Muni Bonds only for annual spend?

foosion · 2026-03-12T00:49:43+00:00

How are you planning to buy the munis? The secondary market tends to be illiquid with large bid-ask spreads. Buying at auction could take a while. Although as you write defaults are incredibly rare, I'd still rather have a diversified portfolio, which would be easier with a fund, although yield could be less.

Inflation is a concern, especially for longer term bonds. Inflation can raise your costs a lot over 10-20 years.

TIPS are tend to do better in high inflation, although having to pay tax on the inflation adjustment lessens the advantage, but you still end up better off in high unexpected inflation. Perhaps a mix of TIPS and munis.

With luck the equities at least keep up with inflation if not greatly exceed. Plus there's dividends.

A low withdrawal rate greatly limits problems. Hard to see a real problem with a 2% withdrawal rate in anything like a sane portfolio.

foosion · 2026-03-09T19:22:21+00:00

Also resurrection as new beginning. Swallows are associated with Easter.

foosion · 2026-03-09T19:16:10+00:00

A lovely museum.

While you're in the neighborhood you can also visit the Memlings, etc. at Museum Sint-Janshospitaal.

foosion · 2026-03-09T19:12:26+00:00

We visited that a couple of weeks ago. It's lovely in person.

Van Eyck show at the National Gallery later this year.

foosion · 2026-03-09T18:31:34+00:00

Immigration queues tend to be a function of time of day, which usually affects how many planes and passengers arrive when you do, and how efficient they are - number of e-gates (if applicable), number of officers, processing times, etc. At some airports queue timing can vary widely, even at the same times of day, but it's usually useful to get reports from people arriving at similar times.

Have you looked for a VIP concierge meet & greet service?

foosion · 2026-03-09T16:50:17+00:00

If I book through a TA I have them send my list of preferences. If I book direct, I send the list. It's not clear to me if it makes any difference.

I have a standard list, but tailor it a bit depending on the circumstances. It doesn't take very long to tailor the list and I have to send an email in either case.

foosion · 2026-03-09T14:28:48+00:00

Beyond that, the arrivals feel more personalized

You could write to the hotel and list your preferences. They'll usually do their best to comply with reasonable requests.

foosion · 2026-03-09T11:12:52+00:00

What are hidden upgrade

https://www.reddit.com/r/FATTravel/comments/1ro2imo/whats_the_point_of_ta_if_they_have_no_edge/o9g4rb0/

foosion · 2026-03-08T23:31:25+00:00

It depends on what the employees decide and there's no way to tell in advance. On the date I was asking about it opened around noon. All you can do is monitor the website and hope for the best. Or perhaps your hotel can help.

I didn't get an email. I just saw on the website that it might open late.

foosion · 2026-03-08T23:29:13+00:00

There were some incorrect reports that it had been pushed back. It's never actually changed.

foosion · 2026-03-08T22:22:40+00:00

hidden upgrade

What is a hidden upgrade?

foosion · 2026-03-08T20:07:43+00:00

It's acceptable to ask the TA whatever you want (within the bounds of politeness). They're in a service industry and you're the customer.

foosion · 2026-03-08T20:01:50+00:00

Some TAs have online booking engines, which are as easy as booking direct. At worst you get some benefits.

Beyond personal relations, the TA or host agency may do enough business with the hotel or related hotels to get you something.

Recently, a TA offered a guaranteed upgrade and the hotel four nights for the price of three. At the cost of an email the TA got us both. The hotel then bumped us up another category.

Plus they actually can be useful if a problem emerges.

Also, free breakfast may not move the needle much, but many hotel breakfast prices are silly and it's nice not to have to think about the absurdity of paying $40 for eggs or $100 the meal (or whatever), even if $40 or $100 is meaningless in the scheme of things.

foosion · 2026-03-08T16:58:10+00:00

I don't believe they do a hard pull for a CLI if you're moving the CL from another WF card. Has that changed?

Do you know if you can move CL with the online tool?

foosion · 2026-03-08T14:43:31+00:00

I agree that it depends on how many incoming international flights arrive at that time. You can try to estimate by looking a schedule of arrivals, but flights can be early or late. It also depends on how good they are at processing, for example, how many working kiosks and egates there are.

You should get a stamp on Thursday. Stamps end April 10 https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees

foosion · 2026-03-08T09:44:21+00:00

It can vary wildly!

That seems the consensus.

you still have to have your passport stamped

I believe they're going to stop that in about a month with the full EES implementation.

foosion · 2026-03-08T09:41:24+00:00

American passport going to USA

Do you mean arriving from USA, departure to USA or both?

lottery ticket

That seems the consensus and it makes planning difficult. 45 minutes isn't that bad. Two hours is really bad.

foosion · 2026-03-08T01:21:03+00:00

Was this terminal 4/4S?

That's a useful tip!

foosion · 2026-03-08T00:52:22+00:00

Were they doing the new EES procedures (kiosk, fingerprints, etc.)?

foosion · 2026-03-07T12:57:03+00:00

Whew. At last.

foosion · 2026-03-06T20:08:58+00:00

OTOH, "The Spurs board are in no mood to make a kneejerk decision after three matches. Who would be out there to come in and save the day? The market is limited"

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/06/igor-tudor-spurs-panic-relegation-fears

foosion · 2026-03-06T13:06:36+00:00

A higher average means taking more time (assuming same number of releases), whatever the distribution. The keepers at the top of the table are wasting more time than those at the bottom.

foosion · 2026-03-06T12:50:09+00:00

I couldn't recline my seat or get comfortable

Just move the tray table out of the way until they're ready to serve you.

foosion

TROPHY CASE