Campground Weekend

A little change of scenery for the long Memorial Day weekend, much as we usually do. This time though we're closer to home, less that an hour drive to the Kennebunkport area. Beautiful little campground befitting it's name, Hemlock Grove Campground. We arrived and set up the camper last night, had to spray on some bug repellent as the mosquitoes were unrelenting. By evening there were a lot less and between lighting a citronella coil and starting a campfire we were able to enjoy a couple of bottles of wine with supper followed by sitting next to said campfire without any further bloodshed. Today we struck out for a visit to the Seacoast Trolley Museum which was interesting and included a riding one of the trolleys on a trip through the local woods and back. Spent the remaining time we were there exploring the many unrestored trolleys housed in large sheds. I had some pictures from there but due to an unfortunate Trojan attack on my laptop I loss a all my photos and other files. I should be able to restore everything but today's pictures from my backup drive when I get home. Since returning from the museum we've been relaxing, reading, napping, etc. The menu for tonight are grilled tuna steaks – maybe a beer or two will accompany that as well.

This week's Friday night wine indulgence

Carol is working though the Yellow Tail Chardonnay, one of her favorites while I'm favoring a Merlot we bought at a Whole Foods wine tasting. I like it. So much for my wine review. These with a supper of chicken curry on brown rice – contentment.

Another morning at the ranch

Came into the office this morning, started the computer, launched the email – hey, a message from the CEO, we've been sold... again. This makes the seventh name of the office I've spent 24 years at. It's been about 10 years with the name we have now so I guess we were over due. Our present company stands at about 50 plus offices and around 3,000 employees in the US. The new owners are global with a strong US presence. The ongoing story will be how well we merge into a new culture and how my role will be affected. Stay tuned.

Blooming madness

Ah, spring has arrived, and in spite of all the rain flowers are blooming, the trees are leafing out, the black flies are swarming around and you can't turn a corner without coming onto some road construction. Around Portland driving from point A to point B means merging traffic into one lane, dug up streets, detours, flaggers, and slow going usually in several areas along the way. Fairly typical anywhere you go for that matter. Given the economic times we're experiencing I'm glad the roads can get the repair work needed it's just that about the time its finished up and we can enjoy the finished work it's gets covered by ice and snow. The circle of life in these modern times.

Photo of the Day

A doomed gnome. Taken through a

Exchange Street storefront window
while on my lunchtime walk.

Planning ahead, with a little bit of help

Procrastination – a character fault or a lifestyle choice. More truth in the former and more mirth in the latter. One subject that has been victim to my procrastinating has been serious retirement planning. Always in the back of my mind that I'd study up on the subject of retirement planning I've been fortunate that participating in my employer's 401K retirement savings program hasn't left me in a hopeless situation – but could it be better? Here are a couple of things that can cause trepidation in many a guys soul, making a doctor's appointment and making an appointment with a financial adviser. Either way with no justification we figure we're going to hear bad news. It'll be a prostate thing or work until we die. Ironically both have a lot to do with age. With that said Carol and I recently met with a financial adviser (insert reader relief here). The scary thing on the subject is how to find the right adviser. Fortunately for us Lois and Jim were able to give us a reference on their adviser who has "more than paid for the fee" of his services. After our first consultation with "Shawn" we are off to a good start and he felt we are in a good shape at this stage with our 401ks and IRAs and will be able to build upon it to retire comfortably. He'll be reviewing our present portfolio and in a short time meet with us to go over his recommendations on how best to move ahead. If there is one aspect that I'll be glad to get help with will be the allocation of my investment choices. I'm pretty sure that I'm a more than a little heavy on aggressive funds to the point where I've felt that if I did anything, it would be the wrong thing. One of the best things about this process has been Carol and I discussing what we'd like to be doing in retirement. Where we'll live, what we'll do with our time, personal projects, some traveling, volunteering, part time work. Nothing settled yet, it will be a subject we'll revisit regularly and will be on the forefront of our thinking here on in now that we are getting a handle of our financial future.