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I’m trying not to be a lazy old man, but I’m so relaxed and unstressed. Pretty easy to be lazy.

I try to do some exercise every day, and I also try to do something to move forward in life or with the house.

I think the gym will motivate me, or possibly make me a bit crazy. I have an addictive personality. Not sure where this is all going, but the gym membership is free, and if its free its for me.

I kinda love that I can really dig in, and that I have all that equipment at my disposal. Could really get insane now that I have the time. I could get ultra fit, meaning getting my cardio vascular system back to low blood pressures of 100/60 and my resting heart rate into the 40’s.

I kinda miss being a skinny bitch, and I actually feel a bit flabby. Then I want the speed and acceleration my body was built for that comes from a high strength to weight ratio.

Don’t know the limitations due to aging, but I guess I will see.

Cal
 
Something to do if you have the time is learn currency trading. With a brokerage you can set up a practice account for free.

This is simple, but gets complicated fast. Interest rates, world events and elections can do lots of of disturbances that could effect interest rates and carry trades.

Pretty much a game in a practice account. Cost is nothing. Trading is 24 hours, but trading volumes follow more or less three time zones: New York; European, and Asian.

My Panerai is a GMT so I can do the U.S. (New York), London, and perhaps Japan or Hong Kong. If I use my Rolex.

Pretty much it could be a reason to wear my Rolex on my right hand and my Panerai on my left in true currency trader fashion.

A currency trader is a bit of being a news hound, because it is the news that drive the markets. The problem though is trading is 24/7. You have to sleep sometime…

An interesting daydream… Pretty much gaming the world.

Kinda crazy…

Next carry trade to unwind is the Chinese Yuan/ Mexican Peso pair. Not so liquid as the U.S. Dollar/Japanese Yen pair.

I suspect I have Bankster blood from my mother’s family. My mother was an educated woman from Hong Kong. Certainly she came from an influential family, likely Banksters I speculate.

Cal
 
The western dimming light illuminates the stained glass I installed in the three windowed walk out bay in the Baby-Victorian’s dining room. There is a halo or glow, even though it is slightly drizzling and overcast. There is already a lot of drama and playfulness that seems to draw the eye like a strong highlight in a photograph.

To the left of the center window is a 6 1/2 foot Magnolia tree that leans toward the window. They seem to blend together well.

I write this in the dim light at the end of the afternoon, looking forward to another peaceful day of retirement. No excitement or tension to cause stress, but there is something rich about this peace I exist in after a life of hard work and vast tension.

The big bunny seems to linger more and more closer to my back door.

Today I am further pleased with my pocket door repair. Life is that boring and peaceful, and I love it.

Cal
 
Wow, I turned on the dining room light and went outside to see if we needed further window treatments, and pretty much the UBER tall Rode-A-Den-DRUMS mask a good amount of the bottom of our double hung windows, and pretty much the stained glass along with the Magnolia mask enough window where no further treatment is needed.

The third window reveals nothing, so none is needed there either.

The window that faces our pergola and garage is a nice frame and looks great plain Jane.

A wonderful nice and airy feeling with mucho warmth from the original gel stained moldings that display depth and reflect texture.

Kinda magic…

Time for guitar…

Cal
 
Will likely try to pump blood doing the elliptical for as long as I can. This may mean going slower and less hard. The idea is to pump blood and emphasize cardio.

I figure I need to sweat, burn calories, and pump blood for the most good. Retirement is too sedimentary and I am not as active physically as I use to be. I need to loose a few pounds, sweat out some salt, and build up my CV system.

As they say, “Long slow distance for a base to build on.”

Usually my body responds rapidly, but then again I’m 66 1/2 and I have to keep my age in mind. Also rest and eating is as important as exercise.

No intervals except maybe a sprint at the end. Sixty seconds of going all out generally maxes out my heart rate. Pretty much an all out effort.

Cal
 
Looks like Goldman Sachs is notching down the possibility of a recession. This s good in an election year.

The futures this morning are slightly in the red, and even gold is down a few dollars, but it still above $2500.00.

Certainly the war in the Ukraine has expanded as Russia has its homeland invaded. I think the future of Europe is at stake. What a mess. Lots of killing, lots of destruction.

Did you know that the Ukraine is a “Bread Basket” and a major exporter of food. Food in the future will have strategic importance.

