end of year 2024

Net worth increased 9.35% this year: from $3.770M to $4.076M. Real estate rose 3% and stocks improved 22%. Since I bought a large bit of property a few years ago, 2025 will now be the year that I have to start withdrawing from the IRA by getting SEPP under 72(t) since my current liquid funds are now only around $22k. I have no bond tent, but I do have Roth contributions that can be withdrawn in 2027, 2028, and 2029. The required withdrawal amount under SEPP will hopefully exceed our spending in the beginning, providing extra cushion for inflation down the line. Exact amounts have not yet been determined, but it should be about a $72k yearly withdrawal with $7200 being withheld for taxes and $4800 being set aside for interest in holding $125k of outside money (long story). In short, likely a $60k max spending target.

We took a three-week trip to Kyoto in February and a three-week trip to Iceland/Finland in August. For 2025, we have a two-week cruise around the Caribbean, Central America, and South America in January. We also have a three-week trip to Switzerland/Italy (with a touch of San Marino, Austria, and Germany).

My world was turned a bit upside down in September when I had an extreme spike in my tinnitus that I am still battling. I previously dealt with it for twenty years after a loud concert, but it was only ever mildly annoying. Being unable to pin down the source of the spike is frustrating. My broken wrist also did not heal back the way I had hoped. And then there is the intellectual rot of the country to worry about.

The weightlifting was going pretty good until all of this hit, but I plan to start it back in the summer. My running is way down as planned. No more personal records for me -- just small races and volunteering as a pacer for charity runs. I put together several vacations for the future. I spend a lot of time working puzzles from puzzle books. I have now watched over 2500 films. I expanded my trading card collection quite a bit. I still spend too much time on the internet, but who doesn't?