The Not so Itsy Bitsy

 The open air ride

Is a thrill of a lifetime;

Maybe a short one.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

In doing my daydreaming of what vehicle I’d purchase if I could, I came across the Can Am Spyder f3 Special. It’s a beaut and from the youtube world it seems to be considered the three-wheeler to lust for.

 I’ll have to admit the combination of gray (they call it gravity gray – because that’s the way the world works now; nothing can just be a simple tone.) with orange highlights (didn’t notice what the orange moniker was…ornery, OMG, old, oddly… but sure it wasn’t original) and sporty look orientation just does it for me.

 However, coloring a lemon orange isn’t going to make it worth $20k. Heck, even coloring an orange orange isn’t worth that price.

 So it was back to thinking about what other options I’d have. I can daydream, but I try to keep my mind wandering in the direction of what’ll stop me from being homeless.

 Then lightning struck.

 Months ago, I received a notice from an annuity company stating that they had tried to deliver documents to me, but they were sent back as undeliverable. These documents were sent to my sister’s, whose address I used when returning to the states from Panama, so it made sense they weren’t deliverable. But I’d never heard of the company so figured there was no rush. But on Thursday I gave them a call.

 Initially the recording asked me repeatedly to state my social security # which I wasn’t inclined to do. I figured this wasn’t going anywhere so was about to hang up when they said the usual stay on the line and a service rep will assist me shortly. I did.

 She informed me that her company had a TSA contract from me initially under another company’s name. I had started the TSA in 1994. The year and the name of the company made sense.

 She also informed of the amount I had and that there was no penalty for withdrawal although the Feds would take 20% off the top. It’s a hefty sum and if true, would allow me to up my allowance for a vehicle (the Spyder if I like it!).

 Yes, of course I wanted to believe it and start fitting my new Spyder with a few necessary upgrades, but figured I’d better contact my current financial advisor just to be on the safe side. I also wanted to make sure to limit my tax liability and not withdraw too much all at once.

 He said it looked good and I could take out a decent amount and roll over the rest into my IRA.

Sounds like a plan.

 So with a tax reduction due to the unemployment exemption in the Federal Relief Plan, the accompanying stimulus from the same plan, a decent amount of savings from continually working since July, and this recent gift from my 30 year old self. I appear to be in decent fiscal shape at the moment.

 Admittedly, times are precarious, and we’re all more aware of that now. But even more reason to loosen the purse strings a bit and say the hell with a rainy day, it doesn’t rain enough here not to get out on a Batmobile and have a little fun while I’ve still got some pep in my step and some verve in my spine.

Three, Two or None

 Our old lady dog

Grumbles and twitches throughout

The early morning.

Friday, March 12, 2021

 Now that vaccinations are moving along there is a possibility that we may need a second car as the wellness program we work for is likely to re-open its second location.

 Even without that posing a problem I’m kind of getting a hankering for a second vehicle anyway. It’s just that they’re so damned expensive it’s been a financial blessing to get by with just one car.

 If we do go down that road I’m tinkering with the idea of getting something other than your traditional car.

 Why? Both for practical reasons and just because I like to be different.

 On the practical side, we are not allotted the space for parking another car.And, as mentioned previously, cars are damned expensive.

 I rode a motorcycle for 30 years until giving that up at 58 almost 5 years ago. I feel extraordinarily fortunate to have ended up in one piece and doubt I have the skills, reflexes or luck to hop on one of those beasts again.

 I’ve had scooters before, and I toyed with the idea of looking at a Suzuki Burgman 400 but it’s still just two wheels and even less visible than a traditional M.C. so that’s not a likely alternative. At about $8k they’re far less than a car, but not worth the stress factor in my opinion.

 I was hoping the Meccanica Solo, a three wheeled electric car, would provide the practicality and buzz I was looking for, but at nearly $20k and with only a 100 mile range, I can’t see it happening unless they drop the price dramatically. It does provide protection from the elements and drives like a traditional car, which are plusses, but it’s size and low stance leaves you pretty vulnerable, and even the car like feel may be a hindrance as it’ll like provide a false sense of security.

 That leaves me gazing in the direction of the Can Am Ryker 900. Kind of the open air M.C. experience without the worries of just two wheels. The mileage isn’t great – only about 35 mpg, but the fun factor looks awesome. And at roughly $10k that’s not much more than a scooter with the extra stability of another wheel and more power and fun factor to boot. You are exposed to the elements, unlike the Solo, but again that could work as a plus as on a motorcycle, you’re vulnerable and might as well be aware of that.

 I’ll give the Ryker a test ride through Can Am’s ride – learn – and try program in May and go from there.

 
If we end up not needing another vehicle that may work out just fine. Driving isn’t as fun as it once was and it’s much more expensive than it’s ever been.

Halfway Home

 

Sleeping next to me

The two females in my life

Work to push me out.

 Saturday, March 6, 2021

 Yesterday Kimme and I received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Now it seems were less than a month away from almost a year’s gamble of rolling the dice on getting Covid.

 As we’re in the leisure industry that gamble meant a weekly exposure to 15-20 new individuals from around the country and a circle of about 10 co-workers. With our being unsure of how cautious either group was about protecting themselves let alone worrying about us.

 That’s particularly distressing when it comes to our fellow co-workers who ought to know better. Yet there were doubters amongst them. Even to the extent that one’s father died from Covid from his negligence. And still, after that, a few workers to this day do not mask properly and gather in small groups in confined areas much longer than they should.

 
Diligence, luck and the odds though have worked in our favor. If we can hold out for another 21 days we’ll receive the second dose and hopefully will be able to relax a bit after that, though we’ll remain cautious until, it seems, we’re all be on our way out of the woods.