NYC Journal

Devil Dan,

Buy some Heliopan UV filters marked “Digital.” These filters have IR and UV filtering that remove what I would call “noise” in a way because theses signals are not visual, yet get recorded.

Pretty much they clean up the files, and you will see less clipping.

Don’t know if your digital cam makes a histogram, but if it does you will see a noticeable difference.

This is one of my secretes: don’t tell anyone.

With my Leica MM I use a number 2 yellow Heliopan filter asked “Digital” so I don’t need a major amount of contrast adjustment, only minor tweaking to contrast.

My lazy slacker method is kinda shooting like a large format shooter, where I maximize everything at time of image capture to minimize post processing.

If you want to print big digital noise gets propagated the more you manipulate a file. Basically you loose IQ the more processing you do.

Pretty much carry over your large format ways of shooting.

My friend Daryl has a Blad that is convertible film to digital. He states that it is not how many pixels, but the size of the pixels is most important.

Again people should look at all the shadow detail in the images you post.

Cal
 
A day off where there are no appointments or a schedule.

Morning blood pressure 106/62.

I might start prepping the hallway for primer. Needs some skim coating of Spackle and sanding. This includes part of the stairway.

More importantly I’ll do some rowing and try to get an hour’s time in, even if broken into two half hours, or even three 20 Minuite sections. I need to pump blood and burn calories.

No stress and a relaxing day. Best part is moving forward, even if just a baby step.

Some guitar playing would be great. Life is like a meditation.

Cal
 
I got an E-mail about a “One time use” contract from the New York Times. Fee is $175.00, and there is some type of portal and a few questions I need to answer. This income will be taxed.

This is really cool getting paid.

I stopped by to socialize with AJ and kinda snookered him into doing the training rides to pretty much build into doing a Century every week. He is in the same level of fitness where we have to get to 50-60 mile rides.

AJ opens his one-man shop at 11:00 so pretty much it would be in the mornings.

Physically AJ and I are the same height at 5’ 10”, while I perhaps weigh 158 pounds with my winter weight of a 5 pound gain, AJ out weighs me by 30 pounds at 188 pounds. He is not fat and is a muscular guy who is 52.

Riding with someone younger and stronger than you is one way to get fast. Don’t forget that the Empire State Trailway is made of railroad grades.

This is awesome.

Cal
 
Joe,

At this point a day of hard work in the traditional sense would kill me.

My job is taking good care of myself, “Maggie” and the house.

The cold it seems effects me more profoundly. The commute I did I don’t think I could do today. I’ll find out more when I see the hematologist.

The Concept 2 rower is a good jump start for me. Looking forward to the mild weather and putting mucho mileage on my bikes. I think I have to stay out of the woods though, because any cut could turn into a trip to the ER for IV’s of antibiotics.

Staying indoors for health reasons until things get resolved. Might have to have a snow bird plan for next winter.

Pretty amazing how much work Maggie has to do for her book launch. Seems never ending. The spring and early summer will be busy. I am Maggie’s on-tour-ROG

I signed off on my taxes, and sent out the bills. So far my fuel oil bills have not been so bad as last year.

I will get one of my rare hair cuts. Will keep having a ponytail, but my hair is a bit hill-billy and feral.

BTW I at times talk with a new accent. It is only some words, and is a bit hill-billy. Kinda southern country boy.

Cal
 
I have to tell you that the cold tires me out in a profound way.

With CAD cold causes my red blood cells to stick together. Blood gets restricted to the point parts of my body turn blue, like my ears, my nose, my hands and feet. Under long exposures my entire face will get blue and blotchy like bruises.

The red blood cells get damaged and get hemalized, meaning die off. This releases an M-zine that makes me tired. The other day when I went outside to shovel snow, even though I overdressed, I got profoundly tired, not from the exercise, but from the cold.

Seems like my sensitivity to the cold has suddenly increased. My blood indicates a low red blood cell count, which hovers either in the low end of the normal range, or just mildly anemic.

From the decade where my IgM levels were monitored closely I know my levels seem to vary a lot, but my levels seem to go up in colder weather.

As Phil pointed out, the Baby-Victorian makes for a great bunker to hunker down. No better place to be, and its location is kinda strategic. I figure being a snow-bird might have to be my lifestyle for January and February to avoid the cold.

This disease has no cure, and it is a disease of the elderly that mostly effects people older than me in their 70’s and 80’s.

