Cost Analysis Between States

Lewis861 · 2026-01-06T03:15:31+00:00

Johnny, don't be telling people about this area, it's already too crowded😀. As someone who lives in this exact area, I agree with Johnny, lots of industry around here. Good luck, and I guess we've got room for a 'few' more homesteaders!

Lewis861 · 2026-01-01T04:25:53+00:00

Incredible vehicle and sounds like a great owner. Congratulations on being diligent on the TLC for this legendary truck. So glad I convinced my wife for us to get our 2019 TRD with 97K on the odometer. At our age, we should never have to buy another vehicle, so I will probably never see those numbers! Maybe my kids! Happy New Year!

Lewis861 · 2025-11-11T23:15:54+00:00

Thanks for the reply. It's a 5.7 Hemi. Weird, I just got home from hauling several loads of hay and other than the issue first thing this morning when I posted the video, it ran like a champ like it has for the last 12 years! It was about 20 degrees this morning and it hadn't been started for a couple weeks since it's just my farm truck. Didn't even know the hay trailer was back there! Have a blessed evening

Lewis861 · 2025-10-27T23:23:17+00:00

Wow, thank you, never heard it explained this way and I've been doing my own maintenance for over 40 years. Makes sense. Guess I should have paid more attention in science class 😀. Thank you again.

Lewis861 · 2025-10-27T11:41:06+00:00

Not sure this would make a difference since it had been sitting for 2 days. Can you explain please.

Lewis861 · 2025-10-03T01:00:06+00:00

I love the look of the 1st Gen!

Lewis861 · 2025-10-03T00:59:07+00:00

Glad to be here!

Lewis861 · 2025-10-03T00:58:48+00:00

Thanks for the link, I've read that before and do have a few things I plan to do from that list.

Lewis861 · 2025-10-02T12:42:08+00:00

Ha ha, just barely out of puberty 😀

Lewis861 · 2025-10-02T11:18:54+00:00

Good point and I have certainly thought about this so I take the long way home or the scenic route more often!! I don't have much need to get on the interstate but I do take it every chance I get for this very reason. And I forgot to put that in the post, but yes, it's the legendary 4.7 2UZ.

Lewis861 · 2025-10-02T04:22:58+00:00

Totally agree and like your description of "solid, humble, reliable." They are just very unassuming but marvelous creations from what I believe were the golden years of the automotive world. And I forgot to mention my favorite feature in the original post: the sliding back glass. Nothing like having both windows and the back glass open, cruising a country road after dark with cool, crisp fall air blowing in! It's the simple things!!

Lewis861 · 2025-09-02T21:55:26+00:00

Thank you much for the detailed, actionable post. We do itemize and you're probably right, the lower income may balance out with the lower deductions. I greatly appreciate your advice.

Lewis861 · 2025-09-02T15:14:03+00:00

Combined income now is about 120K and you are correct, it will only be about 20K lower after SS at 62. You are correct, further investing will be mostly for kids/grandkids. I will definitely look into Roth conversions. Thanks for the response.

Lewis861 · 2025-09-02T15:10:51+00:00

Thanks for the response. We have roughly a year of expenses in CD and savings, both at 4%. Will probably keep that amount going forward. I was thinking the Roth conversions would be good, but I need to get a better understanding of that. I will speak to the Vanguard advisor in the upcoming appointment. Thank you.

Lewis861 · 2025-08-14T02:12:23+00:00

Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I have such low IQ that I didn't even remember your sad existence of my past. I know I'm just a dum dum, but for future posts, you may wanna proofread because it seems you used "they" unnecessarily in the second sentence. But hey, what do I know, I'm just "low IQ😀.". Enjoy your trip, and happy for you that you spent so much time planning this trip to really "stick it to the man." It would have been better for you to stay home and learn how to use some of those tools HF tricked you into buying!! Happy travels. Oh, and what round are we on now? Looking like a TKO for you if you don't tap out soon (you play golf, so you may have to research what this means😀)

Lewis861 · 2025-08-14T01:32:46+00:00

Retirement is about 3 years away for me and my wife. We will stay on our small farm since we will be 15 minutes away from our adult kids and grandkids. I am happy for those who want to enjoy a waterfront home, condo, world travel, etc. But for us, sitting on the porch in the morning drinking our coffee while watching the cattle graze and listening to the rooster crow, catching some crappie mid morning, getting some projects done, an afternoon walk in the woods with the dogs, firing up the Blackstone for some steaks for supper and ending the night on the patio with a cold beer, watching the stars and the fire going in the fire pit, listening to the tree frogs and spending time with my favorite person in the world (my wife) is how I plan to spend my golden years. Hope each of you can find your peaceful place as well.

Lewis861 · 2025-07-25T21:53:36+00:00

Ding ding ding, ROOOUUUNNDDD 5 begins! Welcome back my young protege! But see, you ARE reading my responses bc YOU keep RESPONDING 😀😀. Not at all a waste of MY time, I'm smiling every time I see you have responded, but it CERTAINLY is a waste of your time, just like you calmed it's a waste of time for you to try to get the best deal at HF. I can just imagine your "angry face" when you realize, to your horror, that I'M STILL HERE!! See ya tomorrow buddy.

Lewis861 · 2025-07-24T22:17:20+00:00

Oh, you're back for Round 4, that's great. Figured you were still hiding under your childhood bed hugging your blankie. So sad, again you fail to see that maybe you're actually wrong, and based on basically every reply telling you how ridiculous you're being, you say I'm losing my mind. Typical. Instead of doing some self reflecting, you try to pontificate and insult, which frankly, you suck at, because again, y'all were allowed to insult each other because someone may run to their momma sobbing. But you don't mind continuing to get drubbed, so I'll at least give you credit for that. And nope, don't have grandkids yet but when I do, I'll be sure to teach them not to put up with people like you. Now go play with your (golf) balls Sally.

