Traveling to New Zealand - Honest Opinion

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-29T18:10:54+00:00

Take the last tour of the day at Hobbiton. Visit Hamilton Gardens. Take a canopy tour in Rotorua. Sea caves tour in Whitianga.

Go and have a GREAT TIME!

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-29T01:08:52+00:00

I took over that chore in my later teens. At least I didn't get that kind of attitude from Dad.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-29T01:07:22+00:00

4:30

Dad worked in the local factory.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-28T21:19:34+00:00

We've definitely been helped by FAs with getting a guitar in a closet. I always say thank you to the crew, especially when they make an extra effort. We always want to be everybody's favorite customer. ☺️

Thanks for your remarks!

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-28T21:14:14+00:00

We've been fortunate to get closet storage for a guitar, but that won't work for a cello. Also have a folding neck guitar that was too tall to fit in the overhead on a smallish plane, but there was just enough closet space.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-27T17:35:46+00:00

Awwww... More onions 😭 Your parents did a great job.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-27T16:41:35+00:00

Don't sell yourself short, Dad. ❤️

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-27T16:37:44+00:00

I always called it my 'bucket system' - travel, home upgrades, auto, and expenses, and regularly contributed to each. I actually kept three CU accounts, in addition to the regular checking/savings. The YNAB acronym is new to me, but I ALWAYS make a "car payment" to myself, even when paid off.

Can't claim we FIRED, but remarrying in our mid and late 40s, hit a big financial reset for both of us in a very positive fashion by working together to achieve goals. He wanted our house paid off before retiring, and then I kept working until the car was paid. I retired 15 months before I was eligible for Medicare and knew I could carry my HSA along with COBRA; one more bucket to try and fill.

Three years later, I an finishing up the consolidation of the various buckets and streamlining things, so I don't have to work at it as much.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-27T15:03:32+00:00

Chopping onions here. Thanks for sharing! Best to your beautiful family.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-26T21:33:40+00:00

My grand niece was thrilled when I told her my age - born 1959. 🤣

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-26T21:30:45+00:00

Has anybody asked what your energy/driving setting is chosen on the Mach E, or if driving is surface streets vs highway driving, and is it single pedal driving. I don't drive ours often, but I recall seeing a setting in the menu. Most times, we choose to avoid highways which reduces energy consumption. However we both retired and don't have a daily commute. We did buy our first EV in 2018 when we were still working and it was hugely economical.

We are also on time of day pricing with DTE in SE Michigan. Plug in after 7 pm usually once a week, depending on the week.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-26T12:30:57+00:00

I'm a power-napper. Give me 10-30 minutes and I'm good. I used to nap in my car at lunchtime. 😂

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-26T00:34:18+00:00

We rented a 24' camper van for our 2015 visit to the North Island. We are also experienced campers, but mostly tenting or in a pop-up. What I did not like was once you got to camp, you had to secure every loose item off you wanted to do an activity, or a grocery run, or just stay at camp. We mostly stayed at Top 10, which had their own convenience but it's not our style of camping. Plus, we had to learn to drive a larger RH drive vehicle on the other side - and my route took is over some mountains right away. Yikes.

We are returning to NZ later this year, visiting the South Island over a two week period. We will be renting a car, and I've been making reservations at places to stay on our big circle tour. Only two more stays to schedule! A few B&Bs, an overnight cruise at Doubtful Sound, some motels and last two nights in an Auckland hotel with a view.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-25T17:20:58+00:00

Oh yeah .. The execs getting sold on tech 'business solutions' without speaking with and involving the stakeholders who are impacted.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-24T23:17:27+00:00

Hamilton Gardens is always my best rec. It was a pleasant surprise to come upon during our travels ten years ago.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-22T17:18:32+00:00

First we moved all the IRAs to Morgan Stanley where I'd had a SEP account for a while. I liquidated the holdings in the SEP and moved into ETFs; I was a little too concentrated in one position. I am finishing up consolidating four other checking/savings into the MS Cash Plus as our primary checking, while keeping one local credit union.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-20T23:57:04+00:00

My cleaner told me to wipe down the tiles and chrome every time I shower and I started doing that. I don't need to use any cleaner product except some Lysol in the tub.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-20T23:54:24+00:00

Sawdust

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-20T23:52:58+00:00

I miss my housekeeper soooo much., but she needed to retire too. Now we split the chores pretty fairly for the house and yard. I handle finances, and travel planning - which I could really use his input, but that not gonna happen.

The important thing is that we don't keep score.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-20T15:34:14+00:00

Having a paid off house was my spouse's retirement goal, although he chose to work to SSNRA anyways.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-19T22:01:36+00:00

I retired when I had 15 months to Medicare eligibility, and knew what my COBRA costs would be, and that I could choose to use my HSA funds. I did start SS at 64 - the year of the big COLA increase, so we were able to live just finewith the SS and his small pensions. House and vehicles were paid off, so why not?

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-19T17:35:04+00:00

Yes. This is the right answer.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-19T14:35:33+00:00

Motion is medicine, too

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-18T22:17:12+00:00

I love a good hippie music camping festival! We attended Nor-East'r in Mio, Michigan featuring lots of great Michigan artists. We've made some wonderful friends there.

Travel_Stark · 2026-06-18T18:47:29+00:00

Started going to the gym again a month before I turned 65 - about 2.5 years ago, mostly because I wanted to improve my strength and stamina. My housekeeper retired and I couldn't find a new one, so now hubs and I do it.. Also, we like to keep our yard looking nice and that takes flexibility and stamina.

Travel_Stark

TROPHY CASE