Did you know that China once fed itself, but with the promotion of urbanization that China can no longer feed itself and now relies on imports to feed its population?

I see how China’s best interests in regards to food and stability are now tied to Russia. Hunger in China would destabilize their economy and their government. A cruel thought is that eventually China could collapse because of lack of food supply and hunger.

What I’m suggesting is that the world as it is, food is a weapon, and remember Arab Spring was caused by hungry children.

As cruel as it is food is now a weapon in today’s world.

Since commodities are priced in U.S. dollars, and dollar strength, in effect inflation was exported, food prices rose and created crisis’s and then governments fell. Hungry children created Arab Spring.

Then look at Global Warming. Photoville about a decade ago showed graphically how global warming caused famine, which led to civil wars, genocide, and killing; then a refugee crisis.

I can’t believe how much global warming has been discounted.

Canada has the biggest supply of fresh water in the world. You can’t live without water. Pretty much Canada is is the Saudi Arabia of water. Hope we don’t invade Canada one day to control and take their water.

Basically economies are not so viable and are failing. The west and developed advanced countries continue business, while most of the world is deteriorating around us.

In the end it all gets rather primitive: fight for food.

California is a dessert that has been cultivated. The Colorado River pretty much gets drained into California. There is a situation where water supplies are not sustainable. Mean while 50% of our produce nationally comes from California, and here in New York that produce gets transported 3,000 miles.

Pretty easy to speculate that small New England and upstate farms will one day make a comeback. In a way they already have. Farm to table is a local lifestyle here in the Hudson Valley.

I have to consider collecting rainwater. The weather patterns promote flooding and some extreme downpours. I am learning to micro farm to exploit our land’s southern exposure.

Austin has it right: “Growing food is printing money.”

Eating well, getting outdoors, and staying active will aid us greatly in our old age.

Cal
 
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The markets are in the green and slightly up. Gold is down slightly, but remains well above the $2.5K new threshold where the new higher-high breach will be $2550.00.

There are other fertile areas in the U.S. The Ohio Valley was a great select place for farming selected by the Amish. They were/are clever and smart. Don’t know about how stable their water supply is thought. I’m kinda openly centered on the northeast which seems to have some resistance and tolerance to global warming.

This upwelling in the Atlantic Ocean though is a big concern. Pretty much could divert the Gulf Stream, Europe would be a lot colder, and the winters could be more severe.

I look in the mirror and I see the tone of an outline of abs and the three fingers on my chest like Bruce Lee. Have have about two hamburgers to loose as far as love handles. Not too bad, and I suspect the flab is somewhat inflated by water weight and salt. When it was hotter I was noticeably leaner, and I think this was water retention that basically gets stored in fat.

After a sweat bath today I expect a pretty big loss in weight due to water loss. This will be an interesting experiment. I will likely loose a lot of salt.

Food prices are high and are hovering, so pretty much the cost of living is still high. Wage inflation though is higher than the CPI, so basically inflation is still higher than reported.

Cal
 
Upwelling to the Gulf Stream is analogous to weather vs climate. Upwelling is primarily a result of wind and if it somehow occurred over a very long period, in a location where it usually doesn't, then you'll get more fog in the mornings. Look at the California coast, especially the central coast north of Lompoc, that marine layer that burns off by 1:20 pm is all due to persistent upwelling from wind. An upside is that upwelling creates excellent conditions for sea life to thrive.
As for a complete diversion of the Gulf Stream, that's a fun bit of Hollywood conjecture. As long as the sun heats the ocean and the earth rotates with the same axis, we're going to have the Gulf Stream, as well as all the other currents in the oceans.
Phil
 
Phil,

I don’t discount what you wrote, but I’m speaking of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation specifically and this also includes the Gulf Stream which is part of it.

This is effected mostly by temperature differentials rather than wind and is compared to a conveyor belt that moves warm water from the Equator to the artic, then in turn cool water flows back towards the Equator.

Melting ice seems to be slowing down this current.

It is suggested a stop of this current would cool Europe 5-10 degrees “C.”

Data shows and indicates a slow down in this conveyor belt like current. Glaciers are melting, and oceans are warming. All fact.

The Hollywood part is if it stops, but in my mind this would defy my understanding of physics and the laws of equilibriums. A stoppage would mean differentials would not seek equilibrium.