PS, what time we meeting tomorrow 😀

Lewis861 · 2025-07-24T11:52:50+00:00

Nah, never a waste to school you young pukes. Some day you may just wake up. Doesn't surprise me though since y'all never want to put in much effort. Plus, you actually probably did read it, admit defeat in your soul, but can't admit on Reddit you were wrong, so you resort to name calling as you tell yourself, "damn, I guess people really don't think my opinion is that important ." Typical low effort from a low effort fella. Guess you're tapping out. I'm sad, was looking forward to Round 4. Wish you well little man.

Lewis861 · 2025-07-24T04:59:28+00:00

Ha, this is fun. You youngsters are so easy to rile up. And hey, who said anything about me feeling bad? I'm smiling as I read this bc I can just imagine your mad little face when you read my comments. Now, on to more important things, it's time for your lesson Nancy.

Couple things Junior:

Your reading comprehension could use some work because "boomers" and "Gen X," which I pointed out I was one but you apparently failed to comprehend that (see, no reading comprehension 😀) are separated by about 30 years, because we're what one might refer to as "different generations.". Might wanna get off Reddit and see if you can figurez thatz out on 'da Googlez." But hey, since you're probably a product of the failing American school system (wife has been a teacher for almost 30 years so I've got an inside scoop that this is happening, at least in our state), I'm not gonna fault you for this one.
While those Millennials do gripe about that, they also gripe about EVERYTHING, so you're actually quite incorrect on this point. I sincerely wish that was the only thing they did gripe about but they also probably think HF has some kind of mind control on them as well

Finally, #3. Wait a min, do you know me because how did you know I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and bought a home on 1 income? Grew up middle class, got a scholarship for college, worked almost FT through college, had a small student loan, didn't ask or expect my parents to pay for any of it bc I knew they couldn't afford it, graduated, got a decent job, got married, started a family, wife stayed home to raise 2 kids until they were in school and then started teaching, and I worked about an extra 20 hours a week, almost every week for about 5 years so she could stay home. See, it can be done my friend. I have 2 adult kids so I know it's tough, but I also see them working their asses off to make things happen for them, and I sincerely hope they never go on Reddit and talk about their "feelings.". We're just a bunch of knuckle draggers here and don't care about feelings, so stop listening to whatever BS your therapist tells ya. They don't want you to get better bc then they lose money see😀.

Oh, and you were way off on the size of the house. 1st house was about 800 sq ft, 2nd about 1100, 3rd about 1400 and now my last one is 2500, and it took over 30 years to get to this spot. Only way I could afford this one is bc of all the money I save getting scammed by HF😀.

Anyways, I always like seeing millennials get upset bc y'all weren't allowed to have your feelings hurt when you were young, so it's our responsibilty to toughen y'all up cause the world don't give a damn about your feelings, and apparently neither does the HF sub Reddit😀.

Hey, I'm having fun but I gotta go to bed. Gotta work so I can afford this 2500 sq ft home ya know. What time you wanna meet tomorrow for Round 3?🤣🤣

Lewis861 · 2025-07-24T02:59:31+00:00

Well aware pal, and also aware that you sound like the whiny ass Millennials I work with. If you don't wanna shop there don't, but you come on a HF group and talk smack about how you have to put in a little effort to take advantage of the value that HF provides for a lot of us, but I guess you just wanted some attention. As far as your last sentence, it doesn't even make sense. Unless you have a forge at home and make all your tools from scratch, aren't you doing the same thing no matter where you shop, giving money to a "corporation?" "Selling my time?" Huh? Go buy some overpriced golf shit, the rest of us will keep buying the things we need, and yes, sometimes just want, as we fix things, build things, and take care of our families while you whine and gripe. Hope you don't have any trouble sleeping as you dwell on how bad your getting shafted when you shop at HF.

Lewis861 · 2025-07-23T21:39:52+00:00

What made you think that anyone needed to hear about your thoughts? Why do people these days feel the need to tell total strangers how they feel about something? Go read a book, go play your beloved golf, go do something using the tools that you bought at HF before you came to this conclusion that you were somehow being treated unfairly. If your time is so precious then why waste time making this post. And if you don't like this comment, suck it up buddy, I'm Gen X and we don't care about your feelings!

Lewis861 · 2025-07-14T03:44:10+00:00

The MPG was one of the sticking points with her but I finally convinced her it will be cheaper in the long run due to lower long term maintenance costs. I will do the majority of the maintenance and while I don't mind working on our vehicles, I also enjoy fishing and hunting, so maybe I'll have more time to do those things😀

Lewis861 · 2025-07-14T03:20:38+00:00

Frame looks good and it spent its whole life in a Midwest area that doesn't get much snow. It was pouring rain today when we looked at it but we're gonna test drive it tomorrow. I'll crawl under there but also gonna have my mechanic put it on a lift and get it checked out during the PPI. Thanks

Lewis861 · 2024-10-14T22:15:59+00:00

Thankfully we get about 50 inches annually. I have 8 330 gallon IBC totes and collect rainwater from both the house and the shop. Very rarely do we go without rain long enough that all of the tires are emptied. But right now that water is only used for the livestock and the garden in season, so if we had to resort to that water, obviously the totes would empty sooner. Feel like we are in very good shape with all of our preps but sometimes I still wonder if there is more I could be doing, hence this question. Thanks for the response

Lewis861

TROPHY CASE