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It's tough being filthy rich...
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote:
Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. Last car I financed was wife’s Venza 2009. Interest rate was way lower than investment income. I am comfortable, but California costs a lot more than Florida. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com |
It's tough being filthy rich...
|
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 04:10:34 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:
wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. Last car I financed was wife’s Venza 2009. Interest rate was way lower than investment income. I am comfortable, but California costs a lot more than Florida. We financed my wife's new Subaru. Zero percent interest was hard to beat, and that was after we got the price we wanted. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500,
wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. That probably describes a house, particularly a second home or a rental but not necessarily your residence unless you want to sell it and downsize or live in your car in your old age. Your home is not your piggy bank., We should have learned that a decade ago. Cars, boats and just about every other toy is not going to be an appreciating asset. It is just an expense and you do not want that to be an expense that you also pay interest on. Rationalizing that you invested the money you spent on your toys and the interest is zero only says you have more money than you need. That does not describe most Americans and if the **** does hit the fan, as can happen to the retired, you lose your toys. If that is your car, it is a significant loss. Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:14:18 -0500, John H
wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. === That's a perfect example of smart borrowing as long as the funds are invested safely, the interest rate is guaranteed and the loan can be repaid without penalty. Everyone's situation and tolerance for risk is different however. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote:
Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11:58:31 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. Yeah, we financed for 15 years and are about 4 years away from paying it off. The interest deduction has about gone away, and the tax man is eating us alive. Even with losing the state tax deduction the higher standard deduction in the new bill will help me out somewhat. What I'm looking at right now is restructuring my retirement accounts to prepare for that time. As part of our company's 401k, I have free access to a financial planner, but he comes across as a salesman, and he's selling the market. Spends all of his time explaining how the market is smart, it always recovers even if there's a correction, blah, blah. Fortunately, we have a friend who manages investments (including one of mine), and I trust him. He's next on the list to sit down with. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:14:18 -0500, John H
wrote: My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. I have some money in "interest bearing accounts" but the interest is a quarter of a percent or something. Wheee! |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. That probably describes a house, particularly a second home or a rental but not necessarily your residence unless you want to sell it and downsize or live in your car in your old age. Your home is not your piggy bank., We should have learned that a decade ago. Cars, boats and just about every other toy is not going to be an appreciating asset. It is just an expense and you do not want that to be an expense that you also pay interest on. Rationalizing that you invested the money you spent on your toys and the interest is zero only says you have more money than you need. That does not describe most Americans and if the **** does hit the fan, as can happen to the retired, you lose your toys. If that is your car, it is a significant loss. Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. Downsizing wouldn't bother me a bit! I'd love to have a smaller house and a much smaller, or non-existent yard. I could find something to spend the extra on, even if it's just grandkids' education. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:50:40 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:14:18 -0500, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. === That's a perfect example of smart borrowing as long as the funds are invested safely, the interest rate is guaranteed and the loan can be repaid without penalty. Everyone's situation and tolerance for risk is different however. I'm surprised the government lets them get away with it, but more power to him. He's working part time to pay for his college which is why he can do it. Industrious young guy. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On 11/21/2017 3:29 PM, John H wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:50:40 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:14:18 -0500, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. === That's a perfect example of smart borrowing as long as the funds are invested safely, the interest rate is guaranteed and the loan can be repaid without penalty. Everyone's situation and tolerance for risk is different however. I'm surprised the government lets them get away with it, but more power to him. He's working part time to pay for his college which is why he can do it. Industrious young guy. That's an interesting system. If I recall correctly government student loans or government backed student loans in the USA are paid to the college/university who then disperses the funds per semester or other schedule they may have. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:58:26 -0500,
wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. Let me get this right. You say it is a good deal to pay a bank interest so you can deduct 20% of it and rationalize it because you have an investment that you are paying a 20% tax on. At best it is a wash, assuming you actually make more on your money than the bank. Whatever makes you feel better I suppose. I like the idea that if the **** hits the fan (investments collapse, pensions fail etc) I don't owe anyone any money. Owing money may be good if you don't plan on living much longer or if you think we will have hyper inflation. I just do not want to be rooting for either of those things. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:28:38 -0500, John H
wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. That probably describes a house, particularly a second home or a rental but not necessarily your residence unless you want to sell it and downsize or live in your car in your old age. Your home is not your piggy bank., We should have learned that a decade ago. Cars, boats and just about every other toy is not going to be an appreciating asset. It is just an expense and you do not want that to be an expense that you also pay interest on. Rationalizing that you invested the money you spent on your toys and the interest is zero only says you have more money than you need. That does not describe most Americans and if the **** does hit the fan, as can happen to the retired, you lose your toys. If that is your car, it is a significant loss. Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. Downsizing wouldn't bother me a bit! I'd love to have a smaller house and a much smaller, or non-existent yard. I could find something to spend the extra on, even if it's just grandkids' education. You sound like a condo man. I thought about it for about a nanosecond when I had both but I decided to go with the house. I want more space around me and a lot more privacy. Irma did me a pretty big favor because it allowed me to appropriate the FPL right of way behind the house and effectively triple the size of my back yard although I was using a lot of it anyway. FPL pretty much abandoned accessing that area when the gopher tortoises took it over. It is a briar patch just north of me now that a rabbit might have trouble getting through but between Irma and I just hacking away at it, the whole area under the power lines is pretty clear behind my house. I have been working on the exotic vegetation from here to the river (another 250-300 feet) for years and that is pretty clear too. I am thinking it will make a nice run for the dog. There is a canal on both sides so it is really only accessible from my yard. I am going up there with my weed eater some day soon and start whacking away at that area. It will give me an extra acre, tax free ;-) Most of my neighbors up the street before the berm starts have been using FPL as their own for decades. FPL says, as long as they do not block the access, they don't care. It is about two houses up that have let it go and in the last 3 or 4 years it has really gotten ugly. Nobody comes down here anymore. We used to get hikers but the briars stop them now. I may go north and fertilize the sticker bushes ;-) I should have my niece send me some good old Southern Maryland blackberry bushes. That is like razor coil. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:02:40 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:58:26 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. Let me get this right. You say it is a good deal to pay a bank interest so you can deduct 20% of it and rationalize it because you have an investment that you are paying a 20% tax on. At best it is a wash, assuming you actually make more on your money than the bank. Whatever makes you feel better I suppose. I like the idea that if the **** hits the fan (investments collapse, pensions fail etc) I don't owe anyone any money. Owing money may be good if you don't plan on living much longer or if you think we will have hyper inflation. I just do not want to be rooting for either of those things. === Like I said, everyone's situation is different. We will end up with higher inflation at some point, the only question is when and how much. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:38:19 -0500,
wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:02:40 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:58:26 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. Let me get this right. You say it is a good deal to pay a bank interest so you can deduct 20% of it and rationalize it because you have an investment that you are paying a 20% tax on. At best it is a wash, assuming you actually make more on your money than the bank. Whatever makes you feel better I suppose. I like the idea that if the **** hits the fan (investments collapse, pensions fail etc) I don't owe anyone any money. Owing money may be good if you don't plan on living much longer or if you think we will have hyper inflation. I just do not want to be rooting for either of those things. === Like I said, everyone's situation is different. We will end up with higher inflation at some point, the only question is when and how much. I suppose it all depends on your philosophy. I bought my last new car in 1970 (a Jeep) and because I traded a paid off Corvette I was able to pay that off in about 16 months. I kept making the payments to myself with the objective of being able to pay cash for my next car but I got the Gremlin for free and I drove that for a while, then a used van that I put 100k miles on. By then my banked "car payments" were enough to buy the condo that was rented and I was rolling. I paid off the condo in 12 years and that was my last debt. I will say a free "seminar" (AKA sales call from a broker) got me on the way to prosperity at just about the time when I was thinking about getting something new to replace my Jeep. He convinced me there were better ways to invest my "car" money than a car. I never bought a new one after that. I don't think people realize how much that saves you, compounded over 40 years or more. I screw up a new car so fast it is a waste of money anyway. You saw what I drive (the green one and the mostly red one). They are both just a piece of metal that you can ride in to me. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
|
It's tough being filthy rich...
wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:28:38 -0500, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. That probably describes a house, particularly a second home or a rental but not necessarily your residence unless you want to sell it and downsize or live in your car in your old age. Your home is not your piggy bank., We should have learned that a decade ago. Cars, boats and just about every other toy is not going to be an appreciating asset. It is just an expense and you do not want that to be an expense that you also pay interest on. Rationalizing that you invested the money you spent on your toys and the interest is zero only says you have more money than you need. That does not describe most Americans and if the **** does hit the fan, as can happen to the retired, you lose your toys. If that is your car, it is a significant loss. Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. Downsizing wouldn't bother me a bit! I'd love to have a smaller house and a much smaller, or non-existent yard. I could find something to spend the extra on, even if it's just grandkids' education. You sound like a condo man. I thought about it for about a nanosecond when I had both but I decided to go with the house. I want more space around me and a lot more privacy. Irma did me a pretty big favor because it allowed me to appropriate the FPL right of way behind the house and effectively triple the size of my back yard although I was using a lot of it anyway. FPL pretty much abandoned accessing that area when the gopher tortoises took it over. It is a briar patch just north of me now that a rabbit might have trouble getting through but between Irma and I just hacking away at it, the whole area under the power lines is pretty clear behind my house. I have been working on the exotic vegetation from here to the river (another 250-300 feet) for years and that is pretty clear too. I am thinking it will make a nice run for the dog. There is a canal on both sides so it is really only accessible from my yard. I am going up there with my weed eater some day soon and start whacking away at that area. It will give me an extra acre, tax free ;-) Most of my neighbors up the street before the berm starts have been using FPL as their own for decades. FPL says, as long as they do not block the access, they don't care. It is about two houses up that have let it go and in the last 3 or 4 years it has really gotten ugly. Nobody comes down here anymore. We used to get hikers but the briars stop them now. I may go north and fertilize the sticker bushes ;-) I should have my niece send me some good old Southern Maryland blackberry bushes. That is like razor coil. Rent a brush mower for that strip. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 03:28:00 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote: wrote: Irma did me a pretty big favor because it allowed me to appropriate the FPL right of way behind the house and effectively triple the size of my back yard although I was using a lot of it anyway. FPL pretty much abandoned accessing that area when the gopher tortoises took it over. It is a briar patch just north of me now that a rabbit might have trouble getting through but between Irma and I just hacking away at it, the whole area under the power lines is pretty clear behind my house. I have been working on the exotic vegetation from here to the river (another 250-300 feet) for years and that is pretty clear too. I am thinking it will make a nice run for the dog. There is a canal on both sides so it is really only accessible from my yard. I am going up there with my weed eater some day soon and start whacking away at that area. It will give me an extra acre, tax free ;-) Most of my neighbors up the street before the berm starts have been using FPL as their own for decades. FPL says, as long as they do not block the access, they don't care. It is about two houses up that have let it go and in the last 3 or 4 years it has really gotten ugly. Nobody comes down here anymore. We used to get hikers but the briars stop them now. I may go north and fertilize the sticker bushes ;-) I should have my niece send me some good old Southern Maryland blackberry bushes. That is like razor coil. Rent a brush mower for that strip. I am going after it with Garlon and a weed eater first. Then I can probably keep it down pretty easy. 2 years ago there was not much growing up there at all. It is mostly coral rock and shell. The Seaboard Railroad built that for a trestle ramp about a century ago. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 20:12:51 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:38:19 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:02:40 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:58:26 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. === Everyone's situation is different. I have no problem carrying debt forever as long as I can earn a higher return somewhere else. Additionally, the government subsidizes home mortgages via the tax deduction on interest paid. Let me get this right. You say it is a good deal to pay a bank interest so you can deduct 20% of it and rationalize it because you have an investment that you are paying a 20% tax on. At best it is a wash, assuming you actually make more on your money than the bank. Whatever makes you feel better I suppose. I like the idea that if the **** hits the fan (investments collapse, pensions fail etc) I don't owe anyone any money. Owing money may be good if you don't plan on living much longer or if you think we will have hyper inflation. I just do not want to be rooting for either of those things. === Like I said, everyone's situation is different. We will end up with higher inflation at some point, the only question is when and how much. I suppose it all depends on your philosophy. I bought my last new car in 1970 (a Jeep) and because I traded a paid off Corvette I was able to pay that off in about 16 months. I kept making the payments to myself with the objective of being able to pay cash for my next car but I got the Gremlin for free and I drove that for a while, then a used van that I put 100k miles on. By then my banked "car payments" were enough to buy the condo that was rented and I was rolling. I paid off the condo in 12 years and that was my last debt. I will say a free "seminar" (AKA sales call from a broker) got me on the way to prosperity at just about the time when I was thinking about getting something new to replace my Jeep. He convinced me there were better ways to invest my "car" money than a car. I never bought a new one after that. I don't think people realize how much that saves you, compounded over 40 years or more. I screw up a new car so fast it is a waste of money anyway. You saw what I drive (the green one and the mostly red one). They are both just a piece of metal that you can ride in to me. === Didn't you have an opportunity to buy IBM stock at a 10% discount or something like that? I've known IBMers who ended up with quite a nest egg that way. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 23:48:15 -0500,
wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 20:12:51 -0500, wrote: h. I suppose it all depends on your philosophy. I bought my last new car in 1970 (a Jeep) and because I traded a paid off Corvette I was able to pay that off in about 16 months. I kept making the payments to myself with the objective of being able to pay cash for my next car but I got the Gremlin for free and I drove that for a while, then a used van that I put 100k miles on. By then my banked "car payments" were enough to buy the condo that was rented and I was rolling. I paid off the condo in 12 years and that was my last debt. I will say a free "seminar" (AKA sales call from a broker) got me on the way to prosperity at just about the time when I was thinking about getting something new to replace my Jeep. He convinced me there were better ways to invest my "car" money than a car. I never bought a new one after that. I don't think people realize how much that saves you, compounded over 40 years or more. I screw up a new car so fast it is a waste of money anyway. You saw what I drive (the green one and the mostly red one). They are both just a piece of metal that you can ride in to me. === Didn't you have an opportunity to buy IBM stock at a 10% discount or something like that? I've known IBMers who ended up with quite a nest egg that way. I admit the IBM stock deal was great, better than that. It was 85% of the date if grant price (the lowest price that year) and for a while in the 70s we were getting $400+ shares for $214. It was legend in the company. They changed that "date of grant" thing to the most recent close after that. The 10% was the limit you could buy but you could select your gross pay option. That was in addition to my "car money" that I kept bumping up as I made more money. It allowed me to give my ex the Maryland house, about $100k in mutual funds. That did not count her savings and other stuff she had. It made that a painless transaction. No drama and we are still friends. I was still able to pay cash for this house. IBM stock has been flat for a number of years and I have been rolling out of it but these days the shares I have are pretty much all "zero" basis so I end up paying the full cap gains nut on them. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:47:48 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:
On 11/21/2017 3:29 PM, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:50:40 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:14:18 -0500, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com My Dutch friend's grandson gets government student loans, at zero percent interest, and promptly puts the money in an interest earning account. The interest rate may change next year, but right now Dutch college students are getting a pretty good deal. === That's a perfect example of smart borrowing as long as the funds are invested safely, the interest rate is guaranteed and the loan can be repaid without penalty. Everyone's situation and tolerance for risk is different however. I'm surprised the government lets them get away with it, but more power to him. He's working part time to pay for his college which is why he can do it. Industrious young guy. That's an interesting system. If I recall correctly government student loans or government backed student loans in the USA are paid to the college/university who then disperses the funds per semester or other schedule they may have. Right now government student loans have the interest rates shown: The interest rate for undergraduate students is 4.45% for the 2017-18 school year, up from 3.76% for the current year. Graduate students can borrow at a rate of 6%, up from 5.31%. And for graduate students and parents who take out PLUS loans, the interest rate will be 7%, up from 6.31%. The feds send the money direct to the school. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:47:52 -0500, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:28:38 -0500, John H wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:17:22 -0500, wrote: On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 09:13:27 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:15:21 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:12:12 -0500, Alex wrote: Too many people spend every dime they make, don't take advantage of 401K's, and wonder how they are going to retire on SS alone. I also wonder how anyone over 50 or so with a mortgage and car payments ever expects to retire. I paid cash for my house here in 84 and I paid off my mortgage on the condo in 1990. I haven't had a car payment since the Nixon administration. In spite of all of that I sound like a pauper when I hear how much money you guys make. === Smart borrowing, i.e., borrowing to buy an appreciating asset is good business when you can earn a higher return than your after tax interest cost. Even if you can afford to pay cash, borrowing makes sense if you can invest your cash at a higher return. That probably describes a house, particularly a second home or a rental but not necessarily your residence unless you want to sell it and downsize or live in your car in your old age. Your home is not your piggy bank., We should have learned that a decade ago. Cars, boats and just about every other toy is not going to be an appreciating asset. It is just an expense and you do not want that to be an expense that you also pay interest on. Rationalizing that you invested the money you spent on your toys and the interest is zero only says you have more money than you need. That does not describe most Americans and if the **** does hit the fan, as can happen to the retired, you lose your toys. If that is your car, it is a significant loss. Normal people should not be going into retirement with debt unless they have the liquid assets to pay that debt off ... and that is rare. Personally I like the idea that I can cut back on the luxuries I pay cash for and live very cheap if I need to because I don't owe anyone any money. Downsizing wouldn't bother me a bit! I'd love to have a smaller house and a much smaller, or non-existent yard. I could find something to spend the extra on, even if it's just grandkids' education. You sound like a condo man. I thought about it for about a nanosecond when I had both but I decided to go with the house. I want more space around me and a lot more privacy. Irma did me a pretty big favor because it allowed me to appropriate the FPL right of way behind the house and effectively triple the size of my back yard although I was using a lot of it anyway. FPL pretty much abandoned accessing that area when the gopher tortoises took it over. It is a briar patch just north of me now that a rabbit might have trouble getting through but between Irma and I just hacking away at it, the whole area under the power lines is pretty clear behind my house. I have been working on the exotic vegetation from here to the river (another 250-300 feet) for years and that is pretty clear too. I am thinking it will make a nice run for the dog. There is a canal on both sides so it is really only accessible from my yard. I am going up there with my weed eater some day soon and start whacking away at that area. It will give me an extra acre, tax free ;-) Most of my neighbors up the street before the berm starts have been using FPL as their own for decades. FPL says, as long as they do not block the access, they don't care. It is about two houses up that have let it go and in the last 3 or 4 years it has really gotten ugly. Nobody comes down here anymore. We used to get hikers but the briars stop them now. I may go north and fertilize the sticker bushes ;-) I should have my niece send me some good old Southern Maryland blackberry bushes. That is like razor coil. What I really am is a 'retirement community' man. I'd like a single-family home, about three bedrooms on the ground, with a community-maintained or no yard. Simple. I think you're thinking of raspberry bushes. Those things seem to be planted by the golf courses in the area just to keep folks from going after lost balls. I've seen places where there are a good 20+ balls in the bushes, but the 'razor coils' keep folks out - especially if they're wearing a golf shirt which will snag on anything. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 07:53:44 -0500, John H
