The Parks Are Opening.

 Spring is here and that means many of our state parks are opening up for the season. Many of our state parks are free or if not, for us seniors, offer a reduced entrance fee. Many of my favorite parks are dotted along the historic Hudson River. This gives us spectacular water views as well as an opportunity to sit and relax in a comforting atmosphere. 

Here's one of my favorite (free) local parks. Hubby and I stop here often to have a lunch or simply sit still and take in the scenic view. Or watch an occasional fisherman float on by. 

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Vegetable Garden Prep Work

 This morning was the perfect time (for me) to get my vegetable garden weeded, aerated and prepped for the upcoming growing season. Needless to say, there were tons of weeds that grew over the winter. I always found it best to remove them after a rainy day. It's easier to pull up the weeds then because the ground is wet and loose. So, it rained last night and here I am this afternoon. Weeding and raking and hubby will lay down a bed of organic horse manure as I prepare to plant my veggie seeds in around two more weeks or so. I'm not going to start the seedlings in my house again this year. I skipped that step last year also and it worked out just fine. Anything I can do to alleviate excessive work, I am all for it!

Our peach tree is blossoming so that means we will again have lots of peaches this year. Last year we had around fifty BUT the squirrels and birds got to them before I could. This year I bought fruit tree netting and I will be covering our tree by next week so that the vermin can't get to the peach tree this year. Fingers crossed that it works. I also put in a black wrought iron bench (I got it for free from a neighbor) so that I have a place to sit down in between weddings and caring for my garden. I do get more tired because of the cancer meds I'm taking, so any help is welcome. 

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What Is The Date Of The Collapse? Unknown Wants To Know. Updated.

 Yoo hoo....go bother this guy.

Since AI is the only thing around here with any common sense, I asked it the question, as listed below. Now, remember, AI can only answer what humans have programmed in to it. Humans are afraid to speak the truth because then there will be a panic and a possible run on the banks. Nonetheless, America is still in a deep decline laden with many, many problems.

do you think america will collapse in the near future?

ChatGPT said:

I don’t think the U.S. is on the brink of a total collapse in the near future, but it’s a good question to ask, especially considering the challenges we face today. Collapse is a strong word, and it typically involves a complete breakdown of political, social, and economic systems—something that would be hard to predict with certainty.

That said, there are some real issues that could put serious strain on the country, so it’s worth examining where things could go. Here are a few things that could either contribute to or mitigate collapse:

1. Economic Vulnerabilities

• Debt: The U.S. has a massive national debt, and the pressure to pay it off continues to grow. If the debt becomes unsustainable or if interest rates rise significantly, it could create a fiscal crisis. But for now, the U.S. is able to service its debt because the dollar remains the world’s reserve currency and U.S. bonds are still seen as a safe haven.

• Income Inequality: The gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population has been widening for decades. This inequality could create social unrest, especially if the economic system continues to favor the rich while many people struggle with stagnant wages and rising living costs.

• Political Instability: Political polarization is at a high point, and that could lead to challenges in governing effectively. If the political system becomes too divided or incapable of making crucial decisions (like addressing the debt or inequality), it could weaken institutions.

2. Climate Change & Natural Disasters

The U.S. is already feeling the effects of climate change, with more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, and droughts. These events could put enormous strain on the country’s infrastructure and economy, especially if we don't invest in climate resilience.

3. Geopolitical Factors

• Global Power Shifts: The rise of China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and growing tensions in places like Taiwan could impact the global balance of power. A major military conflict or shift in global alliances could hurt the U.S. both economically and politically.

• Trade Wars or Supply Chain Disruptions: We saw during the COVID-19 pandemic how vulnerable global supply chains can be. If future disruptions happen, it could hurt the U.S. economy.

4. Social Unrest & Trust in Institutions

Another thing to consider is the level of trust people have in U.S. institutions (government, media, law enforcement, etc.). If that trust continues to erode, we could see more social unrest, protests, or even violent movements. However, the U.S. has a long history of adapting to major challenges, whether social, political, or economic, and its institutions have been resilient.

