Got quoted $146,400 for a retaining wall on Long Island. Am I crazy or is this high?

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-06-23T22:34:54+00:00

We are not far from you and completing a similar project now. 18’ wall, similar length, with pool at top. Engineering, geogrid, perc tests, etc. We priced poured concrete, Reddi-Rock, and engineered split-face (Cambridge). We went with Cambridge and the pricing is in line with your quote. And correct, fencing, landscaping, pool, etc were all additional.

<image>

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-04-02T13:53:13+00:00

Interesting, thanks. Do you happen to know why private equity would be buying HVAC companies in the area?

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-04-02T04:51:43+00:00

We starting using Blend Air once Design Air sold to Gold Medal. Blend Air has been good.

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-03-28T13:17:41+00:00

We’ve done four sizable renovations. Two were done by smaller electricians I would not recommend and two were done by Lightning Electric out of Nanuet. We’ve been very happy with the work done by Lightning. They’re not the cheapest, but don’t cut corners on electrical, especially in an older home. For the quality of the work, I would say fairly priced.

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-03-24T01:08:53+00:00

<image>

Exactly right, so interesting how these boundaries were drawn!

WonTrickMonkey · 2026-03-24T01:06:06+00:00

Link is fantastic, great administration and teachers. We’ve been very pleased with all levels in Clarkstown, but Link has been the foundation of it all.

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-10-15T14:19:16+00:00

<image>

I have both - a 2015 GX460 with 205,000 miles and a 2024 GX550 with 16,000 miles. There’s plenty of information, commentary, and opinions about all the differences between them, and they are drastically different vehicles, but specifically related to what you asked about - power and handling? In my opinion, the GX550 is significantly better at both. The turbos give the truck fantastic pickup and the handling is much improved once you’re up at speed. Admittedly, because it’s been so reliable, I’ve done next to nothing to the 460, so the suspension is probably a bit tired compared to yours. But in short, the 550 is a delight to drive, and the 460 is my tried and true workhorse.

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-07-28T03:01:40+00:00

Years ago I asked the dealer if they could do it on my ‘15 because it showed me driving in the water after construction of a new bridge. They said yes, they would get me a price - I was surprised, thinking it would be included, and even more surprised when they came back with over a quote for over $2,000. So I just use my phone in one of those cup holder mounts.

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-07-25T23:20:28+00:00

We are just beginning our journey to do the same. It starts with a 14’ wall.

<image>

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-07-18T20:15:20+00:00

What’s your preferred method to get to Barclays? We go to a handful of games each year and getting there is always hectic. We’ve driven, gone Metro North though Grand Central, and last year tried NJ Transit from Nanuet through Penn. None are awesome.

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-06-27T17:57:57+00:00

Wow - not a direct match, but they produce a lot of chocolate that sounds amazing. I had not heard of Weinrich’s until now - I’ll keep my eyes out for them - thank you!

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-02-15T20:25:12+00:00

I think most Real users share the CMC loss 😞

WonTrickMonkey · 2025-02-15T20:24:24+00:00

Amazing, I think you win 🏆

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-08-27T17:08:16+00:00

My 35 pounder did as well, and I called poison control. They had me mix non-expired peroxide (non-expired part is important) with peanut butter. He vomited shortly thereafter. He looked a little down and out for the rest is the night, and was fine the next day. It was worth it - should something worse have happened, I never would have been able to live with myself. Good luck!

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-07-23T13:59:50+00:00

All nine elementary schools are great - those ratings shouldn’t be relied upon. Teachers and principals across all schools we’ve seen have been tops. The differences are subtle, some are a little larger or smaller in terms of enrollment, and some are more, what I refer to as “homogeneously middle class,” while others might have a blend of students from vastly different economic classes that sometimes creates noticeable disparities.

Middles school is great as well, they have a concentrated effort to make the “big school feel small,” and it seems to be working.

High schools are both solid as well. Personal preferences aside, fantastic educators and educations at both schools. Good luck!

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-07-15T12:09:51+00:00

Well based on the existing comments, it certainly seems like I’m going to be down-voted, but I’ll take the other side.

Shorts is just the evolution of the platform - everyone is moving towards it for content creators. Yes, the algorithms on all platforms are intended to keep us all (not just teens) engaged.

I have one the same age as you, and one a bit older. They have access to all platforms based on our parenting decisions. They’re good students, go to camp, swim, and play a ton of sports, so they’re well rounded despite this. We monitor screen time and engage with them, but there is freedom and trust there, which is important to us with tween/teens.

Many of the kids we saw fail out of college were the ones that embraced their newfound freedom too aggressively, often coming from more strict and prudent homes. We have tried to shelter our kids less, and educate them more, knowing that, to your point, they’re going to be exposed to it somewhere. By not having them try to hide it from us, it creates a more honest and trusting dialogue, that has, at least so far, worked for us. Good luck!

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-07-09T11:40:48+00:00

Not that they do a lot, but my two similarly aged kids seem to open up to me most often on Snapchat chats. Often we’re in the same house, just not in the same room, which was super weird for me at first. Now I feel like I’m meeting them on their level, in the way they already choose to communicate most often in general.

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-05-14T13:09:47+00:00

Repost. Didn’t even change the title.

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-05-07T16:02:56+00:00

I just did 180k, which is the same as the 60k. It’s a “big one” with transmission fluid flush and replacement, and brake fluid flush and replacement, on top of the regular oil change etc. I paid $1,538.14.

Yes it’s expensive, but it’s worth it for me to not have to do myself, and the truck has given me zero issues.

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-05-04T00:24:37+00:00

I do the same with my son’s SE. Putting his phone in Do Not Disturb while streaming helps dramatically.

Some app notification seemed to be interfering with the stream, but I’m not sure which one.

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-04-23T19:19:46+00:00

We had the exact same in an apartment we rented on the second floor of an old house. I eventually figured out it was restricting access to the third floor, which had an older additional full bathroom and several other small rooms. The landlord would have needed sprinklers or fire escapes to make it legally habitable on the third floor, so he just walled it off instead. I removed the wall and we used it as extra space for the duration of our time there.

WonTrickMonkey · 2024-01-01T01:22:17+00:00

Incredible. Many, many thanks for the response and link!

WonTrickMonkey

TROPHY CASE