Financially Free

Well, here we are in beautiful Antigua, Guatemala. This colonial-era city is surrounded by lush fincas (plantations) where IMHO they grow some of the best coffee in the world. The coffee is exported to countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan... you may have even tasted Guatemalan coffee at Starbuck's. This afternoon our group took a tour of La Azotea, a coffee finca and museum.





Coffee trivia: After oil, coffee is the second-largest traded commodity in the world. Around the globe, coffee lovers like me drink more than 2 billion cups each day! Mmmm... delicious, just give me a strong cup and my day is off to a good start!

On our tour we learned how coffee is grown, harvested, toasted, and prepared for export. The tour was interesting and educational and, I learned much about the coffee industry in Guatemala. Sadly, coffee workers are paid the equivalent of ~$5 a day or ~$100 a month even though imported Guatemalan coffee can be very expensive.



Why? One factor is the middleman's cut and the growers' profit margin. Another factor, and this is solely my opinion, poor hungry people will work for less than the minimum monthly wage of ~$195, hardly enough to subsist on as it is. But it is better than nothing, I suppose, even though it's very hard manual labor to hand pick 100 pounds of coffee a day.

The day after tomorrow, Friday, we leave with our 18 students who will be student teaching in Antigua. I am going as a volunteer instructor. And there is still much to be done:

~ TC will be living with a friend who has taken care of her before, so I have to pack her things: big tub of kibble, her Fancy Feast, new litter pan and scoop, litter, and her favorite toys... it brings back memories of the days when I used to cart around my babies and all their gear.

~ Put mail and newspaper on hold (can be done online), deep water all my house and patio plants, go to bank, return books to library, pay or schedule any bills that will be due while we're gone.

~ Take the new printer we are donating (to a Guatemalan school) to the kind student who agreed to haul it as his second "suitcase" since he's traveling light.

~ Figure out the best way to pack supplies we bought for our students and still stay within weight limits: printer ink, white board markers, tape, children's books, paper, Purell hand sanitizer, first aid kit, and OTC meds for common ailments (e.g., Pepto Bismol, Imodium, Tylenol, NyQuil, etc.).

~ Buy and pack the food and snacks we are taking: Trio bars, raw almonds, dried blueberries for cereal, and canned chicken.

~ Clean out the refrigerator... eat leftovers or give away any good stuff that won't last three weeks.

~ Oh yeah, finish packing my clothes and personal belongings!

Some students changed their flight plans to avoid stopovers in Mexico but most are still proceeding with the original itinerary to fly through Mexico City. The original flight was cheaper ($415 vs $595), but some felt it was worth paying extra to not have that additional worry. Dh and I are in that group.

Since dh and I canceled our original flight with Mexicana, we will have to pay a $100 change fee to use the ticket within a year. The university will reimburse us for our flight to Guatemala, but we are out the cost of the first ticket plus the change fee. So now we are motivated to use it to fly somewhere we've never been before the "use it or lose it" deadline. Well, I've much to do, so I'd best get to it... but I'll stay in touch, time and technology permitting.

Today is my one-year blogoversary. ONE YEAR that went by quickly, but here we are. At this time last year, I had just made the decision to retire and was looking forward to the change. And, even though I don't post as often as I thought I would, I enjoy blogging because it helps me reflect as I continue to grow personally and learn more about myself. Yes, even old dogs like me can learn new tricks! And after a year, I still enjoy reading everyone else's blogs, too. Thank you all for your support!

Before I retired, I had a busy and rewarding, albeit stressful job as an elementary school principal. Although I enjoyed the work and it paid well, the job required ~60+ hours a week and there was always something happening at least one evening a week, and even on weekends. I used to think that that my dh had it made with the easier job because he is "just a teacher."

Well, since retiring, I have a newfound appreciation for my dh's job. Now that I am home more, I see and understand how much time he puts into his job. He teaches adults, graduate students, and they generate copious amounts of writing through the various required course assignments. He carefully reads every paper and writes comments on each one. He stays on top of the research in his field and must prepare for his classes, not to mention having to publish scholarly articles and books on a regular basis, and coordinate his program. And then there are the frequent and time-consuming department and committee meetings.