Some say it is remote.

Some say unlikely to happen before the end of the century.

Some say it could happen at anytime between 2025 to 2095.

I think something odd is happening that is not either or.

Climate is changing, but the rate and tipping point is unknown and pure speculation, although I can’t see a total collapse or total breakdown, the effects of even the slowdown has had shown evidence of support for warming oceans, stronger storms and a cooling Europe.

Clear to me that a new beginning has begun, but the tipping point or the end is a guess. This is a great mystery and of great concern. Anyways it should be.

Cal
 
Before writing the above post Gold hit $2549.90 and was the new Intra-Day High.

I’ll add an update.

Cal

UPDATE: the new Intra-Day High stands, and gold at the moment is a few dollars lower and still remains in the green.
 
A third bridge in has been destroyed to further limit Russian resupply and logistics.

There are reports of a Russian Pontoon bridge having been erected, but this is vulnerable to Ukraine artillery fire.

The river is said not to be too big or too wide, so pretty much more pontoon bridges are expected.

Russian forces in are a bit vulnerable.

This is a very different war all of the sudden.

Outside in the street I hear jack hammers. Lots of heavy equipment. The hum of motors and hydrolic whining. One street is blocked off and I have to zig-zag through a maze of dead ends to get to our main road.

The good is the excavation where the gas line is being replaced is across the street on the other side of the street.

I live in a work zone.

Cal
 
Phil,

I admire your experience and credentials.

Although I have been in the ocean (shipping lanes) off shore my experience in the wild I would say is limited.

I guess my inquiry here is for further understanding and cutting the B.S. I can see perhaps this conveyor belt slowing down, but I kinda agree with you that a stoppage is “Hollywood” and pretty much defies any understanding of physics.

Just the same though, even a slowdown can have dramatic consequences and also unintended consequences that are way beyond our understanding.

What is you spin?

Cal
 
It's worrisome, but not on a single-lifetime level. This is not geologic timescale, but in-between. It will take more time for the full melting of the Greenland sheet to make a large scale effect on the Gulf Stream, then the full elapsed time since the beginning of the industrial revolution. In the meantime, the melt water will be titrated into the seawater gradually, and locally affect the density of the current but will fully incorporate and be effectively negated before the mass hits the Orkneys.
Phil
 
Phil,

Are you telling me that the ice (fresh water) melting into the salt water is the reason for the slowdown?

In a way this makes sense. Salt water is denser than fresh water, and there is a process of dilution going on. I can see this creating a pause of sorts that could accumulate and be measured as a “slowdown.”

Pretty much a chemical reaction. Hmmm.

Is my guess correct?

Also I see the timescale you mention.

Thanks for the response.

Cal
 
Pretty much comical how the market sentiment turned, and headlines proudly announce a confident future. Oh well. I'll invest in the next large correction; Cash is good to have.
Calzone said:
I retired early technically I was only 62 years old, but less than 2 weeks away from 63.

The oldest baby-boomers are now 78, and some are still working. A new article in the “Atlantic” suggests that retirement gets harder to do the older you are.

They cite cognitive and mental heath declines. For some retirement leads to despair and a reported 28% have depression.

Cal
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I had this conversation with a friend, who I did not know, had his mom to suffer a sort of stress triggered attack. She was cathatonic and had a sort of seizure; fell badly, and took a bit to recover.
Taking a guess at late 50s and basically holding on to a shitty job with an abusive environment, just holding on those 5 years to retirement. Now on sick leave, but she is so used to work that cannot stop doing anything. The family has some agriculture gig and she goes out on the harvest still.

I paraphrased him your quote of "Stress and Anxiety is self inflicted" somehow more of a measure of being strategic and trying to avoid on such a dead end. For many, the inertia of working is too strong.

I am one that learned the slacker values, and basically destroying myself on behalf of the output that mostly goes to others is not so worth it. Of course Europe has very different nuances, but there is that sense of keeping some traditional vacations and a lighter approach to work. It does vary.

Calzone said:
The markets are in the green and slightly up. Gold is down slightly, but remains well above the $2.5K new threshold where the new higher-high breach will be $2550.00.
(...)

