Yesterday, my wife and I donated $1,000 to the ACLU to help fund the legal resistance against the plans of the Republicans. (edit:  this is a lot of money for us, and I may regret it, but I am focusing on my values, and this is one of them)

And I'm trying to renew connections with my circle of friends locally.  I think the wedges that have been driven between americans to divide us need to be actively resisted, and the best way to do that is to build social bonds.  This is very minor, but after about 15 years of blowing this off, were sending Christmas cards again.

Last edited by glatt (12/06/2024 9:28 am)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on preparing for 2025.

We are also going to buy a new roof, if we can get it scheduled, as soon as possible.

I'm seeing things similarly.

We've moved some money out of the stock market and into our property up North. We signed a contract for our cabin kit and paid our down payment. Those materials should be in country before the likely upcoming economic contraction. I don't know how much of the lumber will be Canadian. Most of the stick lumber in my floor system was Canadian sourced since our local yard doesn't have a lot of production capacity.  We're doing as much as we can on our own but may tap the Amish for some work.

Community is a part of our planning. The northern place is not setup as well for gardening and animals but is better in neighborliness. 

We are both considering working at a reduced level in retirement. That could be more critical if the oligarchs wreck the stock market. We've always ridden these things out and gained from them so panic must be avoided. Market timing is not something I want to try. SS is being targeted and lately they've been floating ending it without a payout at all. This will force some belt tightening but we're better off than our age mates generally. 

Trump got nowhere near a "landslide," but the fact that any one at all voted for him after his first go around is more than chilling.
He will take it as a mandate to do whatever he wants and collect as crazy a bunch of assholes as he can to help him.
How long our institutions can survive the onslaught is the only question.
The very small majorities in Congress gives some hope. Will there be enough sane Republicans to slow him down?
Kind of pessimistic, me.
 

In a non-economic sense, anyone who is "different" or even female will feel unsafe

My daughter and I have established code words for certain situations she may find herself in, because 1.) some states have already made it a crime to travel to another state to do something entirely legal in that state, and 2.) tech companies have already turned over private messages between a mother and daughter discussing said situation, in order to help convict the mother as an accessory.
 

You may have gleaned from some of the above replies that this matter is age dependent, at least for anyone who doesn’t already have way more than enough money to last the rest of their lives. Conventional wisdom is that being retirement age means playing it safe with savings and just cutting losses rather than trying to succeed at greater risk. Don’t gamble with what you can’t afford to lose.

Increasing costs can easily outpace getting better investment returns. The value of avoiding price increases was recognized in expediting plans for a new roof and a cabin kit. Getting big ticket durable items now is good; but, don’t forget expendable and expendable-durable items. Price increases on those can nickel & dime you to death in little time. People of any age can benefit by stocking up on routinely used items at today’s prices. That includes consumables, clothing, small appliances, maintenance supplies… and anything else that may get used up or worn out over the next few years.

For example: Textiles - I have clothes for work and clothes for casual wear in my closet. I also already have a reserve of seven complete changes of cloths, suitable for either, stored away in a duffle bag so that when I need new cloths using those will give me time to shop for replacements at good prices rather than paying top dollar on the spur of the moment. Appliances - I already have some extra small appliances like an iron and coffee maker, items with heating elements that can burn out, put away in a storage basket. Many small appliances are made in China.

When inflation hits, it’s good to already have enough “stuff” to weather the increased cost of living. After that’s taken care of, then it’s time to speculate for succeeding. YMMV, as said earlier, it’s age dependent.

 

Clodfobble wrote:

In a non-economic sense, anyone who is "different" or even female will feel unsafe

My daughter and I have established code words for certain situations she may find herself in, because 1.) some states have already made it a crime to travel to another state to do something entirely legal in that state, and 2.) tech companies have already turned over private messages between a mother and daughter discussing said situation, in order to help convict the mother as an accessory.
 

This is good.

I know almost nothing about these things, but my wife was talking about stocking up on Plan B or whatever the various medications are and getting a little stockpile together to distribute as needed in case they are outlawed. We are too old to need it for ourselves.

Over the counter pregnancy tests are confidential, and if they go away then every pregnancy will be in the system and monitored by the government.  Maybe stock up on a handful of tests and Plan B.  Or Mifepristone  (If I Googled that correctly just now.)

My brother lives in Canada, and as long as the border stays open, then my family members can always take family visits to see him.
 

tw wrote:

  And why Boeing started becoming an anti-American company over 20 years ago.
 

Astronauts still stuck in space.  Rockets that do not work.  737 Max disaster.  Next model 777 is years behind schedule.  Suspect parts routinely in 787 airplanes.  Corporate HQ moved from where the work gets done to Washington DC.  Even a T-7 jet trainer is losing money.  Boeing has only delivered a few planes.  Air Force needs 350 to replace T-38 trainers.

Even the KC-46 air refueling tanker program is almost another $billion loss.  Somehow they could not make a profit on a well proven plane - a 767.  Meanwhile an Airbus tanker was the technically superior airplane. 

Replacement for two Air Force One's is now a multi-billion dollar loss.  Long behind schedule. Like everything Boeing has started since 2001, even financial losses from that program are massive.

Airbus will deliver 770 planes this year.  Would deliver more.  Airlines what the better Airbus products.  Airbus already has too many orders.  Boeing will probably deliver less than 400 planes.  Only reason many orders are not canceled?  Airbus cannot make more of what the airlines want.  Reliable planes.  Airbus has ordered for every plane they can make until 2029.

MBAs from Jack Welch's GE took over and ran McDonnell Douglas into the ground.  Then took over Boeing in 2001.  Demonstrated is what MBAs do when implementing cost controls (even in the Federal government).  Resulting losses will appear four and 20 years later.  What business school graduates in Boeing or in the White House routinely do.
 

We were first taught this stuff as kids.  Then liars got us to forget it.
 

tw, it sounds to me like you are arguing for Musk to take over NASA with his private company.  Did you mean to do that?

It’s sounding more and more like the work of mischievous spirits. Looks like we’re going to have to call Ghostbusters. Until they get here, we’ll have to fend for ourselves. I’m not worried though. I have my trusty 155mm Howitzer and I’ve mastered the art of the quick draw with it. I say… bring ‘em on.