I guess I never noticed before because I was too busy with my own job. In retrospect, I was so wrapped up my work that I became oblivious to what my dh actually does and how hard he works. The workaholic life I used to lead was a selfish life because I tended to focus on my own work as if it were more important then dh's, and it consumed so much of my time. Now, things are very different... although I earn less than half of what I used to, life is by far richer and more rewarding.

to prod you into action! Deadlines motivate me, so I volunteered to create a slideshow for a celebration at the university where I've been working part time. I used iDVD, iPhoto, iTunes, and Keynote to create a 10-minute slideshow that loops. Students emailed me photos and I incorporated more than 150 of them in the slideshow. After I added transitions and music, it was ready to be burned on a DVD. The DVD was played on the high-tech audio system of the auditorium and the slideshow projected on a huge screen behind the podium.

Based on the positive comments from students and their families, the slideshow was a hit. I've wanted to learn how to create a DVD slideshow for a while, and having this project with its deadline forced me to work on it until I figured it out and got it just the way I wanted. Now I know how to use digital photos and video clips to create a special DVD... and this could make a great, inexpensive, and unique gift. All the programs I used came pre-installed in the laptop I bought last year, so I only had to spend about 40 cents each for the 5 copies of the DVD.

My next project: scan old family photos from the pre-digital days and create some DVD "albums" for our children.

I really enjoy my part-time job and just completed one year of teaching in a .20 position (the equivalent of one day a week). I evaluated all assignments, had conferences with all my students, and was able to post my grades yesterday. It feels great to have completed all the requirements and to see the success of my students.

My PT job pays a modest sum, but nonetheless the money is greatly appreciated and it's been going into my travel fund. Most importantly, for me the work has been a good transition from full-time work. So now I'm off until the fall semester begins in August, except for the volunteer work I will be doing in Guatemala, and this is coming up very soon.

I've been told I'll be rehired for the 2009-10 academic year, but I will only be able to work until December 2009, when the fall semester ends. Dh is retiring in July and he'll work the fall semester, too (as a retired annuitant). Then in early 2010, we are off to have some adventures. This includes spending about a month in Peru to study the ancient cultures of the various regions, something we've been planning for a while.

Ever since I was a small child, I have had a cat or two in my life. My cats have always been big mellow, gentle males with friendly personalities. Then TC wandered into my school about a year and a half ago and adopted me. And, most of the time I like her, although she has a bad "catitude" every so often. Today was one of those days.

My sweet little TC went to the vet this morning for her annual exam and vaccinations. Normally, she is calm and quiet riding in the car in her carrier, but today was the exception. How do cats know when they're going to the vet? She fussed in the car but became very quiet and still once we were in the waiting room.

When the technician weighed her, TC growled and hissed. Then when the doctor came in to begin the exam, she ran back in her carrier. When he took her out she became the cat from h*ll. She bit and scratched the doctor when he tried to listen to her heart and lungs. The doctor and I both looked as if we were wearing angora sweaters... the fur was flying everywhere.

The good news is TC is a very healthy 10.4 pounds, but she cannot gain more weight. The bad news is the exam cost $96 and the doctor has an ugly bite on his hand. The vet said TC will not need shots for three years. Hmmm... maybe he just doesn't want to see us again.

And TC? Well, she has been giving me the cold shoulder all day, acting as if I am not in the room and ignoring me completely.

The weekend went by very quickly... I guess time flies when you're having fun. My DD2 came from ID for the weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together until I took her to the airport late Monday. On Saturday, we went to the new

California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It was the first time we'd been there since it was rebuilt and then reopened in September 2008. This is the "greenest" museum in the world and houses the Steinhart Aquarium, the Morrison Planetarium, the Kimball Natural History Museum, a four-story rain forest, and more. It was crowded and the lines long, but we got right in because I bought our tickets online and printed them at home. Following are some photos taken at the CAS.

The albino alligator is very rare and has become a CAS mascot.


The giant sea bass lumber around like gentle giants.


These tiny red and blue bromeliad frogs thrive in the rain forest.


Watch out for hitchhikers in the rain forest.


Looking down from the second story of the rain forest.


For Mother's Day, we had a lovely brunch at my sister's house and were joined by my niece and her family, so it was even more fun and special because the cousins rarely see each other. On the way home, we stopped at the Farmer's Market in Santana Row for fresh fruits and vegetables. My DD insisted on buying me a beautiful white Phalaenopsis orchid, my favorite. I love orchids because they last for months and this one has lots of blooms that are just starting to open. I love shopping for produce at farmer's markets and the Santana Row market features organically and locally grown fruits and vegetables, something I am trying to buy more of this year. Hope all of the mothers at SA had a wonderful Mother's Day, too.