wrote: You sound like a condo man. I thought about it for about a nanosecond when I had both but I decided to go with the house. I want more space around me and a lot more privacy. Irma did me a pretty big favor because it allowed me to appropriate the FPL right of way behind the house and effectively triple the size of my back yard although I was using a lot of it anyway. FPL pretty much abandoned accessing that area when the gopher tortoises took it over. It is a briar patch just north of me now that a rabbit might have trouble getting through but between Irma and I just hacking away at it, the whole area under the power lines is pretty clear behind my house. I have been working on the exotic vegetation from here to the river (another 250-300 feet) for years and that is pretty clear too. I am thinking it will make a nice run for the dog. There is a canal on both sides so it is really only accessible from my yard. I am going up there with my weed eater some day soon and start whacking away at that area. It will give me an extra acre, tax free ;-) Most of my neighbors up the street before the berm starts have been using FPL as their own for decades. FPL says, as long as they do not block the access, they don't care. It is about two houses up that have let it go and in the last 3 or 4 years it has really gotten ugly. Nobody comes down here anymore. We used to get hikers but the briars stop them now. I may go north and fertilize the sticker bushes ;-) I should have my niece send me some good old Southern Maryland blackberry bushes. That is like razor coil. What I really am is a 'retirement community' man. I'd like a single-family home, about three bedrooms on the ground, with a community-maintained or no yard. Simple. That would be a gated community down here like my wife used to run. You can usually get in one for about $250k and up and that usually will be a place with a golf course. The golf will be extra tho. I think you're thinking of raspberry bushes. Those things seem to be planted by the golf courses in the area just to keep folks from going after lost balls. I've seen places where there are a good 20+ balls in the bushes, but the 'razor coils' keep folks out - especially if they're wearing a golf shirt which will snag on anything. Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) |
It's tough being filthy rich...
|
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H
wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze
wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:47:56 -0500, wrote:
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. You reap what birds sow. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:27:20 -0500, John H
wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:47:56 -0500, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. You reap what birds sow. Very true. Seeds have a way of surviving the digestive process and getting a head start in a pile of fertilizer. The worst one here for us is Brazilian Pepper. They were imported as an ornamental because they grow very fast and make a dense hedge but once they got loose, with nothing that really hurts them here they take over. That is not the only bad exotic plant here but it is certainly one of the top 4 or 5. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:37:01 -0500, wrote:
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:27:20 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:47:56 -0500, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. You reap what birds sow. Very true. Seeds have a way of surviving the digestive process and getting a head start in a pile of fertilizer. The worst one here for us is Brazilian Pepper. They were imported as an ornamental because they grow very fast and make a dense hedge but once they got loose, with nothing that really hurts them here they take over. That is not the only bad exotic plant here but it is certainly one of the top 4 or 5. There are a few places here where bamboo is going crazy. I'm sure someone brought a few plants up here thinking they'd be 'cute'. Now they have a couple acres of the damn stuff. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
John H wrote:
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:37:01 -0500, wrote: On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:27:20 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:47:56 -0500, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. You reap what birds sow. Very true. Seeds have a way of surviving the digestive process and getting a head start in a pile of fertilizer. The worst one here for us is Brazilian Pepper. They were imported as an ornamental because they grow very fast and make a dense hedge but once they got loose, with nothing that really hurts them here they take over. That is not the only bad exotic plant here but it is certainly one of the top 4 or 5. There are a few places here where bamboo is going crazy. I'm sure someone brought a few plants up here thinking they'd be 'cute'. Now they have a couple acres of the damn stuff. There are two types of bamboo. You want the clumping kind, not the runner kind. Runners sent roots for 100 feet or so. |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 19:16:24 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:
