I envision a big group of old people with name tags that have pictures of the teenagers I met in high school on them.
That was my 50th. And a bunch of really old people. It seems a lot in my class had a really hard life... or they're still doing the drug and alcohol thing
My 50th (1970) and the wife's (1971) same school were both canceled due to the 'rona. We went to both of our 40th's. Mine soon after my transplant and right after cataract surgery. I looked like Bill the Cat. Could barely read the name tags. Her's was better next year. At the Balboa Bay Club. One of her classmates bought the bar.
There already were a surprising amount gone back at our 40th's. Who knows if we'll ever get back for a 55th or 60th.
The facebook group for the reunion has too many stories of classmates that won't be at the reunion because they're no longer on the right side of the dirt.
The girl responsible for finding the members of our class started posting our yearbook pages with a big DECEASED under the names of those folks. It got grim way too fast.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Mar 19, 2023 - 9:12am
Steve wrote:
The facebook group for the reunion has too many stories of classmates that won't be at the reunion because they're no longer on the right side of the dirt.
Location: Around My Corner... and Up Yours Gender:
Posted:
Mar 19, 2023 - 8:16am
KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
That was my 50th.
And a bunch of really old people.
It seems a lot in my class had a really hard life... or they're still doing the drug and alcohol thing
The facebook group for the reunion has too many stories of classmates that won't be at the reunion because they're no longer on the right side of the dirt.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Mar 18, 2023 - 6:53pm
Steve wrote:
I envision a big group of old people with name tags that have pictures of the teenagers I met in high school on them.
That was my 50th.
And a bunch of really old people.
It seems a lot in my class had a really hard life... or they're still doing the drug and alcohol thing
Location: Around My Corner... and Up Yours Gender:
Posted:
Mar 17, 2023 - 6:54am
KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Congratulations!
I'm hoping your experience with that EV goes as well as your reunion will...
Thanks!
I figure since I'm in the looney state I'd try to fit in with an EV. Between Sacramento, Cameron Park, and the east bay area I have about 250 miles to cover, which is about the range of most of these overgrown golf carts. Hertz (Hurtz!) only needs 10% charge on the battery when I bring it back, so I'll save $$$ on the overpriced dinosaur juice in Calif. The trick will be to find a charger that doesn't hit me too hard on the credit card.
Ap .... App .... Applied ... for SOCIAL SECURITY! (finally reached official age, parsed, pared and waited all these years) Getting more than I thought.
but day-UM. admitting I'm THAT fekkin old .....
I know the feeling. Got my first SS check last month. Jeezzz......
Location: Getting comfortably numb in So Tex Gender:
Posted:
Mar 15, 2023 - 10:52am
Steve wrote:
Since there's no forum topic for "What Did You Do Yesterday" I'll post here. I booked flights, hotel, and rental car for my 50th high school reunion in beautiful Walnut Creek, Calif. Also, this will be the first time I'll be renting an electric car. I've never driven a car that runs on electrons, so this ought to be fun!
Location: On the edge of tomorrow looking back at yesterday. Gender:
Posted:
Mar 12, 2023 - 8:43am
Iâm finally ripping through my basement office, trashing old electronics, paperwork, and boxes. Slowly downsizing and upgrading when I can.
This is the other half that Iâm replacing the ceiling tiles and new LED recessed lights.
Ap .... App .... Applied ... for SOCIAL SECURITY! (finally reached official age, parsed, pared and waited all these years) Getting more than I thought.
It's much cheaper than most places in the US. Ponta Delgada is by far the biggest city of all the Islands with a population of around 70k. It's also the most expensive place to live on the Islands. Most everything else is small villages from 500-3000 people. Most of the Island is rural. I live in Povoacao which is the oldest city on any of the islands founded 1432. It's one of the best small villages to live in and very reasonable. Furnas is close by and more populus but costs more as it's a tourist trap.
Some sample costs I pay. This is for one person:
Electricity - 30 euro/month
Small gas canister - 30 euro lasts me 2 months for hot water and cooking.
Internet/TV/landline phone - 29 euro/month for MEO 250 down/140 up fiberoptic.
Water 5 euros/month.
5G phone service 5gb data- 9.53 euro/month 2 year plan Vodafone.
Local beer (Sagres, Super Boch, Amigos etc) 1 euro/ 33cl bottle or less.
Lunch at village eatery - 4.60 Salmonella wrap with salad & drink. Decent pizza for 2 is 10 euro. Friday buffet 10 euro.
Dinner - Friday buffet 10 euro.
In grocery stores anything local is much cheaper than US. Eggs and Milk all fresh from farms around town. A plat of 24 eggs is around 26 euros. Milk is around 0.8 euro/liter. A 1.65 Kg whole chicken is about 4.5 euro. Food is much healthier here as no factory farming or growth chemicals. Cows eat grass and chicken eat bugs and not grain. Imported food and beers cost more. Not always a lot more. Low-on-the-brow is around 7 euros a six. Local wines are very drinkable and cheap (unless you are allergic to tannic acid like me).
Rent starts around 400 euros for a year contract. You can buy a very livable house for 100k and up or a fixer up for much less. Mortgages here start at 1.2 percent but down payments are higher here. I bought a huge stone farm house with several acres and a killer view for under very reasonable.
Cars cost more. Only about 30% of people drive here. Cars are hard to find here so most people buy them from the mainland and pay around 600 euros to ship here. Imported a car from the US is so expensive it's not worth it unless you are rich. There is no such thing as an automatic trans here and that includes rentals. Car inspections are much more rigorous here than the US. Once you try driving on the narrow winding mountain roads you will know why. There is decent public transit here. Car registration and insurance is much cheaper here.
Building materials are about the same as the US with a few exceptions. I just had a nice extra thick granite countertop made for about 1/3 of what I would have paid in the US. Tile is cheaper here also.
Labor is MUCH cheaper here. My skilled contractor that does masonry, roofing, plumbing etc charges me 8.2 euro/hour and 5..50/hous for his helpers and they do fantastic work and actually work hard. The average wage here is only 1100/month.
If you own a house here you can live very comfy for under 700/month. 70% of people here speak English but I am trying to learn Portuguese so I can fit in better,
Cool. Sounds like a nice change of pace from US & Can . Thanks!
I envision a big group of old people with name tags that have pictures of the teenagers I met in high school on them. 
That was my 50th.