On the news last night, they featured a young SAH mother who routinely cuts coupons and saves 50% on the family grocery bills. She does it by using the

mygrocerydeals.com website. I was intrigued and checked it out... You do have to register but once you do, it searches out all the deals at the stores you select by zip code. I tried it this morning and got a HUGE list of coupons and specials at my closest supermarkets (Lucky's and Trader Joe's). On top of being very convenient, features I like are that you can add an item to your shopping list and also get the nutritional value. This could be helpful saving me time and money. We'll see.

Well, thanks to Joe Biden's comment about not flying due to the swine flu (uh, I mean the Type A, H1N1 flu), some of our students are getting concerned about our upcoming trip to Guatemala. The university already recommended the group change flight plans so that we do not have connections in Mexico... I was OK with that, even though it was not without cost. But now, there seems to be an increasing panic situation, fueled and exacerbated by the media.

Biden's

comments were in direct contradiction with "official advice from numerous U.S. government agencies and worldwide health organizations, who are NOT suggesting that people avoid all air and land-based travel." Biden is now back-peddling and trying to smooth things over. Yet, I am seeing some signs that people are reacting out of fear.

Today, at my local supermarket almost all pork and pork-products were on sale. Ditto with anything "Mexican," whether it came from Mexico or not. Don't people read that you CANNOT get the flu by eating pork? Well, I bought some nice sausage which I will cook for breakfast, along with some luscious, Mexican-grown mangos at 2/$1. I also bought some grated Mexican cheese from Kraft that was on sale for $2.50. And forget trying to find any Purell hand sanitizer. Yesterday I went to SIX stores around here, and all are completely out.

My dh and have, for years, carried around a small container of hand sanitizer. We know using it regularly helps prevent colds, and we've done this since way before it became the thing to do. And, even though we've endured friendly teasing and comments by people who think we are over-reacting, we rarely get colds. I also always use my own pen at the bank or to sign credit slips. This is a tip I got from my daughter, an RN, who says "public" pens are a breeding ground for microbes.

I am not downplaying the seriousness of the flu outbreak, but it's important that people follow common-sense practices and not panic. So, the trip to Guatemala is still on but we are continuously reassuring our students. We even bought facemasks to use on the plane, the shuttles, and anywhere crowded, if necessary. I ordered them from a dental supply company and paid $7.49 for 50. They came today and are excellent quality. Hopefully, we will never have to use them.

Last week my WAMU/Chase CD matured. It had been earning a rate of 4.17% and now that rates are much lower, I knew I'd be lucky to get even 2%... and Chase is currently offering 1.75% for a 12-month CD. It never hurts to ask, so about a week before the maturity date I met with the manager and asked about the best rate Chase could offer. I told her I would invest the funds with the bank that gave me the best rate. She said to give her a day or two to look into the options. When she called me the next day, she said Chase could offer me a "promotional" rate of 2.25% for 12 months. I like the convenience and proximity of this branch, so I accepted.

Literally. He called me because he was stranded so I went to the rescue. We found a gas station that sold us a cheap plastic 2-gallon container filled with gas for $18.91... What an expensive "mistake."

This is the first time dh has done this in all the years I've known him. All I can think of is that he has been super-busy and very distracted, so he didn't notice the indicator on the dash. Am I ever glad he's decided to retire!

Yesterday I went for a walk in my neighborhood and took my camera. I love the way it looks in spring... the fields are green and the flowers are in bloom.

There is a little park about two blocks from my house and I enjoy hiking the trail.


The sign at the beginning of the trail alerts hikers...


The trail takes you past fields dotted with California poppies and other wildflowers.


Our state flower, the poppy.


Coming down the trail, you can see my neighborhood in the distance.


And very close to my house, the flowering pear looks like snow.


A lovely contrast to the heavenly bamboo next to it.


And I'm almost home.

Male readers be warned: you will want to skip this post.

JC Penney had a sale today where everything in the store was 20% off, even if items were already on sale. So, I trekked to the mall and bought two bras, normally $35, on sale for $17.99 minus an additional 20% off. Then I paid for the purchase with the $25 gift card I received from My Points, so the bottom line for me was: $6.44. I love savings like this... more then $50!

