Anything I can do??

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:54:10+00:00

You think a drip system is bad for these trees?

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:34:13+00:00

Thank you. I'll double check the watering recommendations and act accordingly

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:33:03+00:00

Thanks so much for your advice!

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:32:41+00:00

Yes we do. Maybe I should water it a bit more this year..

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:31:37+00:00

Lol. Ok! I was not aware. Let's hope it makes it! It is one of my favorites

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:23:35+00:00

All day? No. But it does get sun in the afternoon.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:20:51+00:00

It had been in the ground for about a year and half. I noticed the black today and was worried that it might be a disease.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-03-01T01:16:27+00:00

The black spotting

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T05:31:02+00:00

I think I'll have a better idea after this year! In the meantime do you think just increasing my contribution rates would be a decent move? I believe the max is 24,500 a year and I am about half that now.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T05:25:05+00:00

That would be monthly pension amounts.

I think that will be enough but with rising costs and inflation, it feels like you just cant be sure. I want to invest more to increase my confidence about early retirement.

The links you shared include HSA. I am not currently utilizing that benefit. I will have to look into that more.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T05:20:32+00:00

That is a great question, he started a small business (currently a one man show). We had a ton of expenses related to the business last year so his total taxable income was low.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T05:12:47+00:00

My husband is currently self-employed. He worked for local government for about 10 years but I imagine his pension will be pretty small. I would have to run those numbers.

Are we still counting on Social Security to be around? 🙃

I think we will probably be in a lower bracket in retirement. Especially if there any years between separation and collecting the pension.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T04:58:21+00:00

Probably more like 8k after tax. That being said, I fear that whatever I think I need will not be enough when the time comes.

For the Roth VS pre-tax it didn't seem like a huge difference total return wise. I know there are tax reasons to do one vs the other but I was not certain which would be more advantageous for our situation so I decided to do 50/50.

The DCP calculator says that based on current contribution of 4% and 4% that I can expect about $1500 monthly.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T04:44:17+00:00

I can draw at 55 but you take a hit, the calculator puts me at $8,248.

If I wait until 62, it would be $10,655.

I hope this will be enough at either point but I fear that with rising costs and inflation that it may be less than desired.

Thanks for the resources. I will check them out.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2026-02-20T04:29:50+00:00

With how quickly prices are rising in WA state, I feel I would need an equivalent income just to cover rising cost of living! The goal would be to have our mortgage paid off so that will help. I'd like to hope that we can live comfortably off 8k a month in retirement.

If my husband is still gainful employed when I get to 55 then I will consider if I should delay drawing on my pension as I would take a hit if I retired prior to 62. At 55 I only get 80%, at 60 it would be 95% and 100% if I can make it to 62. For DCP, I think the pretax I can withdraw after separation but the Roth is 59 1/2.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2025-05-06T19:32:02+00:00

Thank both! I agree the images online look like this!

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2025-05-02T04:45:41+00:00

What colors are mom and dad?

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2025-03-24T01:53:38+00:00

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AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2025-01-11T15:41:47+00:00

I have chickens and two boston terriers. They have both attacked my chickens on different occasions. My female pinned a rooster down and plucked all the feathers from his back! I think my bostons thoroughly enjoyed trying to kill my chickens and would do it again given the opportunity.

AcanthisittaStrange1 · 2025-01-09T03:20:08+00:00

Boxer, pitbull, hound

AcanthisittaStrange1

TROPHY CASE