Retirement Just Got Real
Mimi wants something, but I don't know what. I gave her some dry food, but that wasn't it (but she'll eat it anyway). Does she want me to go back to sleep? Good luck with that, Mimi.
Went through Mom's messages on her answering machine and deleted some of them so that people can leave messages.
I'm looking at the more expensive trips that I want to take while I'm still working. I was looking at a tour of China that includes a Yangtze river cruise (on my "bucket list"). Hmm, it looks like a lot of companies are pulling out of China though. Road Scholar has some cool trips to China though, including one that includes Tibet. And it has a great cruise of Australia and New Zealand. Now I know what I need to save up for.
Well, I'm going to inherit enough money from Mom to retire. It's not just my perception; I told my dad about it, and he said, "Are you going to retire or keep on working?" I still want to work until I get vested for my pension. If nothing else, it would pay for some really nice trips. And if I get vested, the uni will pay for a Medicare Advantage health insurance policy when I retire. The uni has some nice benefits.
Now that I need a will, I'm looking at charities to include in my will. Right now, I'm looking at a three-way split between The Nature Conservancy (climate change), the Human Rights Campaign (LGBTQ+ issues), and the Coalition for the Homeless. I'm also doing research for hiring an executor for my will. And I plan to buy a cemetery plot for me and the cats in the not-too-distant future. Basically, I want to make it simple to "close me out," unlike what I'm dealing with with my mom. And I'm buying a printable binder for information about my bank accounts, insurance, final wishes, etc.
The people managing my mom's money made a case for continuing to manage the money (of course). I did like them. My dad is going to do research on them and give me his advice.
Got the garbage out. (Zen saying: "After ecstasy, the laundry.") Oh, and I found a statement from Mom's mortgage company (she refinanced), and we missed a payment, so I need to get that taken care of. I see why my dad keeps saying to hire help. I have my hands full getting the finances straightened out and coordinating things.
I need to email Deanna about the trust, but I'm too tired to do it now. I think that I'll wait on the mortgage payment until tomorrow too. I need to throw myself together by lunchtime to run out and get the death certificates and bring them to the financial planner.
It's weird knowing that I could retire at any time after the estate is settled. I'm also going to get money from the sale of my aunt's house. It feels like it's raining money.