I was diagnosed with CAD when I was only 49. There are monoclonal antibody treatments, but research reveals that these treatments can actually promote advancement of the disease, and the treatments generally when started need to be performed every three years or so.

Moral of the story is don’t mess with the immune system unless it is really required.

Also know that people that have CAD have a normal life expectancy, unless it turns into a lymphoma. When this happens it is a rather quick death spiral. Perhaps a 3-5% chance/risk.

Pretty much I was told to avoid the cold, and pretty much I should consider moving to a warmer climate. I don’t want to move, my home is New York, but I’m at a point where I might have to snow-bird for medical reasons, and for quality of life.

If I did not have CAD pretty much I would be a rather remarkable healthy male. My IgM levels are high, and my old geezer hematologist once told me at my levels he would expect a very-very sick patient, but he deemed me as being a medical mystery because I remain asymptomatic.

Seems like only recently the usual winter fatigue has gotten worse. The Center For Disease Control says Cold Agglutinin Disease effects one in 100,000 and is considered a rare disease. Generally CAD is a secondary disease after having Hepatitis-C, but I never had Hepatitis. They triple tested me to ensure no false negative.

My CAD is considered Idiopathic, meaning unknown cause.

Cal
 
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Cal,
Have you ever thought of getting a live-in trailer and becoming a mobile snow bird? My paternal grandparents did this for 20 years after they retired (and they also worked as US Forest Service as campground hosts for a bit of income and earning a spot for the summer.) You already have a truck. You could stick on a hitch and get a little 17' camper rig which would have you thinking you were back in a Manhattan apartment, but completely mobile. It's certainly a less expensive option than keeping a whole other residence, or renting somewhere for 4 months out of the year. If you think about the cost of just that 4 months rent, that's most or all of a good refurbished camper trailer.
Phil
 
Phil,

At this point it is January and February that are the problem. Four months of renting is a lot, but that might be where I am eventually heading as I age.

Been looking into North Caralina, Wilmington in particular. “Maggie” has her 3 brothers down there now, and The Creature, Maggie’s daughter and her family, meaning kids and husband want to relocate there eventually.

Been looking at houses down there, but none have the charm and cuteness of our Peekskill home. Also this area is vulnerable to flooding, hurricanes, and wild fires.

If we ever did have to relocate for health reasons it would not compare, and me personally would loose a lot. I have a lot of blood, sweat and tears invested into this home that needed a lot of love. Also any move at this point would involve further downsizing because of expense, affordability, and for practical reasons.

Homes down south don’t have basements…

Did the tax analysis: New York exempts $20K of pensions or 403b savings; but North Carolina has a straight flat tax of 4 1/2%. When you crunch the numbers my New York state tax bill is actually about half of North Carolina’s state tax. Both New York and North Carolina don’t tax Social Security, but for me that will not happen till I’m 70 about 4 years from now.

There could be a big tax savings on property taxes of many thousands of dollars because property taxes would be in the $2K-$2.5K range, and here in New York somehow we have very-very low taxes, especially for Westchester, but the property taxes still are about three times that of North Carolina.

I used the retirement tax calculator at www.SmartAsset.com.

There are old historic bungalows that suit our style and budget. Wilmington is a city of 125K and is 5 times the size of Peekskill which is a tiny city of only 25K. The Cape Fear River is nearby and a viable idea is to get a Hobie kayak with a peddle drive. North Carolina is not so bike friendly.

I have a lot of gear. Any move would be a rather serious cull down, and there would be a sense of loss. Streamlining would be a forced move because of affordability, to be practical, and to be sustainable. In retirement you can’t live on debt like how Americans live.

The truck is a project and requires both time and money. Like the Baby-Victorian it is a once in a lifetime find because it is a barn find that collectors would call a “survivor” meaning an OEM truck that still has all the factory equipment and has not been updated or modified except for the gas tank relocation.

Your idea is clever, but does not suit Maggie’s style so much. If anything we would rent initially. They say when you retire you should rent for a year if relocating to ensure you are making the right decision.

No surprise here. I have known about my condition for over 15 years, but I did not realize it would or could change so early. Winters are a struggle for me, and even without the testing I already know I now have a lower threshold for cold. Thankfully no polar vortexes this year.

I do not want to promote global warming, or say that it is good, but milder winters would be great for me. Within a decade the lower Hudson Valley with change in climate zone. Already snowfall is less, and pretty much the climate of Washington DC will prevail here.