But I made up for it with my next purchase, although I still got 20% off. I bought some adorable, girlie clothes for the newest member of the family, a baby girl born Friday to my cousin and his wife who live in El Salvador. This baby is truly a miracle... they have been married for 14 years, and both are 41. They had given up on ever having children even though they wanted them badly. So, as you can see, this baby was a big surprise, and as my cousin said in his email to me, "a gift from God."

Yesterday's local paper had an

article about a 44-year-old man, Peter Lawrence, who retired early from his job as an HP manager... a very good thing. But what is different about this fellow is that he now lives a life of EXTREME minimalism. And I do mean extreme.

His condo is bare, except for a simple folding chair and an ironing board. He sleeps on the floor in a sleeping bag, uses the ironing board as his "desk," and owns very little clothing. His laptop is his photo album, electronic filing cabinet, TV, CD and DVD player. He says he can pack all his worldly possessions in one suitcase.

Lawrence self-published a book called The Happy Minimalist that describes his lifestyle and the philosophy that motivates him to live this way. According to Lawrence, his extreme lifestyle is not at all about frugality, being a cheapskate, or deprivation. It's about making calibrated choices, consuming less, and preserving resources. Lawrence says he lives "well below his means."

I don't know... this would be a very difficult lifestyle for most people, and certainly for me, but to each his own. However, I'd rather see someone living like this extreme (albeit eccentric) minimalist over someone living a life of extreme excess, well above their means. And I certainly know my share of people that fit into the latter category.

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who is considering retiring in July. She is 62 and has worked as a teacher for over 30 years. My friend is widowed with a grown son and four grandchildren. (Thankfully, her son will not be a financial burden... he is a successful engineer). According to her retirement estimate, my friend's pension will be about 72% of her current working income. My DF wanted to "pick my brain" because I retired last August, and she's searching for other perspectives on anything and everything related to retiring, especially some of the financial aspects.

So we chatted about what she's done to prepare for retirement. My friend has a 403b account ("small" in her words... not sure what that means) and a savings CD with about "one year's gross salary." DF owns her home that is almost paid for and has no other debt. In talking to my friend, here are some things she DID NOT take into consideration:

1) Inflation: although the state teacher's retirement system guarantees an annual 2% COLA, inflation will likely be higher. DF said she would use her 403b funds as needed to keep pace with inflation.

2) Health insurance: she will not be eligible for Medicare until almost 3 years after her retirement, so she has to plan for health coverage once COBRA runs out. (She thought COBRA would go on until she is eligible for Medicare, but I think it is only 18 months.) She said she would substitute teach to help pay for her health insurance until age 65, or take money from her savings.

3) Paying for increased cost of travel: after retirement, DF will reduce some expenses, but she didn't take into account that travel, a priority for her, might incur more expenses. She said she would use her savings or take on part-time work to pay for travel. Fortunately travel is a "want" and not a "need."

All in all, it seems my friend is on track to retire. She shared that she currently lives on about 80% of her net income, so that is another big plus for her. DF will use her retirement benefit "lump sum" to pay off her small mortgage. And, since she will no longer have a mortgage payment, she will try to add to her savings each month.

I did advise my DF to meet with her HR department regarding COBRA, and a financial planner and/or accountant to get specific financial and tax advice. Taxes in retirement can be an unpleasant surprise if you're accustomed to sheltering income and then find you have few deductions. However, I was happy to share some of the steps I took in my own retirement planning. My DF is doing exactly what I did prior to making the decision to retire... talking to others who have been through the process and leaving no detail to chance.

Today I cooked a big, plump 5-pound chicken. I decided it would be fun to challenge myself to see how many meals I can make from ONE chicken. So here is the plan:

Meal 1 ~ Chicken Soup with rice and vegetables, served with whole wheat French bread
Meal 2 ~ Chicken Stir Fry served with brown rice
Meal 3 ~ Chicken Curry over brown rice, served with cucumber salad
Meal 4 ~

Chicken Divan Crepes served with Cesar salad

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On another note, by some miracle we are getting a federal tax refund, but after we pay additional state taxes and the $895 fee to the accountant, we are in the red by $54. Not bad, especially since I thought we would owe much more. It helped that we adjusted withholdings to have more taken out of our checks. We will tweak withholdings again once dh retires.

