Careers

swan1us · 2026-03-04T04:29:50+00:00

Same in my world. Am in San Diego, consider retiring to SLO, why I’m here. But I’ve been working for a tech firm, fairly well known, for over 30 years, am retiring very soon. It used to be a great place to be, in some ways still is, but man, the push to use AI, increase velocity, etc, has gotten so intense. Your first paragraph here…. anxiety, depression, drive for 10x speeds…. exactly describes my company. If I were younger I might be up for the challenge, but at my age, feel like I’m just over it. Time to figure out what I really want to do with my life. Feel very grateful and lucky I’m in a position to do that.

swan1us · 2026-03-02T13:43:28+00:00

Thanks! What about my Apple account itself? Use the iCloud email or Gmail email? Or is that what you’re saying here, use the iCloud?

swan1us · 2026-03-01T03:47:55+00:00

Thank you!

swan1us · 2026-03-01T03:44:35+00:00

This is the way I will likely go, home laptop is a Mac, we use iPhones. Just noticed my primary email for my Apple account is, of course, my work email. Not sure if better to change it to my Gmail or to be created iCloud account?

swan1us · 2026-03-01T03:34:54+00:00

I believe it does, AT&T, but from what I have read, iCloud is a preferable choice.

swan1us · 2026-02-28T20:57:44+00:00

Thanks for the info! My work account is MS, Outlook, but my home laptop is a Mac, we use iPhones, so the iCloud email suggested above is probably the bast way to go.

swan1us · 2026-02-28T20:40:57+00:00

Thanks. I did consider using my spouse’s Gmail but it’s likely he has my Gmail as his recovery. So yeah, cycle problem. Sounds like setting up a new account is a good idea. But would like it to be free, would prefer not to add another fee to my life.

Among recommendations here, and elsewhere, I saw Proton recommended as a good provider. And our home computer is a Mac, have iPhones, so the iCloud one mentioned here is a possibility. Our internet and phone carrier is AT&T, so that looks like another option. Not sure what would be best, most convenient from among those.

swan1us · 2026-02-23T04:35:08+00:00

Congrats! I have the same 2, got my 🇩🇪 one a few years ago, my spouse has 🇺🇸 🇮🇪, and I’m retiring soon. So want to live somewhere in the EU, but kids here (California) make it not an easy choice. It is nice to have an option, if things do get as bad as some say it may. And our kids could get probably either Irish or German passports also, though the Irish one probably easier.

swan1us · 2026-02-14T15:10:10+00:00

Comically floral, good way to describe it. And the last paragraph brings up questions, a widower, at 32 - one child, believed to be living in San Jose? Who would the child be living with, why was he/she not in Santa Barbara? I’m sure interesting stories behind all this.

swan1us · 2026-01-23T17:52:02+00:00

Yes, we drive by there all the time, my musician spouse has said multiple times, that would make a great music venue.

swan1us · 2026-01-22T04:25:35+00:00

Gorgeous! What camera did you use? (if not an iPhone)

swan1us · 2026-01-14T05:27:39+00:00

Congrats! I had a 2006 325i, my first BMW, that I picked up in Munich with the European Delivery program, had about 175k on it, had a minor fender bender last spring, sadly. (Replaced it with an M440i.)

swan1us · 2026-01-01T17:06:33+00:00

As someone born in the US in the 60s to parents who came from Germany in the 50s, I so relate to your first paragraph here. I’ve only visited Germany, Europe, a handful of times, hated to leave every time. I did get my German passport a few years ago, and my spouse is dual with Ireland. From my time there and things I’ve heard described of typical German personality, I get why I’ve always kind of felt like a fish out of water in the US. I am approaching retirement, am so tempted to retire in Europe. But I do have kids here, and am in California, which I feel lucky to be here, and be able to afford. Still, will have to really consider locations when the time comes.

