Well, I am quite thrilled to read these great responses! I live in Zone 7, but our Winter is still long. The zones just refer to the extremes in temperature, not how long it lasts. I have noticed volunteer tomatoes come out earlier than I would choose to plant out. So, I can watch for that as a sign. I do not have any trouble with legginess of my tomato seedlings. I have a picture window that faces full-South, and shelves there (for seedling starting in Winter) outfitted with shop-lights. I read somewhere that it is important to use fresh bulbs (fluorescent tubes) as the light diminishes over time. I do not get new ones every year, but if one seems to put out less (judging by the plants), I use that on my alpine strawberry seedlings or something else that doesn't mind. I want to start even earlier because I'd like to keep tomato strains true when I grow them out. I plan to grow out severl this year, and if one flowers first for a week, then they are in the clear, and I can mark those fruits, and then not really worry about the rest. I guess what I mean is that an early & staggered start will allow me to focus on each plant as it comes into bloom, selecting from that, and moving on to the next one. I do have some limitations (medically), so it would be easier to focus on them staggered rather then so many at one time. It may not work out the way I hope, but I figure it is a good experiment for this year. By choosing good varieties for this (my un-familiarity with varieties hurts my experiment here) I can better insure success. The funny thing is that I don't really eat tomatoes--except in spaghetti sauce. BUT, everyone else loves them, and I find there is a group involved with tomatoes that have a zeal for the plant like no other vegetable/fruit. A great deal of home-breeding is going on, and I find it the most fascinating thing. Tomatoes provide a great opportunity to study genetics at home, and to look very intensely at varietal development in plants. I guess I am hooked for a reason not common to most, but I am hooked. So, I will try my experiment this year, and see how it works for me. I am thankful at the varieties/categories I see mentioned. When mentioning "use determinate or dwarf" plants, how can I find out which is which? I have consulted some websites, but is there a thorough tomato base out there? Keep the posts coming! Happy Holidays, Robin

Am in my late 50's. We don't have longterm disability insurance. It's a real gamble. My dad died young, was cared for at home by my mom--no real expense there. My mother just died this past November at age 85--she was at Thanksgiving dinner with us one night, and gone the next. Long term disability? Nope--she was still living independently in her own apartment. Now, note that in her 40's she had a number of health issues--anyone guessing would probably have figured that she'd either have died early, or have been disabled for a long time, and needed a lot of care in later years. Fact is, other than her regular check ups, visits to the podiatrist to care for her feet, and having her cataracts operated on, Mom hadn't had any serious medical treatment for over 20 years when she died. My father-in-law went very quickly, too--at age 82. He was still working as a plumber in November, spent a couple of months in the hospital, then died the beg. of February. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't get the insurance--only you can decide if it's right for you. But to my way of thinking, I don't see all that many people in my life who actually need longterm care. Most seem to either go quickly, or be able to manage their needs anyway. And the insurance companies are banking on the fact that their scare tactics will get lots of people to sign up--many who will never make a claim. For example, I've got an aunt who has had earthquake insurance for many years--no matter to her that we live in an area of the country that has never had a major earthquake in anyone living's memory. But they were more than happy to sell her a policy. I think she also has flood insurance--but she lives on the 6th floor of an apartment building. We also don't get floods of any size around here. That would have to be some departure from the norm for her to collect! And what about the safety of investing in an insurance company? What if the company goes out of business in years to come? Or waht if the funds are mismanaged or depleted by embezzlement. There is a huge scandal in the country right now regarding pre-paid funerals. People paid ahead to make sure their wishes would be taken care of, and many of the funeral homes have stolen those funds and families are having to come up with money to pay the cost of a funeral twice--the second time at a much higher price. Personally (and I'm not telling you what to do)--I prefer to save and control my own money. I'm not a fan of allowing others to take my funds--as in prepaid funerals, extra insurance, IRA's, etc. I do have one small SEP account, but only because I had a year where I needed some serious deductions, and that one was a reasonable way of keeping a few more of my own dollars. It's important to me to have the freedom to invest as I choose, and to move my money from here to there, depending upon what the economy is doing. I've just known too many people who have relied on others to nurture their savings, and lost everything. My sister is a case in point--worked for over 30 years for one company, was up in corporate management when the company was sold and dessimated by a larger one. She had a GOOD pension plan--but the funds were stolen by the new management, and when the company folded, she got a measely, one-time payout of $16,000!

My husband retired in January at 62, and I retired in April at 55. I am enjoying every day. He says he doesn't feel useful. I took some watercolor classes and am painting and doing crafts. I don't care if I'm useful or not! I stay up as late as I want, and sleep in if I want. Coffee on the back porch watching the birds in the mornings. Shopping when everyone else is at work. Doctor's appts during the day so I don't have to fight evening traffic. Love it. If you don't finish something today, there is always tomorrow. My elderly mother lives with us, so we can't travel unless someone she knows stays here. Luckily we have a neighbor who will stay with her if we need it, but we can't impose too much, so no traveling. But there is so much to do here (Charleston, SC), I really don't care about that. My hub is retired navy, and we each have a supplemental to Tricare through our previous employers. We pay our portion, but it isn't the full amount we would have to pay on our own. I am looking at volunteering with an animal rescue group, as that is also something else I wanted to do when I retired. This winter I'm starting on a cookbook, too. At least, that is the plan right now.

I do have advice. Since your condition is on the CAL list, it should be easier for you to get SSD benefits than other people. Let me share with you some of the things which may be a bump in the road. think of your condition as disabling, a disability, and not a retirement. Sure there are tasks of your job that you perhaps can continue to do, such as sitting at a desk and checking the computer or making phone calls, but, I believe, you are unable to do the field work which may entail visiting other places, local travel, lots of walking and making decisions without a medicine clogged mind. The executive decision making and fact gathering, I'm guessing here, are the tasks affected. Sitting for short periods are ok bu not long? Dependent legs a problem? Anxiety about doing the job likely won't enter into the picture bc, as that is, it may be seen as a temporary condition but maybe not. Job anxiety may be seen as a contributing element if you are worried about your job. The fact that you are a long time employee counts.Of course, if you have debilitating anxiety in general, then that's a different thing. Moderate major depression can be disabling. SSA pays for total disability, not partial. Even tho, your first post, says that hr offered you a "very part time" position, perhaps, that may not be seen as a substitute for your challenging job, where you make decisions on facts and gather those facts. Neetsie did I describe the more executive aspects of your job? That matters. think about the tasks that you cannot or have difficulty doing. Mental disability and pain caused disability count but be honest. Think about why you were able to do your job for these many years but cannot now. What and how. What changed? A new boss does not count. A constellation of symptoms counts. The difficulty of clothing can be circumvented and shouldn't count. All that said, being on the cal list counts the most. That's the most persuasive element. does your doctor say you are totally disabled? Might you need to tell him why you cannot do your job, if he doesn't think so? the closer one gets to age 62, the ssa requirements loosen, especially for those in early 60's or late 50's. Since I canno easily talk to you I can only guess about certain things. I am a retired claim analyst/manager, having spent 25 years as a claim professional. The last nine years I was a claim litigation supervisor and paralegal for a multinational corporation working in the legal department. I retired in 94 but most disability issues have not substantively changed. Now there is a cal list but those conditions were previously quickly granted benefits, too. Just not formally listed. Hth