This upwelling in the Atlantic Ocean though is a big concern. Pretty much could divert the Gulf Stream, Europe would be a lot colder, and the winters could be more severe.
Click to expand...
Very interesting oceanographic discussion. I haven't properly kept up aside of some media attention grabbing article screaming "Europe might enter an ice age by the midcentury!" with some high level explanation of the Gulf stream.

We Mediterraneans have a very strong sense of roots, and I do not see myself selling out the family houses in Spain. Might be a good plan for me or the heirlooms if such a cooling event happens within my lifetime.
 
I was able to do my hour on the elliptical. Burned over 600 calories which is about the equivalent of a sandwich.

I figured out the machine and how to increase the resistance. I did some hill climbs and increased the resistance towards the end of the hour. Basically I used the lightest setting, so pretty much I took it easy as a start.

24 Hour Fitness is a “Mall” gym. It is what it is.

“Maggie” had a session with a personal trainer who started her on a strength training program that started at 30 pounds, about the weight of the grandson.

The personal trainer said she could tell that Maggie eats well by just looking at her.

I have about 8 watermelons growing in the back-backyard, and about half a dozen cantaloupes. One cantaloupe I found had been hollowed out, likely by a chipmunk.

On and off rain today, but mighty cool two days are coming with lows in the low 50’s at night and highs in the low 70’s. Only two days though.

Cal
 
Jorde,

I don’t know how much or how little climate change will effect my little bubble that I live in.

My intrusive neighbors are seriously considering buying a house outside of Austin.

I kept quiet and minded my own business, but the heat waves, the stress on their electrical grid, and the storms and flooding…

Triple digit temperatures in Texas today.

Austin is a cool city, but because of home prices, cost of living, and congestion this is a city that people are leaving.

Florida will be underwater one day. Getting flood and home insurance is a serious problem in some states.

If there is a tipping point, a plausible possibility, oh-well. The same for a surprise, but as Phil points out generally these things play out over long periods of time.

One forecast is for Toronto Canada to have the subtropic climate of NYC. Deserts are expanding and getting drier.

We are now seeing an accelerated change.

Famine, Nuclear War, World War, genocide, pandemic, and environmental destruction are cited as ways and threats of mass death. These are the times we live in.

About 3000 people died from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, about the same amount as the September 11th attacks.

In retirement I’m actually feeling less stressed and anxious. I have a sense of peace, but the world is a hot mess.

After talking with “Maggie” buying a second property does not make sense. A bit of a liability. Likely more cost effective to just rent a cabin for a month at a time.

Looks like this frees me up for doing other things like getting the 1966 C-10 on the road.

At the gym I saw a 15-16 year old girl with her grandmother doing elbow planks. The story I build is a kid that wants their grandmother to be around a long time, and the thyme was a pure love. Made my day just to see this bond of love.

I saw that the gym had a lot of “muscle-heads” and not many people doing cardio like me.

I also saw they had Concept 2 Rowers… No one was using them: a tough workout.

The construction crews shelter and take their lunch break under my Japanese Maple. I don’t mind, I’m friendly with them. We kinda know that our intrusive neighbors likely took note and have judgements. I am actually pleased that these workers know our house is a safe place.

Cal
 
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About 59% of grandparents do daycare of their grandkids.

The dad had a threatening situation with a kid in a gang in Yonkers. The result is a one year leave of absence to get another job to escape that mess, but understand he is leaving a tenured position. Oh-well not worth your life or living in fear.

Seems that with the student debt getting paid off with proceeds of the house sale, there is still money in the bank for a down payment for a house. Also since daycare and after school care is so expensive the dad could be a stay at home dad.

The mom is an assistant principle in Yonkers and they will be fine on just her pay. A side hustle or another gig for the dad.

Point is everyone is fine, and the moral of the story is daycare is a full-time job.

Cal
 
I’m not hammered, but I do feel that tired afterglow that is pleasant from endorphins. I feel really great, and I know I didn’t overdo anything.

Pretty much every other day was suggested for “Maggie” and I think I can easily fill in with weights, TRX, biking, heavy hand power walks, and the Concept 2 rowing ERG.

I have a high-end protein powder that is 22 grams of protein and only 120 calories. This is good after a workout mixed with organic low fat milk. Tastes mighty great and is so refreshing.

Maggie wants to go to the gym Wednesday, but I’ll do something tomorrow. It is suppose to be cool, perhaps a long ride.

Cal
 
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