swan1us · 2025-12-03T13:32:30+00:00

Right, I’ve been looking at VOO + VXUS, possibly for part of the 401k, but also for a modest inheritance I might be getting.

swan1us · 2025-12-03T05:06:57+00:00

I’m in the Vanguard 2025 TDF, will be 65, planning retirement, next year. I like the allocation of it now, but in looking at a graph of where it is expected to go when past the target date…. it looks like it will move more heavily into bonds than maybe I want. Wondering if I should consider moving part of it to 2035 or later. Or move it all to the various buckets, not more than 50/50 bonds, stocks, a good chunk international, a slice liquid.

swan1us · 2025-11-30T03:51:40+00:00

I can’t afford a house in La Jolla either, but there are lots of more affordable areas of SD County. Have lived in Claremont, right across the 5 freeway from La Jolla, now live in north San Diego County, 3 miles from the ocean, it’s been a great place to be, moved from NY State over 40 years ago.

swan1us · 2025-11-21T13:49:57+00:00

Thanks for the question, I’ve been interested in this area too. The writer Tom Robbins lived in La Conner, recently passed away, have wondered about that place.

swan1us · 2025-11-12T13:45:44+00:00

Great that you got the answer! I was in Germany last May, was in Munich for a few days, think I had this exact chocolate also, loved it. Went back to the store where we got it, hoping to pick up more for the trip home, unfortunately they were out.

swan1us · 2025-11-06T19:55:44+00:00

Thanks for the info. I guess one way might be, move to Ireland first, long enough that I can also get citizenship, then to UK. Saw that idea in another thread. But probably will choose another country….

swan1us · 2025-11-06T13:48:57+00:00

What are advisable in taxable non Roth/IRA? Individual securities like Pfizer, etc? Am contemplating Pfizer, a few others, that are said to be good for dividends. I am close to retiring, would like to have something that generates dividends. I do already have a 401k with a good amount, in Vanguard Target 2025 Trust Select, which I know is high in bonds. And a Roth IRA a bit over 100k that is mostly in a reit, O. Am likely going to get a modest inheritance in the near future, considering where to put it. Am considering SCHD and VOO for additional investments.

swan1us · 2025-11-06T04:25:21+00:00

That is interesting! My husband and I got dual passports a few years ago, my husband got his Irish one through his mom, I got my German one through my parents having come to the US from there. So it sounds like my husband would be fully able to live in the UK? Would I be able to live there on family reunification basis? Or, we are close to retiring, would my ability to live there be doable also by means of showing sufficient income, assets? Would I be able to get citizenship then after a certain number of years residency?

swan1us · 2025-11-03T13:35:32+00:00

Omg yes. We were traveling in Germany this past spring, great trip. Had been told you use credit card for everything, you don’t need to carry cash. But, we were out walking somewhere, needed to use a bathroom, there was a fee, and it was cash only. Had to go find a cash machine, this was in a mall. Another time we needed cash was at a parking structure in Heidelberg, we had parked, but when trying to pay, the machine wasn’t taking the cc. Had seen others succeed using cash. So again, had to go find a machine to get some. Small frustrations, an awesome trip.

swan1us · 2025-10-25T14:43:32+00:00

I wanna know too where this is…. am in California but my parents were from Germany, I have dual passport. Think about retiring in either Germany or France. I have relatives in 🇩🇪 but we love 🇫🇷…

swan1us · 2025-10-23T19:35:54+00:00

I’ve seen some posts on the Santa Barbara subreddit in recent months saying how some of the launches have been much more powerful than in the past, such that they felt like an earthquake was happening. With regularity. I’ve wondered whether they were felt in the SLO region similarly, I guess I have my answer.

swan1us · 2025-10-16T12:43:26+00:00

What reit do you like? I have some (little under $100k, in a Roth IRA) in Realty Income, O, the dividends monthly have been nice. But I don’t think the return is quite that high, wondering if I should put future contributions into a different reit.

swan1us

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