCER, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE -- YOU KNOW IT, YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS IT, I KNOW IT, GET USED TO IT.
It's slow, there is no reason to have an operation. The operation (if it doesn't kill you) will lay you up for precious months, years, down-time you
can't afford to lose just now. Besides, it hurts like hell, it's embarrassing to have people taking big things out of your ass. Take your blood
pressure medicine, a few vitamins, sell the exercise machines, get your life back, get off the gerbil track, accept the inevitable, don't let anybody
touch your ass, be a man.
STEP ELEVEN
Just Go Shopping
Even with all the things I've given you to take your mind off the frenzy you took to be your Work Life, now and then you might find yourself bored.
No more. Not after this. You can have an exciting new avocation -- BE A LOOKY LOU. Tell everyone you know (especially the kids) that you are
LOOKING TO BUY A NEW FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILER, A NEW FISHING BOAT, A SAILBOAT OR A MOTOR HOME. Beside the fact that everyone will have a friend who HAS AN
UNBELIEVABLE DEAL FOR YOU , you can use the ploy to save household expense money.....That's right! Most mornings you (and from time to time the
missus) can visit the local RV dealerships for a look around, some hot coffee, doughnuts (maybe an occasional croissant). Boat and yacht dealers
you'll want to save for lunch. Motor Home dealers for in-between snacks, pop, hot dogs. Have all their competitor's brochures in your hand when you
walk in. Praise the quality, carp about the interest rate, luxury tax, him and haw. Buy nothing.
STEP TWELVE
THERE IS NO STEP TWELVE. YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH. GET USED TO NOT FINISHING THINGS.
ENJOY YOUR WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT AND TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THIS FABULOUS BOOK
[Edited on 10-30-2009 by Osprey]
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oladulce
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
STEP FOUR
Stop Counting Your Money
No one and nothing can help you adjust to a life of leisure unless you can PUT AWAY YOUR RETIREMENT FILE. IT HAS ALL BEEN VERIFIED, CODIFIED, COPIED,
SAVED, DOWNLOADED AND TUCKED AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, TO THE PENNY, HOW MUCH YOU HAVE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, STIPENDS,
DIVIDENDS AND COUPONS. You (and probably the missus) have been over the RETIREMENT BUDGET a dozen times, know it by heart; all the contingencies,
emergency, discretionary and slush funds, the high risk, low risk, no risk investments and holdings of every kind. YOU'LL BE FINE. NOW JUST STOPPIT.
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Ahh hAA!
Thanks osprey, I'll read this in more detail later. For now i stopped at #4 when Wooo confessed that it's been the reason for his recent
gastrointestinal distress.
He's been worried that he calculated our budget, home construction and his future pension payments wrong and we'll discover we're making a terrible
mistake

Thank you everybody. I don't think I appreciated that the last day at work will be a pretty significant event in our lives.
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shari
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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welcome to the first day of your new life!!! woooooo hoooooo
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luckyman
Junior Nomad
Posts: 60
Registered: 12-19-2007
Location: near chico, ca
Member Is Offline
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congratulations!! you're where i want to be in 15 years...good job both of you.
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