A Conversation with Elizabeth
2010
Elizabeth

From:          Elizabeth 
To:            Larry
Sent:          Friday, December 28, 2012 10:09 AM
Subject:       Elizabeth
 
Larry, Thanks for catching me up on your life and plans. I didn't know that your Mother had Parkinson's. I remember when I visited you that you mentioned some concerns about it yourself, but I think you mentioned an uncle who had it, not your Mother. A while back I sent you a link to 23andMe, genetic testing. I was taking an online professional development course in genetics and our class got a discount, so I took the plunge. Then, when I sent you the link, the company dropped the price to 99.00 (I paid 169 I believe, but a lot of students complained about the price drop AFTER we made our purchases and got partial refunds, so I need to write for a possible refund myself). I had some concerns because my mother had glaucoma and also dementia. Also, you get to find out how much Neanderthal caveman you are. They screen for the major diseases of Parkinsons, Alzheimers and one other major disease which I forget, along with countless other conditions. One thing you may be able to do which I can't is get a good turn around on your current house, and then use that money to buy another one elsewhere. My house was very low priced, and right now I only owe about 8000 on it, which I plan to pay off very soon as the loan has a higher rate of interest than my car loan. I also did a 6000 roof and eaves repair and a 1000 dollar, along with around 1000 for AC duct work, I'm one of the few people in this small part of town that has central AC and heating and a dishwasher, but even so I doubt I could clear 45,000 if I tried to sell. Also, the neighborhood is "spotty." My little cul-de-sac is sort of okay, but some ultra trashy folks even moved in near me on the far edge of the cul-de-sac, and I guess they missed their trailer park because their yard is a trash dump of the worst sorts. The neighborhood is spotty because some of the houses have been purchased at a low price and the owners then fixed them up in major ways, but others have been left vacant and look rather run down. In fact the city tore one down sometime back. I've toyed with the idea of going back to Florida, but have sometimes considered Tallahassee. Still, without substantial turn around money from a home sale, I wouldn't be able to purchase a new place outright there or anywhere, and I'd rather stay here rather than take on an apartment. I suppose down the road, you also have your parent's home to move to, as a stepping stone. I thought the Forester when I first really looked at it was a little small as well, but I didn't want a big or larger SUV. Explorers are nice. I guess you bought a new one after I visited you, because I think you were driving one then. When I leave the college I'll get back a big chunk of pension fund money, since I won't have been with the State long enough to actually "vest" and get a pension. If I want to, I can then pay off any remaining car loan, if I chose to. (Although it could also be moving money!) I'd have to work until 69 to actually get a true pension from the college, as they require 8 years in the State to vest. I finally got an explanation that when you do get a pension, FIRST they pay you out of your own set aside amounts, THEN they pay you from their match. So I would only be getting back my own money from age 69 to around to 72 or so! Anyway, my plan is to take a chunk of that (probably? or maybe?) and pay off the Forester. Who will you get a true "pension" from--AOL? Or are you just talking IRA saved money? You've been as frequent a job changer as I in terms of pensions. I have an IRA from my 4 1/2 years at Baptist, and some other scattered smaller IRAs from other places, but in the RIF at Baptist, when I was laid off, I was half a year from a true pension. The hospital IRA took a nose dive in the recession, but has done better since then, but the plan moved me into more a more conservative program, based on my proximity to retirement, so it doesn't roller coaster as much with the stock market. Oh well, retirement is a "biggie" for me. I go round and round about it. It is hard to factor in unknowns--health being a big one. Keeping up my yard has become a real chore here--but I guess one could always hire someone for those sorts of things. I do enjoy the quiet here. I can step outside in the morning and see several different types of birds flittering around. Running errands in a small town is a snap--in an hour you can run four or five errands, from post office to grocery store to bank. BUT, I have no social contacts here at all to speak of. I hardly ever even get together with people here. Church is the only major activity and the major way of making social connections, but I avoid that. I did give a tiny bit of thought to getting certified in chair yoga, then maybe trying to start a class here through the Senior Citizens center or the local gym. I always liked Gainesville--the University always has so many interesting activities to participate in--film festivals, concerts and such. Well, the best to you in 2013 as well. I have to do my long commute thing no Tuesday and go back to work. I'm teaching my first totally online course this semester, but I'm dallying on getting it set up. I want to do well at it, because it would be an easy source of a little extra money, should I retire--I can stay on as an online adjunct.
 
Elizabeth

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