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My DD1 spent the weekend and we a wonderful visit. I enjoyed every minute with her until it was time to take her to the airport Sunday evening. The whale-watching trip on Saturday was canceled because the water was too choppy for the small boat, but we did enjoy a nice picnic at the beach at Point Lobos. We were blessed with glorious weather and it did not seem all that windy on shore. Then we had fun watching the sea lions and otters frolicking just off shore. The rock in the photo below is covered with sea lions soaking up the sun.


On Sunday, we had Easter brunch at one of our favorite restaurants. In past years, it's been hard to get reservations and they've had so many people that they've had to set up tables outside. It was very different this year... there were more waitpersons than customers. Granted, we had 9:30 reservations, but still, it was weird. The food was amazing and abundant but by the time we left at ~10:45, it was still pretty empty. The buffet included seafood of all kinds, roast beef and turkey, omelets made-to-order, and more.

I was without Internet all day yesterday but my situation was minor compared to what could have happened. There was a major communication services outage in the south Bay Area caused by the

sabotage of someone who climbed down a manhole in the middle of the night and cut several critical fiber-optic cables (in four different locations). It is clear our infrastructure is unprepared for acts of vandalism of this magnitude. I also think it also gives us a preview of what to expect in the event of a serious natural disaster (e.g., major earthquake). This vandalism will cost thousands of dollars to repair, impacted all communication and emergency services, and put lives at risk.

Aside from the inconvenience, the worst part is that many people were without BOTH cell phone and/or landlines. They were told to go out to flag a patrol car in case of emergency... as if this were easy or practical. Fortunately no one died as a result of a 911 emergency or a fire that could not be reported, but I heard of some very serious situations involving critically ill people. I hope they throw the book at the wretch who committed this vandalism and make him pay. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator(s) so that gives you an idea of the seriousness of the crime.

On the positive side, we got some much-needed rain yesterday. So, I caught up on my sewing, went to the bank and the grocery store (saved ~$15 with specials), and enjoyed reading by the fire with TC snuggling next to me. My DD1 is coming today to spend the weekend, and I can't wait to see her. I'm off to the airport in a few minutes. We will spend a few hours relaxing at a local spa, enjoying each other's company. On Saturday we are supposed to go whale watching off Monterey Bay, weather permitting. My DS and BIL will go with us so it should be a fun family outing.

April is always a taxing month for us, budget-wise (pun intended, hehe). Our CA property taxes are due, we usually have some additional state or federal income taxes to pay, along with a hefty fee to our accountant, and our annual auto and house homeowner's premiums are due in April. Although no one is happy about paying taxes, at least I don't stress about it because we are ready for these extra expenses.

Each month I set aside a predetermined amount that is deposited in a "reserve" account where the funds earn interest until they are withdrawn. At 1.5%, these funds earn ~$300 in the course of the year. Whenever possible, I put expenses on my rewards credit card first, then pay off the balance when it's due with reserve account funds, further leveraging funds to earn interest a little longer and provide miles used for travel savings.

Some folks let the bank impound tax and insurance payments, but I prefer to earn the interest in exchange for the responsibility of managing it myself. The reserve fund pays bills that are due several times during the year (e.g., taxes, auto/HO insurance, HOA dues, timeshare dues, accountant, etc.). However, it's critical to stay on top of due dates to avoid late penalties.

When dh submitted his retirement application, he had to provide a copy of our marriage certificate... not a big deal, and dh was "almost certain" we had a copy in our safe deposit box. We just celebrated 15 years of wedded bliss, but for some reason, this requirement resulted in a chilling thought: what if we are NOT really married? To explain why I would think this way, I must share some of the details of our wedding day.

Our wedding was the epitome of simplicity. We got married on a glorious spring day in our own home, in the company of our children and our closest family and friends, about 25 guests in all. The ceremony was officiated by a friend, a kindergarten teacher I worked with. The delicious food was catered by another teacher and her husband and cost ~$125. The exquisite wedding cake was baked by my sister and was a culinary work-of-art decorated with fresh roses from our yard. My DS also made my delicate wedding bouquet.

The live music (guitar and vocals) was provided by my step-children's godparents and added a very special touch. Champagne and drinks were from Costco, and my stepdaughter and I had fun making the favors. My wedding dress cost ~$150 and was an elegant tea-length ivory gown (bought on sale, of course). We married on a Sunday and took Monday off for a mini-honeymoon in San Francisco. On Tuesday, I returned to work.

