There is some consolation in knowing that we’re not losing as much in the stock market as would be the case if we hadn’t invested a big chunk of our IRA in this Florida home. Travel is also getting more expensive, although we’re committed to the remainder of the year regardless of the cost. At this rate, all of us retirees will soon be back at work. Fortunately, there are plenty of jobs available, if you can make more than it costs to get to work. It just makes working from home the best option.

I’m not confident that I budgeted enough savings, pension, and Social Security for the long run. Fortunately, at this point, only savings is subject to economic factors, but is flowing out of control like sand through an hourglass. Our outdoor kitchen is on hold until September when our contractor returns from Italy. The garage is now full of venting and appliances for that delayed project. We went to a plant nursery yesterday to look for a red crepe myrtle to replace the bush on the side of our driveway. My wife decided that she wanted it instead of another palm tree out front, opting for some color to match our red ceramic fountain and planters. We’ll push back any plans for backyard landscaping until next year.

Paver sealing is the popular neighborhood project of late, another future home investment for us. Most of our neighbors have been settled here a little longer and are ahead of us on many of these home  improvements. They are not traveling as much as we are this year, so their priorities are different. We have our upcoming road trip, Alaska/Japan cruise, and family get-together in Kauai to deal with yet this year. I think we need to plant a money tree!