John H wrote: On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:37:01 -0500, wrote: On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:27:20 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:47:56 -0500, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:53:17 -0500, Keyser Soze wrote: On 11/22/17 2:23 PM, wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 13:53:12 -0500, John H wrote: On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:56:11 -0500, wrote: Nope blackberries. Southern Md was lousy with them. I just threw away my "brush pants" that you wore to go in there and kick the rabbits. It is sort of like a pair of high top waders without the feet. You tuck them in your boots but I had a pair of military leggings I used to hold the cuffs. The wild blackberries are a little smaller than the commercial ones and a little less sweet but they have a real strong blackberry flavor. My sister used to make pies out of them that were pretty good but she used a good sized dose of Karo syrup in there. They look a little like raspberries before they get ripe tho. When they are still red they are pretty nasty. Once they turn black, everything eats them so you have to be quick if you have critters or hikers. The thorns have hooks on the end so if you get stuck, you need to push back toward the base of the stem while clearing the branch. You certainly do not want to just try to jerk away. If you are really stuck, like you fell into the bush, cutting your way out may be the best way and take the branches off one at a time. They also will get infected pretty fast if you break the thorns off in your skin. I have a lot of "anecdotal experience" because there were always blackberries around when I was a kid. (along with the normal accompaniment of honey suckle and poison ivy) You're most likely correct about which berry they are. They're miserable *******s though! If you watch the berries and they turn purple/black right before someone eats them they are blackberries ;-) My dad's great aunt had what was back then called a "truck farm" near Revere, Massachusetts, and along the gravel drive to the house had a zillion blackberry bushes on one side and smaller blueberry bushes on the other. We kids, cousins mostly, would visit in the summer and eat enough berries to get sick. I don't remember the thorns, but I am sure you are right about them. You don't have too go far to find out. You have blackberries in any patch of land that was scraped and let sit for a while. They are opportunistic plants and they take off in bad soil when other things give up. You reap what birds sow. Very true. Seeds have a way of surviving the digestive process and getting a head start in a pile of fertilizer. The worst one here for us is Brazilian Pepper. They were imported as an ornamental because they grow very fast and make a dense hedge but once they got loose, with nothing that really hurts them here they take over. That is not the only bad exotic plant here but it is certainly one of the top 4 or 5. There are a few places here where bamboo is going crazy. I'm sure someone brought a few plants up here thinking they'd be 'cute'. Now they have a couple acres of the damn stuff. There are two types of bamboo. You want the clumping kind, not the runner kind. Runners sent roots for 100 feet or so. *I* don't want any. (period) I suppose the folks that find it taking over there back (and side) yards must have gotten the 'runner' kind. It's like the 'Energizer Bunny', just keeps 'growing and growing'! |
It's tough being filthy rich...
On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 14:00:10 -0500, John H
wrote: On Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:37:01 -0500, wrote: You reap what birds sow. Very true. Seeds have a way of surviving the digestive process and getting a head start in a pile of fertilizer. The worst one here for us is Brazilian Pepper. They were imported as an ornamental because they grow very fast and make a dense hedge but once they got loose, with nothing that really hurts them here they take over. That is not the only bad exotic plant here but it is certainly one of the top 4 or 5. There are a few places here where bamboo is going crazy. I'm sure someone brought a few plants up here thinking they'd be 'cute'. Now they have a couple acres of the damn stuff. You just have to be careful what kind of bamboo you get. The kind that shows up in pots is usually "running" bamboo that will spread like wild fire. They like it because it is real easy to grow and in a pot it is contained. I have "clumping" bamboo behind my house and it stays put. (except in 120 MPH winds when it eats your boat lift cover) An interesting side note is the bamboo around here was contracted by Thomas Edison for his light bulb experiments. The Koreshans grew it for him up at their compound and people have been taking shoots off of the remaining clumps for almost a century. The Koreshan site is also overrun by the running kind and I bet that even the Koreshans were sorry they planted that stuff. (particularly after Edison figured out it would not work on his light bulb and there was no market for it) |
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