Somehow, the details of filing the official document to record our marriage fell to someone else, because I KNOW I didn't do it. What was most alarming was that dh told me he didn't do it, either. Well, the good news is... we ARE legally married! I carefully read the certificate and it is true AND official. Neither one of us remembers how the paperwork was filed, but all that matters is that it was. Phew!

We got back to CA last weekend from our trip to San Antonio and I hit the ground running, visiting all my student teachers this week... it's been an unusually busy week. Good thing I was rested and rejuvenated after spring break. We loved San Antonio and we definitely want to go back soon. Here are some highlights:

~ Riverwalk Cruise (a bargain @ $7.95; $5 for seniors)
~

Buckhorn Saloon Museum
~ SAS factory tour (San Antonio Shoemakers)
~ Natural Bridge Cavern
~ Wild Animal Park @ Natural Bridge
~ Dinner at the County Line (best ribs I've ever eaten!)
~ Brunch at Mi Tierra (Mercadito)
~ The Alamo
~ Chili relleno stuffed with picadillo (meat) at Rita's on the River
~ The view from the Tower of the Americas
~ Day trip to Johnson City, home of LBJ and Ladybird
~ Wine-tasting in the hill country
~ Catching up with old friends at the Copa Wine Bar
~ Witte Museum
~ San Fernando Cathedral

OK, you can see some of my best memories have to do with food. But, we walked so much that I felt I could indulge without guilt. I did buy a great pair of walking shoes at the SAS factory ($30 off due to an indiscernible imperfection) and I wore them daily after I bought them. My feet were very happy! We stayed slightly under budget, except that I had to replace my digital camera because I lost my old one (and some great pictures). But the replacement camera was only $109, so not really a budget buster. All in all, the trip exceeded my expectations.

This is the view from the patio of our apartment:


Flooding along the Riverwalk is controlled by a series of flood gates (right side):


The cathedral was as beautiful as any I've seen in Europe, with intricate stained glass:


And in case you want the best seat in the cathedral:

The trip to San Antonio is going well except that I lost my camera. It was a careless thing on my part... I put it down to pay at the food court of the Rivercenter mall, then walked away and only remembered it later. By then, it was long gone. We checked with Security and the Lost and Found to no avail. It's disappointing that it was not turned in and that I lost an entire day of photos, including those taken at dinner with some good friends.

On the positive side, I did buy a replacement camera (Nikon S210) on sale at Office Max for $109 and soon resumed taking photos. The camera also came with a "free" digital key chain that is a $20 value. It's not something I need but, hey, it was free. I like to carry a small, pocket-sized camera and the Nikon fit the bill. I still prefer the one I lost which was a Canon PowerShot 1100.

Yesterday we drove to Natural Bridge... the cave tour was very interesting and I think worth the money.


Then we went to the wild animal ranch next door... maybe worth it if you have kids.


I did enjoy feeding the animals with the bag of alfalfa pellets they give you. The beasts will come right up to the car but guests are cautioned to throw the pellets on the ground.

To celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary and because it's spring break at dh's university, we arrived in beautiful San Antonio, Texas, on Friday afternoon. We will be here for a full week. It was not a "spur of the moment" trip... we planned it months ago. Why San Antonio? Well, why not! It is replete with history and many interesting things to see and do. We also wanted to explore San Antonio as a possible place for a pair of old snowbirds to fly to every once in a while.

Best of all, it should be a fairly inexpensive trip. Staying in a lovely one-bedroom apartment of an old historic building on the Riverwalk was "free" because of our timeshare. Well, we did have to pay ~$400 for annual dues, but this is essentially the cost of one night. The airfare cost us the price of airport taxes, ~ $20... do I ever love using those miles to save money!

Our apartment has free wireless Internet, so I'll be posting some pictures when I can. Here is one of the famous Riverwalk, a beautiful place that is just alive with action.


A large fountain and lush foliage provides a safe haven for this little family.


Remember the

Alamo? We enjoyed our visit to this monument that is just two blocks from our apartment... and the entrance is free.


A sign we'd never see in CA... at the entrance to the bar of the Menger Hotel, famous as the place Teddy Roosevelt recruited the "Rough Riders." We didn't go in... I'm allergic to smoke.

