Canada provides an Old Age Security that starts at 65, and has a residence requirement (10 years, 18 years or so residence in Canada) so I applied for it then, 17 years ago. If one earns over about $65,000./year, they begin to claw part of it back, with full clawback at about $110,000. - that provision does not come close to affecting me, with annual income something under $50,000.! Canada began a mandatory public pension plan, with both employer and employee contributing, about 45 years ago, looking to retirement at 65, with a reduction of 1% for each 2 mos. that one chose to retire early, or an addition of 1% for each 2 mos. that one delayed, up to age 70. I more or less officially retired 15 years ago at 67, at which time I applied to receive my Canada pension Plan benefit. As I had had a fairly low income for a number of years, thus made less that regular contribution levels, that benefit has been somewhat reduced. I had a private pension to which I had contributed for just over 20 years and I began to receive that benefit at 65. I had a modest self-administered retirement plan with contributions deductible and payments added to income when drawn. I had a part time job at slightly over minimum wage until about 70, but have not been employed since. I have been able to live within those pensions, and save some to add to investments in almost every year. As a personal financial advisor for a number of years I learned money management, which allows me to make use of some tax deductions related to investments, and substantial contributions to various medical, social, international, educational and religious charities, plus some political contributions, which have allowed me to cut my federal income tax recently to zero (with extra unused credits, this year) and only a small provincial cost, most of it supporting our healthcare system, which I feel it a privilege to do, though I have made few demands on such service until this past year. I will be surprised if my pensions, with additions from investments if and when needed, will not be sufficient to maintain me adequately till I reach a hundred and more. I've heard many retirees say that they've become so busy that they don't know where they ever found time to go to work. I garden in summer, have only about 200 - 300 feet planted of something over a quarter mile of row planned, but it's been raining so often that it's hard to plant, and part of the ground is clay: if one works that too early, when it's too wet ... it bakes about as hard as iron. Take the proceeds to a couple of churches to give away, with the proviso that recipients add at least part of the value to their contributions, and some goes to family, friends and social service agencies. I read and visit friends in winter, plus spend time on the internet and do some social activities, in addition to doing a number of volunteer activities, including income tax preparation for low-income folks, a service offered by one of the churches with which I'm involved, in early spring. I learned to live fairly frugally while growing up, and had some additional lessons in that game while helping refugees get re-established in Korea following the Korean War. One of the jolly and heavily involved men at church says that he likes to have me park my car next to his somewhat older one ... for it makes his look good. Never mind - it gets me where I want to go and brings me home (most of the time). I'm thankful to be physically, mentally and emotionally able to get myself out of various issues that come up from time to time. My rent here on the farm is rather low (I have to carry my water for drinking and most cooking ... but I've done that before, so it's not a burdensome chore) and I figure that I can continue to live here as long as I am able to drive my car. I've said for some time that it seems to me to make a lot of sense for up to half a dozen old folks, when they come to the time when looking after their place becomes a burden, to share a house. Living alone doesn't exactly make for interesting conversation. Intellectual stimulation helps to keep Alzheimer's at bay, I've heard. Shared chores are more fun than doing them all by one's lonesome ... and the extra hands would mean that they were much less onerous that in one's own digs. Not only that - the reduced costs of household including operation would mean that they could hire heavy cleaning, etc. done. If someone were to fall over with a problem ... there'd be others on hand to provide or summon help ... and no doubt they'd know whether they could take care of it ... or should call the family caregiver ... or call 911: right now! There'd be a large reduction in costs over maintaining each individual home ... and certainly over the costs involved in entering either a residential or a nursing home. Interesting discussion, today. And there's more info over on the "Retirement" forum, if anyone wants to consider other facets of the situation. ole joyfuelled

When my son's dad stopped seeing him when he was 12, I filed papers to complain that he was not seeing his son per the order. That was because I would have to get my son ready and he would be waiting to be picked up and then when his dad didn't show or called at the last minute to cancel, there were tears and an upset kid. Eventually, after a couple of hearings where his dad had been served but didn't show for the hearings to explain why he was missing his visits, the Judge granted me sole legal & physical and suspended visitation. The Judge said that if he wanted to resume visitation, his dad would have to file papers. If your current order says he can visit as long as he gives notice, then that is the order. If he gives notice, you 'legally' can't say "take me back to court" although after this long, I would! Then he would have to explain to the court why he has not seen his child in years... not something he will want to do.

I had similar shock about parents still living. The parents of one of my brother's lifelong friends came to his gathering. The friend, who passed years back following a motorcycle accident, was the same age as my brother. My parents died in 1975 and 2000. Someone told me this guy's parents were coming and I was shocked to think his parents were still alive. I was so happy to meet them and I couldn't help but saying "you're so young" when I met them. I guess that was better than "you're still alive". I was just in the mindset that the parents of people my age are no longer with us though of course that's not true in many cases.

If you want cabinets to the ceiling...? You probably won't find them @ Habitat. I purchased new ones for an average cost of $100ea. It was from the outlet store of a cabinet shop. They had tons of quality/tongue 'n groove tall upper cabinets, BTW. Those are what seemed to get "left over". When U worked @ Home Depot, didn't they have returns in the backroom they let go cheap? They do here. The herringbone backsplash was from left over cuts a tiler had, I gave him $20, then cut the size I wanted. The xenon light over the sink was $5 from The Arc thrift store. Just giving U some ideas Moni... Will the washer & dryer fit where the hot water heater is, next to it? How about a pantry in that corner where you have a rack? Your appliances look nice.