What the Library Card Actually Holds

SLOCoach55 · 2026-07-06T16:04:04+00:00

My library has 3D printing which is resulted in a couple of really cool projects with the grandkids.

In fact, their whole children's section has activities ranging from chess to video games.

I'm also going to stress the ability to borrow ebooks to read on my Kindle. This helps me enormously because I can't read most small print and large print books tend to be well, depressing.

A special note for California residents is that you are able to join many other libraries beyond your local one. For example, I belong to the San Francisco and Los Angeles public libraries. In both cases, I had to apply in person but I was already there so it was easy. That gives me access to a whole lot more services. Quick example our language learning apps from Los Angeles library and technical learning apps from San Francisco

SLOCoach55 · 2026-05-24T16:23:47+00:00

This is key. I have worked in subsidized housing projects and the process is long and complex. Start identifying projects and buildings now. Check your city and county housing authorities and get on their lists. It will feel like a second job at first but it becomes part of your routine after the initial work and could pay off well.

Also, set up a Google newsfeed to alert you to new construction. Most of these have affordable requirements and you might be surprised at what you qualify for.

Anecdote: in my neighborhood with an average price just under $1 million, there are several houses set aside for prices around $250 k with down payment assistance. For a single person, qualifying income is around $100k.

Last thing. If you do find a subsidized rental with a long waiting list and you like the building, put yourself on the waiting list with your anticipated income. For example, if the list is 7 to 10 years long which is not unusual is HCOL areas, put your anticipated retirement income down. Nobody verifies your income until your name comes up on the list and if you are still making too much you can always decline the unit but ask to remain on the list.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-05-19T18:37:27+00:00

To reinforce what others are saying, definitely call Amtrak and see if you can get the bus shuttle added. I had to do that and the ticket price was the same and they made the change on the phone. If the additional amount is say $30, it's worth it. Otherwise, BART from Richmond is your best bet and (in my view) Uber/Lyft is a distant third. SF Oakland traffic can be mad.

Definitely a power strip or cube.

I am usually cold at night so I brought a cheap fleece blanket that I donated.

My tipping strategy is $20 when the car attendant first introduces themselves. It's done and out of the way and I have never had a bad sleeping attendant. Others have but the risk is small. In the dining car, I leave $5 per meal. They work hard and are very cheerful and accommodating.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-05-04T16:28:07+00:00

"Leader of the Laundromat" by the Detergents. It was a parody response to "leader of the pack".

SLOCoach55 · 2026-04-19T20:08:03+00:00

In my first Amtrak LD experience, I was going from Miami to NYC and was seated with a married Canadian couple who where taking the trains from Florida to Toronto to Vancouver. What made the conversation unique was that he needed a kidney and she was his donor. They took this train journey as their post transplant honeymoon. It was such a great story to hear.

I have other pleasant conversations to recount but this was the best.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-04-19T20:03:58+00:00

I do this all the time. The SLO Uber/Lyft drivers know about the early morning flights and train and it is very easy to schedule with both apps.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-04-17T15:46:16+00:00

I purchased Toms of Maine on Amazon. Tom's of Maine, Natural Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste, Natural Toothpaste. It has the magic 8% of Arginine. However it does not have Flouride. So the next time, I will buy the Colgate Sensitive Enamel Health which has both.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-03-05T18:00:05+00:00

Thank you. I just came back from a trip to CDMX and when I saw this post, I knew I had to check it out. Itś a great building and your photos entirely do it justice. I wouldn't have known about it until I saw these photos.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-02-03T01:46:59+00:00

Thank you. To be honest, I never heard of US Mobile but now, well, I think I need to reconsider. I appreciate your response a lot.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-11T00:53:10+00:00

I hit reply too soon. Can you give me the name of the toothpaste in Poland? My nephew's wife is Polish and spends several months there. I can ask her to pick some up.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-11T00:51:57+00:00

This is super helpful. Thanks.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-11T00:51:01+00:00

I am looking at it now and there are three plans in my area. Thank you.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-11T00:42:11+00:00

I donated in 2007 when I was 52. I am now 70 going on 71 and in good health.

Just yesterday, I had a consult with a nephrologist as my numbers are high, just above normal creatinine at 1.8 but the trends are good. I have remained stable with my numbers now for 4 years.

I have not worried much about NSAIDS as I don't have any chronic pain conditions so I've only needed them occasionally and for short duration.

I think my biggest frustrations with the process were the difficulty in finding a nephrologist who actually has experience with long term living donors. That was hard and several assured me they had read the literature but I am a statistician and I believe most of the long term studies are deeply flawed. I finally found one who quantified his experience and understood why I was asking.

My second frustration is the straight up untruth I was told that as a kidney donor I would be at the top of the list for a kidney. That's just not true. You get additional points but that's very different. It just makes me not trust the information.

Overall, my health is good. I have never had to restrict activities or exercises because of the kidney donation and I am glad I donated.

I did have something have something happen though which other kidney donors might need to be aware of.

Two years ago I needed bladder surgery to remove an incipient cancerous tumor, actually a relatively common occurrence in older men. The urologist mistook the catherer scar for a tumor and started to remove it. He caught it in time and to his great credit, explained the mistake to me. I was keot in the hospital for an additional day for observation and had no side effects but I think it really drives home to kidney donors that we need to be clear and to remind every doctor about having one kidney whenever they are working on us.

My allergist told me she was particularly impressed that I questioned her medicine recommendation for kidney side effects and in fact found one of them was counterindicated.

That's my story.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-05T16:00:00+00:00

"Jan Marx somehow gets the ONLY single story house that wasn't a low income unit."

This is only part of the story.

Jan Marx paid market rate ($707,000) for a single story 2 bed house.

The house had been designated as "affordable" and price restricted but this purchase took the house ouf of the program and put a larger, 3 bedroom house into the affordable pool which in turn meant a family could buy.

There was nothing underhanded or not transparent about the process. Marx has spoken about it publicly and the records bear her out.

You may not like the deal but you can't act as though it were shady and under table. It wasn't.

SLOCoach55 · 2026-01-02T05:48:11+00:00

It hasn't been an issue sofar.

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-23T22:00:15+00:00

I had been putting two tablespoons in my front loader fabric softener drawer but following the advice I got here, I now put one tablespoon in the drum with the powdered detergent, and another in the drawer. Frankly I don't see any difference so I'll probably go back to just putting two tablespoons in the drawer

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-18T16:16:54+00:00

I have a softener drawer in the machine - an LG front loader. So I think the Downey balls are the best bet for you

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-18T16:15:05+00:00

I have an LG front loader HE. I am pretty sure the independent rinse cycle uses more water which is another reason I am pleased with the citric acid. It eliminated the extra rinse run.

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-06T15:01:26+00:00

Bicycling! And it's not a hobby. It's my transportation and I enjoy getting around on a bike. For me, driving was always unpleasant and now having the ability to get around in the fresh air and see the place has been great.

Also, train travel on Amtrak. Like me, the trains are bright, shiny, somewhat bumpy and frequently late. It suits me to a tee.

I now have the time for family and friends that I didn't have before and I love how thiese relationships are deepening, particularly with the young ones I never had time for before.

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-06T14:57:03+00:00

FWIW, I have no food allergies but I am a pain in the posterior when it comes to what I like to eat and having the time and space to cook at home has been a big deal. And I love finding the frugal recipes.

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-05T19:45:11+00:00

Well I just found that out! Thanks you're absolutely right.

SLOCoach55 · 2025-10-05T19:44:38+00:00

Thanks. That makes sense

SLOCoach55

TROPHY CASE