I'm making very good progress on my goal of reducing our

carbon footprint by saving energy. Here is the analysis of our PGE bill (gas and electric) for the last three months compared to last year:

1/2008 $165.17
1/2009 $154.07
~7% less

2/2008 $186.94
2/2009 $151.70
~19% less

3/2008 $109.03
3/2009 $ 72.77
~33% less

I was pleasantly surprised at the savings in February, especially since I am home more now that I'm retired. But the reduction in March was even better, so my challenge is paying off. Here are a few things we've done or are doing that have helped:

~ Switched out all the incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent;
~ Lowered the thermostat on our FA heater;
~ Unplug appliances/computers that are not in use;
~ Grab a sweater when it's chilly instead of turning on the heater.

I have a friend who is 92 and an inspiration to me. I'll call her Rose, although it's not her real name. Rose is a very independent woman, a widow, and she lives alone in the beautiful home she has owned for 50+ years. And, yes, it does concern me that she still occasionally drives her well-maintained, new-looking 1985 Honda to visit her older sister who is in a nursing home, but she is still a good driver. But at her age, we know that reflexes diminish, so neighbors and friends help out by driving her on her errands whenever possible.

Rose is spry, intelligent, and personable and she has impeccable manners. It amazes me she can still walk at a fast clip in heels, something that would challenge much younger folks. At 92, Rose is the same age my mother would have been had she not died so young and I'd like to think my mother would have been like Rose.

I am convinced Rose's diet and work ethic have helped her live this long. She loves to drink tea and eats a healthy diet with little meat, but lots fruits and vegetables... and she enjoys a glass of red wine with dinner. Rose has several fruit trees in her yard and still grows a small garden each summer, although she is slowing down a bit in this area. About six years ago she relented and hired a gardener to mow her lawn and prune her trees.

Rose and I have lunch together about once or twice a month although I check in on her more frequently, and I always enjoy our chats. What is remarkable about Rose is her positive attitude and a resilience that enabled her to survive a host of challenging events in her life, events she tells me about with stoicism and sometimes even with humor.

Rose was a teenager during the

Great Depression. Everyone in her family pooled resources and worked to bring money to the home. Rose and her siblings took turns being out of school to work in a cannery to help put food on the table. She had one pair of shoes and two dresses, one for everyday and one for Sunday and special occasions. Her dresses were hand-me-downs from relatives that were better off. This is quite a contrast from what many of today's teenagers make do with.

I asked Rose what she remembers from those years that has remained with her to this day. Here is what she shared:

~ Never waste anything - buy only what you need
~ Try to do things for yourself instead of paying someone to do it for you
~ Wait to buy something until you have the money to pay for it
~ Take care of your things so they will last
~ Save money so you will always have something to fall back on
~ Work hard and get along with people - it could mean you will keep your job

Can you imagine rebuilding your life after the Great Depression only to have everything you've worked for taken away again? This happened to Rose. In a future post I may share Rose's story about her experience as a Japanese-American in the Tule Lake interment camp starting in 1942, but this was a time in her life that was difficult and the good memories are few. She did meet her beloved husband of 50+ years at the camp and they married in 1945 when they were freed. To their disappointment, they were never able to have children but she helped raise and support several nieces and nephews over the years. I admire that Rose is not bitter or angry about the events in her life and I am convinced her positive attitude has been another factor her longevity.

Yesterday the

Wrap-N-Mats I bought came in the mail. While we're in Guatemala later this year, we'll have to pack a sandwich for lunch to work every day so my motivation to buy them was related to this foreseen need. I like these little contraptions because they're a reusable wrap and also create a "place mat" for eating. They're made of food-safe materials (free of lead, BPA, and Phthalate), have a liner that is easily cleaned, and it stays secure with a small Velcro strap. These will come in handy whenever we travel and pack a picnic lunch. Best of all, we can reduce of use of plastic lunch bags that take over 1,000 years to decompose in landfills!

for my dh! Yesterday we went to a meeting where dh filled out his retirement application. His last day of work will be June 30 and his official retirement date will be July 1. However, for up to five years thereafter he will be able to participate in a program offered by his employer that allows retired faculty to work 50% of their former assignment. So in reality, dh is transitioning into retirement. But this is good for him because, unlike me, he would keep working until the day he dies even though he has been teaching for 35 years.

And, this is not such a bad thing, to keep working. It's just that dh is in the season of life where IMHO work should be redefined to allow a few adventures here and there. We will have long stretches of time from December to August to travel, enjoy a slower pace, and do some of the things we've only talked and dreamed about... like living in another country instead of just visiting. Then in the fall for up to five years, dh will teach 3-4 classes and get working out of his system for a while.

