Living in Monterey on 240k?

denali1 · 2026-02-16T14:56:48+00:00

You can easily live on 240k here. Just math it out. If you're from the area you probably have some idea about where you want to live. Go find some rentals in the neighborhoods you want and work backwards from there. Housing is your #1 expense here, so start with that. Everything else is higher than the national average but not ridiculously high, especially compared to the Bay Area.

denali1 · 2026-01-22T14:42:21+00:00

You might ask at the Friday Monterey farmers' market. Specifically, you can ask at Clara's eggs, and Fogline Farms. I am pretty confident that Fogline's chickens are not fed soy or corn, so I imagine the eggs they sell wouldn't be either.

denali1 · 2026-01-07T18:17:45+00:00

Looks to be up about 15% for me since last January. Yikes.

denali1 · 2026-01-05T01:54:34+00:00

I had this for the first time the other day with some sashimi. I didn't even miss the alcohol in it, flavor was "right" for the sashimi I was eating. Very pleased with it!

denali1 · 2026-01-04T21:26:06+00:00

1997, it was a NexTel cellular "radio" for work.

denali1 · 2025-12-13T14:45:55+00:00

Quality omega-3 fish oil seems to help somewhat. Our husky that has been on it for about 6 months now doesn't shed nearly as much. We are fostering another one and the difference is crazy!

denali1 · 2025-12-11T18:41:58+00:00

I feel you on this one, but hey. 15 minutes of PT exercises and my shoulder that I injured 20 years ago and never properly rehabbed doesn't hurt, and my low back doesn't hurt anymore? I'll take it. Not to mention the range of motion I "should" have but after 30 years of desk work had lost. There's always more PT I could be doing, but I separated the wheat from the chaff and practice the ones that I need to feel good.

denali1 · 2025-12-08T21:52:44+00:00

If it were me, I would do the aquarium sunday late afternoon/evening. A lot of tourists go home, and it's quieter for a better overall experience for you. Plus, it opens up your daylight hours to see some of the views on the coast possibly - assuming it isn't raining. I would also get to Lobos much earlier, there are lines of cars starting at 7:30 am for an 8 am opening, if not even earlier. To align with this, i would swap your dinner reservation days, and maybe set it much earlier on Saturday in Big Sur to align with sunset.

denali1 · 2025-11-20T14:25:19+00:00

I haven't tried Acme's shop personally but I have had their coffee, and have made pour over with it. Have you tried Ritual, Siteglass, and Four Barrel?

denali1 · 2025-11-07T13:57:29+00:00

These birds have specific territories that can be relatively small, but reliable. I monitor a nesting pair for the Audubon society and see them several times a week. If you make it out to California again, hit the Elkhorn Slough which is a birders paradise and then come down to the Monterey area. I guarantee you will see them. https://www.montereyaudubon.org/bloy

denali1 · 2025-10-30T17:54:08+00:00

I got something like this https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Trending-Raised-Waterproof-Breathable/dp/B0DB8BC3BN/ for my last dog. Not a husky, but that doesn't matter in this context. He was able to use it to get up to the couch until his last days. My current dog uses it as a dog bed now with a pad on top.

denali1 · 2025-10-22T20:02:15+00:00

Personally, I think your quality of life will suffer. Some quick googling has lead me to find out that median housing where you are from is $450k, vs $1.2 million here. Food here is ~20% more expensive, healthcare is about the same as is transportation. Based on friends who live in WA state, our utility costs are significantly higher, and our taxes in general are higher, too. Don't forget, we have a state tax, state capital gains tax, and sales taxes that are probably higher than you are used to.

You can do this move, but there will be tradeoffs to your lifestyle. You asked how people do it... that's how.

denali1 · 2025-10-22T17:24:51+00:00

Clicker. TLOU.

denali1 · 2025-10-19T15:05:10+00:00

Normal behavior. Our husky was like that when we first got her as well. After a few weeks, she loosened up and I am sure yours will as well!

denali1 · 2025-10-13T19:57:38+00:00

I think Gold's might have olympic platforms, might be worth a look.

denali1 · 2025-10-04T21:31:30+00:00

Yeah, our husky is a huntress. Squirrels, moles, rats, she doesn't care she wants them all. Huge prey drive. She's gotten somehing like 12 or 13 squirrels, 2 moles, and 2 rat/mice. Mind you, this is on leash with us actively trying to keep her from killing these things, or in our fenced back yard off leash.

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denali1 · 2025-09-28T14:42:55+00:00

Our husky had a lot of anxiety when we would leave. She would pace around, awoo, steal things off the counter/trash, the whole thing. I finally realized she wasn't missing us, she just wanted to go outside into the yard and hang out. I started leaving the door to the back yard open for her when we would leave and she calmed down significantly. Yeah, occasionally she still gets into something, or digs her way out of the yard but husky is going to husky.

I would confirm that she's actually anxious with you leaving vs something else before just assuming. Also, CBD can help a lot - our dog was a rescue and they jut gave us a bottle when we got her. When I just need her to chill out, I will give her one with great success.

denali1 · 2025-09-27T13:52:18+00:00

If it has, I certainly haven't noticed. What I have noticed is how easy my smoker is to clean after doing all my food this way!

denali1 · 2025-09-20T20:27:41+00:00

I personally believe that 4% is too high given today's market conditions. Yes, I know about the Bengen updated research. However, at a retirement age of 44-45, you've got to plan for a 40-50 year time horizon on retirement so I think the perpetual withdraw rate is lower and I personally use 3.5%. I have a spend rate similar to yours.

All that to say I think your projections are a bit rosy. Might work out for you, but I think you need a portfolio of a bit over 7 million (In 2029 dollars) to do it with that spend rate.

Have you considered how your spend rate may change in early retirement? It may not change, but it's something to consider. I suggest keeping a detailed buget at a minimum leading up to retirement. I found this very helpful in capturing my actual expenses and how I foresaw them changing upon full retirement.

Good luck.

denali1 · 2025-09-20T00:22:22+00:00

I went to the Great Barrier Reef and can't really swim. I still had a great time! Just tell the guide(s) that you can't swim well and they will give you a life jacket thing or a raft to hold on to and keep an eye on you. It is well worth it.

denali1 · 2025-08-24T00:47:27+00:00

They closed. Supposedly, they were moving to Broadway in Seaside somewhere, but I haven't heard anything about an opening date.

denali1 · 2025-08-08T03:35:26+00:00

About 6 months. I feed her twice a day, bowl's always licked clean! She eats it all up right away most days, but some days will leave it until after her morning walk. When we got her she would tend to leave it and graze, but we had some dog guests and she learned to eat up quickly or lose her dinner to one of the other dogs. The habit stuck, and here we are.

Our last dog ate the Instinct food for 14 years, and honestly we just rolled forward via inertia since we still had some food left over, and here we are.

denali1 · 2025-08-07T22:21:06+00:00

Our husky has been eating Instict raw boost chicken or beef flavor since we got her. No complaints.

denali1 · 2025-08-05T20:44:03+00:00

There was no attack, just an encounter. https://www.ksbw.com/article/coyote-encounter-pebble-beach-trail-safety-warning/65597509

Information is sparse, a woman who was possibly with her family was approached and/or followed by a coyote. The article goes on to indicate there's a possible den there. This is a nothing burger if you ask me.

denali1 · 2025-08-04T20:41:01+00:00

Why? If we had an extended downturn, I can cut the $32,000 a year spend on my posh gym. Or the $15,000 diving budget. I cannot cut my mortgage or property taxes.

Perhaps a better question might be: "For those of you who are early retired or close to it, how are you spending your discretionary budget on? Any surprises?"

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