For Maggie and me our quality of life we think will be higher here in New York. In NC they are in a building boom, but where we would go would be in the more walkable areas to stay active both physically and socially close to the downtown where it is costly. Maggie does not drive, and having her family nearby is good support if something happened to me.

Our thinking is forward looking.

It is about a ten hour drive to go see the grandkids if they relocate. The drive along the coast through mostly swampy low lands is the way to go to avoid the horrific traffic in the beltway.

Hopefully time s my friend…

Cal
 
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There are reports on climate change that suggest that temperatures below freezing will be limited to 90-100 days. Pretty much a shorter winter.

While average temperatures have risen 1.8 degrees in the U.S., in New York the average rise is 2 degrees. Overall is predicted still another 3 degree increase.

The Hudson River will rise about 3 feet eventually, but we are 75-80 feet above sea level depending on the tide.

Rainfall will increase but will be more intermittent in nature with more droughts and floods. The 100 year events will become 25 year events.

We know from last year that the flooding that killed one person just north of West Point is a danger zone. West Point is where the Hudson River has a choke point and gets narrow.

Like I said we are in a strategic location.

Interesting that Adirondack State Park which borders Canada is a bit immune to global warming. This park contains the headwaters of the Hudson River. Temperatures there will remain somewhat stable.

I wonder how Bear Mountain and Harrimon State Parks which are a vast wilderness just across the river from Peekskill plays into global warming. Definately a forest fire risk, but also could be a great buffer to moderate temperature extreames.

NYC will have life threatening temperatures that will kill people. Air conditioning will be life support in the future there.

Cal
 
Here in New York home owners are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks when it snows.

The Baby-Victorian is on the southern outskirts of the city, but the city does a great job of plowing our roads, including my remote deadend.

The lazy slacker in me is grateful for having no sidewalks and not having any liability.

Then my driveway is about a 15x24, there is my front stoop, and a short tiny walkway.

Pretty much not a lot to shovel, no reason to own a snow blower, and I can see me shoveling snow when I’m in my 90’s.

My hood is so quiet. When a car passes generally it is one of my neighbors. The streets back here are a maze of dead ends so we have absolutely no through traffic.

As far a global warming goes, we are situated in a valley within a valley. Spring happens about two weeks later than even just two blocks north of us. Know that cool air is more dense and the cold settles into the valleys. The valley also kinda shelters us from winds to an extent. For some unknown reason we are not prone to power outages.

There are many reasons why I love our home. Blue Mountain Preserve, Bear Mountain State Park, the Hudson Valley, and the nearby Empire State Trailway would be hard to replace, yet I live in a tiny city with great services and medical care. The only thing I miss is the ocean. Oh-well.

Cal
 
A headline reports that eastern forests work to stabilize temperatures to counter global warming on the eastern part of the U.S.

Having a 1500 acre preserve two blocks away and two massive State Parks just across the river can’t hurt. My idea/theory was correct that forests moderate global warming. The mechanism is the moisture that trees release that can cool 1-2 degrees.

Today we drove to Saugerties to recreate and to check the inventory of this store that sells antique lighting. Glad we went because we found a period correct chandelier for our dining room that looks mighty grand. It replaced a construction bulb that just hung from the ceiling.

“Maggie” was in a rush and was shopping for something new online that looked retro, but I favor the real deal old and authentic. I held her off, and we ended up spending a bit more than we had liked, but we kinda got something really pretty that is kinda the centerpiece for the room that draws the eye. Nothing like the real deal.

To me rushing often is just being impulsive and not the best. I made it a point to just go see, and maybe we could get lucky. Also buying stuff online can be disappointing. Remember the giant dungeon lamp Maggie bought that could be used in some S&M chamber. She bought it and upon delivery discovered it was massive, 7 feet tall.

Even in Saugerties a follower recognized not only Maggie, but also me. I was flattered by this woman who called me handsome. Pretty much anyone that knows Maggie, knows who I am.

It was a pretty relaxing day and productive. Now all the dinning room needs is for the moldings to be scraped and gel stained to be reinstalled. This will be a very pretty room.

Maggie thinks an Airstream might be cool to get. A small used one is under consideration. She is not so keen on using the 1966 C-10 because it is so old, but I know it is a very cost effective way to go. Time and money…

I’ll dig into this more.

Cal
 
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I figure 5 pounds of fat is about 20,000 calories. A gram of fat takes 9 calories to burn.

This is about 40 one hour rides on a bike, or 40 one hour rows.

