Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Well, the thing is, there is absolutely no agriculture going on here, which is very weird. I've asked many locals, but they say that everything is imported.

Yup it’s likely not feasible due to the terrain, and soil conditions. Here when have a short growing season to grow things like potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, tomatoes - but only for the summer. Once the growing season is over, all our produce is imported and it’s expensive. Watermelons are not to be found anywhere here right now because it’s too expensive and people won’t buy them.

I pay $6 for 6 oranges. The only thing cheap here is bananas!

Food tax
What are they looking at? I never did see what they saw.

 

[bgmathteach]

(Oh and take the Metamucil with orange juice it makes a nice drink )

Too much sugar.

Thank you so much for the hugs! I think my biggest problem right now is that I feel stuck. No easy options

 

[lightm]

My Cholesteral was a bit high - high enough for the Dr. to want to put me on meds.....especially since I am insulin dependent diabetic. I started taking a teaspoon of Metamucil every evening - in addition to diet changes that were sometimes hot, sometimes cold on (i.e. not as consistent as I should be, diet wise) My next blood draw 3 months later was PERFECT (well, for everything but my HBA1C) So, metamucil is, essentially water solluble fiber (like what is in oatmeal, etc). If you are open to it, and the oatmeal 5X a week isn't enough - I would strongly suggest adding some Metamucil to your diet. Better then meds, for sure. If you are able to get enough fiber in your diet without it, GREAT - but it is really, really hard with our Western Diet of over-processed foods to get enough fiber unless you make EVERYTHING yourself. Honestly, since I went back to f/t (instead of 50%) plus teaching, plus all of my animals - my diet has definitely suffered. I am strongly considering retiring soon...just to save my health because work is a toxic environment - but if I retired now, I would only get approximately 16% based off of a 2/3 annual salary ( 1 yr. f/t, 2 @ 50% averages to a 66% of f/t salary as a base) Works out of about 10% of f/t salary. If I can manage to hold off 2 more years (honestly, it is doubtful given the escalation of health issues due to stress increases this year) then i will get about 28% of a full time salary (partially because increased age factor, partially because 2 more years of service, and, significantly, because average of highest 3 years will all be full-time salaries, so no proration there) I know I can not live on 10%, might be able to on 28% (though health insurance will take a big bite because in retirement, they pay 50%, now they pay 75% because I have been around long enough - newbies they are only paying 60%). Of course, I will keep teaching - but adjunct pay is fairly low - but it is something!

Presently I am putting away 15% of my f/t salary ( which means 26% is taken right off the top, as they take 11% for pension), and I put away 20% of my adjunct pay. But, that only increased (from 3% & 10% respectively) this past year when I went from 1/2 time to f/t. So, IDK what to do. My health - and longevity - but definitely in poverty - or stick it out 2 more years to get enough to actually manage in retirement - but at the rate I am going, maybe not make it - or not make it in a state where I will be able to enjoy retirement and my chickens.

Unfortunately, hubby and I have only lived in our current house 5.5 years - so no way can pay off mortgage before either retirement date - though we have been putting extra towards it - it is still at least 15 years away from paying off the 30 yr. mortgage with the extra payments.

Vent all you want! I'm sorry that your work environment hasn't improved. Unfortunately it does sound like sticking out for 2 more years could be worth it.

 

[Ponypoor]

Too much sugar.

Thank you so much for the hugs! I think my biggest problem right now is that I feel stuck. No easy options

Oh yes the juice, that could be a problem. Well I bet it can be mixed with oatmeal, that would be a nice mix I bet.

I hear ya on being stuck. I miss working out west, but I need to stay close to home now. Maybe when my sister sells their place an moves here until they find a place, I can do a project out west. But no, I can’t leave this job I no have, the guys are great and I have lots of leeway. Jobs like that are hard to find.

And I too can’t retire, I will likely work till 70, wow that’s not far off for me gosh were does the time go.

Age tax

Caturday- Missy sleeps in the most unusual positions

 

[Ponypoor]

Too much sugar.

Thank you so much for the hugs! I think my biggest problem right now is that I feel stuck. No easy options

You know, sometimes knowing the math and numbers on something isn’t a good thing. I can’t speak to your medical stuff as that isn’t and issue here, and when I get 65 all my meds are paid by govt. but the other stuff I can relate.

What would be the absolute worst thing to happen if you sang them the ‘Johnny Paycheque’ song? Could you get a job elsewhere? Or could you sell and move in with your FIL? Would that be an option?

If you think outside the box maybe an idea may come along. In the meantime I would ignore your boss and do my job to the best of my abilities. Smile and don’t let her get to you, she sounds like she is trying to push you out. Don’t deal directly through her with people.
Go over around or through her when dealing with others and I wouldn’t cc her on any emails either.

There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.

Shakespeare: Hamlet

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Yup it’s likely not feasible due to the terrain, and soil conditions. Here when have a short growing season to grow things like potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, tomatoes - but only for the summer. Once the growing season is over, all our produce is imported and it’s expensive. Watermelons are not to be found anywhere here right now because it’s too expensive and people won’t buy them.

I pay $6 for 6 oranges. The only thing cheap here is bananas!

Food tax
What are they looking at? I never did see what they saw.
View attachment 3715580

Agreed, and also, I owe tax!

And a BFTP: The additional Barred rock behind Buffy is my deceased hen Plum. I miss her so much.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Bit of rain on the island today, and there's a cockerel crowing right outside the window...

Rain Tax:

 

[Ponypoor]

Bit of rain on the island today, and there's a cockerel crowing right outside the window...

Rain Tax:
View attachment 3715822

He’s pretty

 

[Sally PB]

In the meantime I would ignore your boss and do my job to the best of my abilities.

I had a boss who ended up being a VERY toxic person in my life.

I realized that I had given him IMMENSE power over my life. How I felt about myself, how I felt at the end of the day, the stress I felt.

If I gave him the power, I could also take it away. I no longer cared what he thought about me; I did my job to the best of my ability for my coworkers and myself, and for the customers.

This was not an overnight change. I had to remind myself every day that that SOB did not have power over me unless I gave it to him.

 

[Sally PB]

Tax:

Pippy, who is very wise.