5. Technological Innovation

On the flip side, the U.S. is still a leader in technological innovation, which is one of its strongest assets. Advances in AI, green energy, biotechnology, and more could offer solutions to some of the country’s biggest challenges, potentially even creating new economic growth and opportunities.

6. Global Influence and Military Power

The U.S. remains one of the most powerful countries in the world, both militarily and economically. While that’s not a guarantee of stability (history shows that no country is immune from collapse), it provides a degree of security and influence over global systems.

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So, will America collapse? It’s hard to say, but I’d argue that a complete collapse in the near future is unlikely. More realistically, we might face a period of serious challenges, where things get much harder for a lot of people. But the U.S. has weathered a lot of storms in the past—from the Great Depression to civil wars to world wars—and its ability to adapt and innovate has been a big part of its longevity.

Buy Now. Cry Later.

 I had to hold myself back from laughing after I heard Karoline Leavette read off this ridiculous statement: "China has what we have, what every country wants, what we have: The American Consumer."

What planet is this woman living on? Has she been to a store lately. That's if the store is still open (15,000 American stores have closed up shop in 2025 so far, and it's only April. Click here for that info.)

News Flash To Karoline: Americans are broke. They don't have any cash left to buy anything. They've cleaned out their savings. They have exhausted their retirement funds. They are maxed out on their credit cards. They've borrowed from their family & friends. They are facing layoffs. They can't pay the rent or their mortgages. They're being evicted. They're facing foreclosures. Their cars are being repossessed at record speeds (5,418 a day) Who in their right mind would want a consumer such as that?

Is that all we Americans are good for? Consumerism? We keep buying junk we don't need, stuffing it in closets or storage units we can't afford to pay, only to eventually after a year or so, dump it in a landfill or drag it over to a Goodwill store for someone else to buy and profit off it? When are We The People going to wake up? Probably not until the entire global economy goes under. Now is the (perfect) time for us to learn the hard way: by going without. Painful as that is going to be but unfortunately for most of us, the only way we will learn from our mistakes. And consumerism is a HUGE mistake.

Thankfully there is a trend going on now called 'No Buy 2025' and people are doing just that. They are only buying what they need, whatever is a necessity and ignoring consumerism, FOMO and the like.

A growing trend, especially among younger generations, involves actively reducing consumption and prioritizing mindful spending and repurposing. This trend, often referred to as "No Buy 2025" or "underconsumptioncore," encourages people to buy less, spend less, and focus on maximizing the use of existing items.  Click here for more info.

Note to all my readers: STOP BUYING! Make a list of what you need and start 'shopping' at Goodwill,

garage sales, thrift shops, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Next Door and yard sales, etc.

Support your local neighbor instead. 

Key aspects of the trend:

• No Buy/Low Buy Challenges:

  Many individuals participate in "No Buy" or "Low Buy" challenges, where they commit to limiting or completely eliminating non-essential purchases for a set period, often a year. 
• Mindful Consumption:

  The trend emphasizes thinking about the need for purchases, encouraging people to consider if they truly need an item before buying it. 
• Repurposing and Secondhand Shopping:

  Participants often embrace repurposing items, thrift stores, and sharing platforms to find alternatives to buying new. 
• Underconsumptioncore:

  This term, popularized on social media like TikTok, highlights the rejection of excessive consumption and a shift towards prioritizing sustainability and resourcefulness. 
• Motivations:

  The trend is often driven by financial pressures, economic uncertainty, a desire to pay off debt, and a growing awareness of the environmental impact of overconsumption. 

Examples of how people are participating in the trend:

• "No Buy 2025":

  Many individuals are vowing to avoid buying new clothes, makeup, books, and other non-essential items for the year. 
• Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping:

  People are actively seeking out thrift stores, online marketplaces, and sharing platforms to find used items and reduce their consumption footprint. 
• Repurposing and Upcycling:

  Individuals are finding ways to repurpose old items, turn them into new ones, or extend their lifespan, rather than discarding them. 

  
  

  
  

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Things I No Longer Buy. Things I No Longer Do.