In the financial area, dh will continue to have health benefits, so we were happy to have this verified. His benefits will complement those we receive from my former employer and we think they will be about the same as they are now. But we're checking into the dental coverage as we are not sure about this one. If we lose dental coverage, I will add dental to our monthly expenses and make necessary adjustments to the budget.

And, because dh will not be tax-sheltering any income and eliminating expenses like parking and union fees, his net pension amount will be higher than we previously estimated. Nonetheless, we are ready, willing, and able to live on less. Now, the application is complete, but we can't turn it in until after April 1. The pension plan won't accept applications for retirement unless retirement is within 90 days. So we made an appointment for April 2 and I'm counting the days.

Well, it's finalized... when the semester ends in May, dh will take 16 graduate students to teach in Guatemala for about a month. He has done this for the last five years, and now that I'm retired, I'll be going as a volunteer instructor. This will be a special trip because it's dh's last one in this capacity. He will retire in June and pass the baton to another faculty member. I'll help supervise student teachers in exchange for the experience working and living in a foreign country, even though it's just for a short while. Although I won't be paid a salary, my airfare and housing will be covered through the project.

Our university students will have the opportunity of teaching in diverse bilingual schools and Guatemalan students will benefit from lessons taught by native speakers of English. The program continues to be very popular with our university students, despite the economic chaos that's deeply hurt higher education. Students must pay their tuition, airfare, housing, transportation, and meals. So, dh strives to make the trip as affordable as possible by negotiating group rates with the posada (hotel) and the transport company we contract with.

For example, housing will be $20 per night per person for a double occupancy room with a bath. The posada is clean, secure, but very Spartan. The rooms do not have phones or TV, but happily, we will have wireless Internet. The transportation fee of $250 per person includes airport transfers to and from Guatemala City to Antigua, two weekend sightseeing trips (to Lake Atitlan and Copan), and daily transportation to and from the schools. And, for less then $2, one can take a

tuk-tuk to anywhere in Antigua.

Most of us will prepare at least some meals in one of the posada's two kitchens so this will save money. A great variety of fresh produce is available at the outdoor market and there is a supermarket for other items. However, if I don't feel like cooking after a long workday, dh knows several good, inexpensive restaurants that serve typical dishes for under $5. So that might be the plan for some of our dinners.

While I hope this will be a memorable and exciting experience, dh has been reminding me it is NOT a vacation. We will be working daily from 8:00 to 4:00 and then hold some evening meetings with our university students. Yet, I look forward to the adventure although I may need a vacation when it is over!

This is a street scene in Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala. In 1979 Antigua was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Yesterday while on a little outing with my niece and grandniece, we were enjoying the beautiful day and some treats at the outdoor dining area of a local Starbuck's. While we sat there, a lady came up to our table and asked if we lived locally, and we said we did. Then she proceeded to tell us about a line of clothes she was selling at "wholesale" prices at the store across the street. The sale would be just for the day and the store was Costco.

Well, intrigued, we decided to go over and check it out. The clothes were cute, a well known brand that is made in the USA. But I found the prices still too high, at least for what I was willing to spend on items I really did not need. And, sadly, there seemed to be very little interest in the "sale" from other customers. People are sticking to basics these days.

What really hit home for me, though, is the sense of desperation I am seeing with so many retailers nowadays. It seems more and more businesses are struggling or on the brink of collapse. I'm seeing it too often in the faces and the voices of people at the smaller stores and businesses. The lady that told us about the sale tried so hard to sell us something that I almost bought out of pity. In the end, I decided it would not be money well spent for me.

On a positive note, I did find three very cute items for a baby shower I am attending on Thursday for the baby boy of a colleague at the university. So, now I can cross that off my "to do" list for Monday.

The spam filter on my computer is pretty decent, so very few unsolicited junk emails get through to my inbox. But recently I noticed I was getting way too much email that I somehow initiated when I placed an order, signed up for coupons or alerts about specials... that kind of thing. What opened my eyes was the realization I was routinely deleting about 6-8 of my morning emails without even opening them.

Then I found I could simplify things in just a few clicks. I've eliminated these emails by scrolling to the bottom of the email and "unsubscribing." Sometimes you are directed to a website and have to go through a few steps, but it's quick and easy. I've done it with Home Depot, Harry & David's, World Market, Fandango, Macy's, Ann Taylor Loft, and a few more. Good-bye!!