On one hand not a lot, but then on the other a lot. 5 pounds of fat is a good bit of energy. Not unusual to gain 5 pounds over the winter, especially with holiday cooking and eating.

Might work on the hallway ceiling. It needs some sanding, priming and painting. Just trying to make best use of my time during winter. I am an outdoors kinda guy, and I can’t wait till milder weather happens.

Cal
 
Real Airstream trailers can get stupid expensive, while there are better insulated, lighter, more modern alternatives that cost less. My parents just sold a 27' trailer and bought one which is 10 feet shorter brand new from a carriage builder in Vancouver, CA. They had a pile of cash as well when making the switch. Their new trailer doesn't have the space for kids and grandkids like the old one did, but everyone's grown up now, so they don't need that space. This new one is super high tech as well and can go completely off-grid for as long as they have access to water, as it is fully powered by solar and a battery bank. Of course it has service hook-up capability but they can also camp in sites without power and water, opening up a lot more availability and spontaneity.
The brake upgrades to the truck and new 6cyl head would be all you need, probably.

Phil
 
Phil,

A trailer of any sort at this point is just a day dream. First would be to get the truck in shape. I think it would be cool if I could just pull the head and just upgrade the brakes. To me there is mucho value added in keeping the truck as a “survivor” that pretty much is still OEM from 1966.

Any trailer would be in the 16 foot range. My driveway is short, so we are constrained. I would also want to be practical.

I could see exploiting the Empire State Trailway as a way to explore and utilize a trailer for biking and fitness. I also see how a smaller trailer makes for higher mobility.

At this point a trailer is just an idea…

Cal
 
I tend to wear old clothes. I have this bike jacket I bought perhaps 20 years ago from a closing bike shop on the upper Eastside that happened to be my size on close out. Today it displays serious wear and tare, but still looks cool.

I consider this bike jacket a “rag” because at this point it is disposable. I already got my money’s worth out of this garment, but the cool thing is that the honest wear and tare make it mucho cool.

Like I have said, I can look cool without being a stylist or being trendy.

Cal
 
Devil Dan,

That shot has an other worldly look.

Been looking into this fault line in the Cascades that is part of the “Ring Of Fire.” Pretty much not an active seismic zone, but there is some serious energy stored there, and when there is an earthquake it will be a 9’er and pretty much it will be of historic destruction.

Only about 45 years ago has science discovered the danger, so pretty much the area is not sufficiently designed for the possibility that some say is overdue.

Cal
 
Some people, or most people, live paycheck to paycheck. Retirement is like that. Pretty much you are forced to live within your means. Unfortunately about 2/3rds of Americans can’t really retire.

A thought comes to my mind that you can’t live day by day, or even week by week. In retirement the timeline is year by year, or decade by decade.

An example displayed here on this thread is how I plan out a year. I come up with a work plan and a budget, and then go about executing it.

Recently with health scares, fatigue, and how the world and our country seems to be getting worse, it is hard to be so certain to make a long term plan or perhaps impossible. “Maggie” and I see how aging as the decades pass will profoundly effect our lives. We hope for the best, but there is a great amount of uncertainty involved.

In a ways I have dug in. I can think of no better place than Peekskill to create my bunker of sorts. I realize that even over the past few years that I don’t have the strength, stamina or energy to do what I have done to restore the Baby-Victorian. I wonder if people who retire later in life will regret not taking advantage of their remaining youth.

Realize technically I retired/stopped working at the age of 62 right before I was going to turn 63. I’m 66 years old now and technically not the 66 1/2 to be at my full retirement age yet. I for one am glad I retired early.

I figure that with each decade will be dramatic changes, I had better be prepared with savings, keep being creative and adaptable, and most of all be ready to change.

The average age where people don’t drive more is 75. I am optimistic that I might go to 85, but at some point I might have to rely on other people, or walk. Where I live now a CVS and a grocery store is about 2 1/2 blocks away. Also remember I live in a small/tiny city so there are services.

Who knows what the decades will bring. I intend on making the most out of each decade though, and I believe I will easily exceed the age of 100. That is both a curse and a blessing.

Cal
 
“Maggie” my editor says that a decade is too long. She cites that she has aged rapidly in just the past 5 years. I have to agree, I aged a lot over the past 3 years. So now 3-5 years is the long interval.

At this time of life there is no time for BS. Also things can change so rapidly from good to bad. There is no time to waste…

Cal
 
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