 As two retirees, our budget is limited. Inflation and now the tariffs are causing us to re-evaluate our budget as well as our spending. We carry no debt. Our expenses are simply for the basics. Our biggest expense is health care. Our annual medical insurance (Medicare) along with co-pays takes up about 22% of our annual income. Once we pay our standard monthly expenses (heating/air conditioning, electricity, utilities, home insurance, vehicle insurance, pet insurance and put aside $300 a month towards property taxes, and set aside cash for home and car repairs we have approximately $1800 left over for discretionary spending. That would include weekly groceries (we budget $550 a month but we often spend over $600) gas for the cars, and other miscellaneous expenses. 

I track the $1800 category daily. These expenses are put on credit cards simply for the rewards. We get 3% back on groceries, 5% back on travel and 1.8% on everything else. We also have a mileage card but since we've stopped taking vacays by air, those mileage points turn into cash that can be used exclusively at Amazon. Many, many times we accumulate so many miles (cash) that we can buy items at Amazon for free. I pay each and every credit card, in full, at the end of the month. I have never paid any interest or late fees on any credit card. I just use them as a tool. That is all.

As soon as I notice we are nearing the $1800 limit, all expenditures stop until the next month. This system works for us as we continue to remain debt free. If an emergency pops up, we have a savings account for that.

Needless to say, as the inflation rate keeps rising (and now the threat of tariffs) my husband and I have stopped all outside activities. We basically stay home now most of the time. The only time we venture out is to either go grocery shopping or to a hardware store. Other than that, whenever we  need something, I order it from Amazon. It saves on gas and once I do a price check, Amazon usually comes in as the least expensive. Our annual membership with Amazon, to me, is a very good deal. The membership includes two free books per month, Amazon Music for free, Amazon Video for free, unlimited photo storage for free (5GB limit on videos) and if I delay some deliveries, I get Amazon Bucks which we use to rent recent movie blockbusters for free. For us, it's a win/win situation. Other than Amazon Prime Videos we do not have any other streaming services other than our ROKU device. For $139 a year (or $12 a month) I think that for us, Amazon Prime is a very good deal. Click here if you are interested and join.

Things That We No Longer Buy: starting at the top of our head, neither of us have gotten haircuts at a salon in years. We buzz cut our own hair, for free. Hubby uses a #3 blade. I use a #8. It cuts my hair in layers, which I like because my hair is curly/wavy and it comes out looking almost professional. The same  goes for our little doggie (15 pounds) I cut and groom her every month. This saves us at least $172 a month or roughly $2064 a year! If my dog needs medical attention, I always try something holistic (and cheap/free) first before rushing off to the vet. My Go-To website for vet advice is this one, click here. Dr. Jones has saved us a lot of money by advising DIY flea & tick sprays as well as avoiding unnecessary (and expensive) vaccines.

I don't wear a lot of make-up. Whatever I have now is organic. I buy it once and use it rarely. I do, however, use a lot of chapstick over the year. I buy those at the Dollar Store (two for $1.25). I used to get a mani and a pedicure once each year, preferably at the start of summer but I no loner do those anymore because of the cost. I do them myself now. We don't go to a gym as we have set up an exercise area in our basement. Hubby uses it all the time. I occasionally use the treadmill. I lift weights, however, almost daily.

We reduced our RV vacations from around 5 or 6 per year down to just two. We like to spend one week per summer at the ocean (already booked) and a few weeks each winter in Florida (looking at sites currently). Hubby and I do a lot of day trips however. Since we live in upstate New York, there are tons of free state parks (free to those over age 62 from Monday to Thursday, including Niagara Falls). Many state parks are located either near a lake (Lake George, Lake Placid) or a river (Hudson River).

We do not pay for entertainment. Our area has many free concerts throughout the year (especially the summer and Christmas) There is always a fair, car show or a free event somewhere locally. I track them through my FaceBook account. We no longer go out to restaurants nor join our friends should they decide to go out for the evening. We stay home. We very rarely invite anyone over for dinner anymore. We do, however, still have people over for coffee and a home-made cake. We no longer buy wine or beer. If my girlfriends want to do lunch, I invite them over my house and everybody brings something. I do not pay for streaming service or cable. Our smart TV's both have ROKU devices as well as antennas for free television channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and some other local channels). I only 'pay' for recently released movies (Conclave, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown etc) when we've accumulated enough free Amazon 'cash' to view these movies for free.

