Married to a wonderful woman, we live in San Diego and trying to get used to the weather. Terrible down here. Why just this last winter, we actually had a deck chair blown over by the high winds. I called FEMA and they were all about flying in a trailer for us but we would have had to move the fifth wheel to set it so we decided to do without it.
I retired a bit ago, not really my idea, the company doctors determined that I was only fit to work one day a week. As i had a 240 mile a day commute to Los Angeles; it was a forced retirement any way you look at it. Interesting, none of the doctors I saw really looked at me to find out what was really wrong with me.
I have been to a 'real' doctor now. Found out I was extremely sick with a major infection for several years that was killing me. It was aggravating a myriad of problems and symptoms. They had me on huge amounts of Vicodin, Soma, Naproxin and other stuff I don't remember, even wanted me on Oxycodin. Yes, I had real problems, with my back pain and stuff, but the huge problem was the infection. No one bothered.
With that under control, I feel better than I have felt in maybe ten years. The down side is I am retired, older and probably unemployable at this point. Three years ago, I was full time in a little powered cart and cane totally handicapped. Today, I use the cane a bit, have not even been in the cart in months. The good doctor has changed my life. Never give up, if something doesn't feel right, find out why.
So we end up gambling a bit too much at Harrah's Casino in Valley Center. because we get to use the comps we earn there in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Laughlin. Lately though it's been a little tough … seems as the economy went down the casinos payouts went down right along with it. So unless you are playing tables where it's based on some skill and rather constant 1.1% favor of the house you are likely to just be donating to the casino. Even the comps have declined sharply since last year. We are "Diamond Select" which is a tier 3 Diamond then there is "Seven Stars" which just spends too much money and we have seen and talked to Seven Stars members we know. We are all not receiving the same level of comps we were a year ago. Time to move our money or slow down the spending.
Found a new hobby because of that, probably takes up most of the money that I would have been spending at the casino. I bought a home machine shop made by Sherline. Machine work has always been a secret love of mine and it has been very fulfilling to make small engine parts and even just take a block of aluminum or stainless steel and turn it into something recognizable.