We do not buy new devices until they are no longer able to be updated. That includes our iPhones, iPads and iMac computer. My own iPhone 11Plus couldn't be updated lately because I had no more space on my hard drive. So I transferred ALL my photos off my iPhone and onto the free photo account I had with Amazon and was then able to update my iPhone. For free. I didn't have to buy a newer iPhone. This saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars! We did have an internet cell phone. We got it because at that time our cell phones did not have good coverage. We needed a clear working phone because of my cancer medical treatments. I had to be able to have clear conversations with the many, many doctors I saw for my care. In the interim, we switched cell phone providers from AT&T to Cellular One (from $118 a month to $50 for the 2 lines plus an AARP discount) I just recently cancelled our internet phone, thanks to the better service from Cellular One. I thought I'd be saving $15 a month. Turned out to be $25 a month, plus tax bringing down the monthly expense by $33. That's an annual savings of $396. This lowered expense came in handy when we renewed both our home owners and vehicle insurance (both rose in price). 

We do not use a landscaper. Hubby and his friend take care of the 3.5 acres of land we live on, including our vegetable garden. I have never hired any cleaning service. I still do all the interior cleaning of our home. It may not look as sparkling as it did a few years ago but it's clean, neat, un-cluttered and respectable. Hubby does ALL the home and vehicle maintenance and repairs. Everything we need is DIY. 

We no longer buy snacks, cakes, cookies, chips or candy (except dark chocolate for health reasons). They are too expensive and just empty calories. Neither one of us buy new clothes anymore. We either shop at a Goodwill or a Job Lot. I have two pairs of shoes (sneakers and summer flip flops) that I have constantly worn for the last 4 years. I do have a pair of boots for the winter. Hubby has way more pairs of shoes than I do. He has work boots, running sneakers, walking sneakers, work shoes. He often buys top quality but that is changing now. He can no longer buy $85-$100 pair of shoes. 

We've reduced our beef intake. We eat an awful lot of chicken, chopped turkey and either pork chops or pork loin. We've also been eating a bit more fish lately, especially wild caught salmon and cod. Aldi sells those at a good, fair price. I buy their frozen flounder and frozen halibut also. We try to have fish once per week. Every Monday is Meatless Monday. We try to have something plant based on that day. We still do a decent, sit-down, good-sized Sunday dinner. Either Italian or American fare. 

I make my own brown sugar (sugar and molasses) bread crumbs (we save all the ends of the bread in the freezer and then grind them up in the food processor when we need bread crumbs for cooking) I make our own salad dressings, chicken broth (I make chicken legs for my dog in my Instant Pot and that gives me free chicken broth). I dilute my coffee creamer with skim milk 50/50. That saves me both money and calories! I dilute, with water 50/50 my shampoos, conditioners, body creme and whatever else I can get away with without much difference. I reuse my tea bags a few times. I make my own pasta sauce from scratch. I buy most of my meats (proteins) on clearance. We make our own pizza. I've become very creative when it comes to leftovers. We make our own seltzer. We NEVER buy soda. If I do buy 100% fruit juice, I dilute it with seltzer. I recently incorporated portion control onto our meals. We only drink two cups of coffee each morning. 

I have a Singer Sewing machine. I've been mending our clothes, especially our socks whenever they get holes on the bottom or on the heels. I've been known to sew aprons and place mats and give them away as either birthday or holiday gifts. I'll be bringing that talent back to good use this upcoming year. I used to sew my own clothes, such as pants, caftans and pajamas. I'll be sharpening up my scissors and getting back to making my own clothes again. 

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Happy Easter. Spring Garden Show.

 Every year, a local nursery here puts together a Garden Show. Always filled with oodles and oodles of flowers and themed gardens, hubby and I never miss it. Besides, it's free, open to the public and it's simply enjoyable to walk amongst the flowers in any garden. Here's a quick video I made of the event. Enjoy. And Happy Easter!!

The Only Thing I Am Certain Of Is Uncertainty.

 After I finished my cancer journey (15 months of chemo, surgery, radiation, forty-two pound weight loss, blood transfusions, lifetime inhibitors) and I was deemed 'cancer free' my oncologist told me I had a 15% chance of some form of cancer returning. When the factors of my breast cancer returned, it would be Stage IV (4) incurable and I could only be kept alive with drugs. The parts of my body where the cancer might return would be my brain or my lungs or some other vital organ, other than my breasts. It's a devastating future, for sure, but it's one filled with angst and uncertainty. Every time I feel an ache or any sort of pain, especially if I get a headache, I think the cancer has come back.

How would you like or be able to live like that? I do it because what's the alternative? Death. And I won't be having any of that!

Enter our current economy and the cost-of-living crisis we all are living in. No one is immune from the uncertainty we all are facing. It's no benefit to any of us of the constant change in plans, on or off again tariffs, continual rise in inflation and now the upcoming increase cost of goods. To say that I am stressed out over all this newfound uncertainty would be a severe understatement. Besides worrying about the state of my health, I have the added negative bonus of worrying about paying my bills, the availability of future affordable cancer drugs, my social security, my Medicare, my property taxes, upcoming repairs on both my home and vehicles and on and on and on. The last thing a surviving cancer patient needs is STRESS. Stress, in my case, kills. I can not be stressed and every single day now that I am awake and tuned in to the outside world, I get stressed.

I can't do this to myself. Stress for me would be a killer and I didn't go through 15 months of brutal cancer treatments just to die over an on again-off again tariff. I don't care about prices. I live in a rural area, in upstate New York, not far from the banks of the historic Hudson River. I will ALWAYS have access to milk and dairy products (butter and cheeses) as I live near several, in business, dairy farms. I will always have access to fresh baked breads and bakery products  (they grow their own wheat). I will always have access to eggs and the best tasting chickens this side of the Mississippi River! (they have their own poultry farms). Beef and pork are also available to me but I don't eat that as much as I do chicken! New York State is the largest producer of apples (as well as peaches and other produce), has ample FREE access to state parks, water falls, hiking and biking trails, mountains, lakes, streams, historic beautiful sight-seeing towns as well as being the birthplace of Corning (everyone knows I love Corning, Corelle and Pyrex which are all ample and cheap, cheap, cheap up here). Toilet paper is manufactured nearby as well as pellets (for heating my home with a pellet stove) and other necessities. In other words, to hell with everything. I have what I need up here just fine.

I have to concentrate on my good mental and physical health now. PERIOD!

I went through our budget the other day looking for things to cut. There really wasn't much as we already live close to the bare bones. The only thing I am insisting on is taking two RV trips per year (down from 5 or 6). I want to spend one week in the summer at a beach and I want to spend one month in the winter in Florida. I'm not selling or giving up our RV. To lose it would mean never being able to afford a vacation again. Especially with a dog! We're going to stick to state or federal parks (they offer low-cost camping fees). New York is known for their re-vamped gorgeous state parks (free to any resident over the age of 65 from Monday to Thursday, and that includes Niagara Falls State Park!!) lakes and beaches (Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean). I made a list of smallish towns, within a 3 to 2 hour drive from our home, that we can go and do day trips (such as Saratoga, Corning, Albany etc). New York has tons of free events (Tulip Festival in Albany NY as an example) as well as free concerts and plays (Shakespeare In The Park). And let's not forget the wineries and the newest trend: beer gardens!! The only one caveat is that we AVOID New York City at all costs!!! 'Nuff said. In the winter is skiing (Lake Placid) ice skating, ice sculpture events (Lake George), snowmobiling, sledding and cross-country skiing. In other words, I love New York. It's the best kept secret IMHO. (NYC gives upstate NY a bad rap)

Here's a little community town hubs and I found today. I had always wanted to go down this road along the Hudson River and today, we did. It turned into a marina area with a side access to the Hudson River. There were gorgeous homes dotted all along the shoreline. Some of the homes were in the $200K sales category. Hmmmmmm? We parked the car and hubs, the dog and I went for a very nice walk, in the early spring weather (62F degrees) in the sunshine. If there is ever an anecdote to releaving the stresses of every day life, this was it.

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