I have dropped $3766 on my 2000 Jaguar XK8.

[sammy the blade]

Enjoy it while you can, we aren't getting any younger!!!

[Fishtail Picklock]

When I was younger, the Chevrolet Corvette had a certain appeal, but the fiberglass body, cheap plastic dashboard, and other peripherals put me off. My father admired the original Jaguar e-type. The XK8/XKR were the last Jaguars that hearkened back to the e-type of 1961. As long as I can get this together and keep driving it, it will be fine. This is a Grand Touring car, not a sports coupe.

I am 71 years old and want to enjoy driving a car instead of just navigating it through traffic. Since I will never be married again, the "you'll regret it when you want to carry children around" argument means nothing. I rarely have more than one to accompany me.

All of my children (who know that I exist) are dead, so there is no "family" nor "Christmas" to deal with, and there is no need to have a "special" place for them. This is another reason I ignore the "holiday season" and all its claptrap. They aren't celebrating Christ's birth, so it is nothing more than a sociocultural pitfall. I would rather spend my money on things that I can actually enjoy.

[Fishtail Picklock]

My XK8 should be good for 200,000 miles. That leaves me a good 138,000 miles left on the clock. If I put a total of $140,000 miles into the Jaguar, I'll be able to get my money's worth out of it.

[Tom19176]

Enjoy your car. It clearly is something you treasure and that's all that matters. I feel bad for you that your family is gone. Your 71, and I am 66. At this point you should concentrate on doing things that bring you joy.

You have a good sense of what is important and what you enjoy the finer things from clothing to cars. Enjoy those things and live a life you can afford and enjoy.

[sammy the blade]

Enjoy your car. It clearly is something you treasure and that's all that matters. I feel bad for you that your family is gone. Your 71, and I am 66. At this point you should concentrate on doing things that bring you joy.

You have a good sense of what is important and what you enjoy the finer things from clothing to cars. Enjoy those things and live a life you can afford and enjoy.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Fishtail Picklock]

I'm sorry if I sounded bitter. When you have had enough hard times in life, you want to be happy and bring joy to others as well. I still work (I'm an insurance agent.) I work at home, setting appointments for other agents. I handle disability and income insurance protection for small establishments.

I have also been a freelance voice mimic/talent for many years. In the immortal words of the late George Burns, "Show business is a bitch goddess." But I still keep working at it.

[Tom19176]

Glad you're happier than I had thought you were. I have had my fair share of low points in life as I assume we all have. Try you best to live in the present not reliving the past or fearing the future. Normally the present isn't too bad....I plan on retiring next month. ( gave my notice last month but they keep asking me to stay another month). I know myself and I am sure I have to do some sort of work to keep busy. Enjoy each day we wake up well and able to do the things we enjoy.....

[Fishtail Picklock]

The "holiday season" coincides with my birthday (December 1st). This makes the "season" problematic. I enjoy serving and helping people protect their income(s) through "income insurance". (I am certain almost everyone has heard of AFLAC).

I work with Combined Benefits, part of the CHUBB family. CHUBB is the second-largest insurer in the nation. We can offer better benefits than AFLAC and generally 20%-40% less than AFLAC. We can do this on an individual or group basis. This is insurance that provides an income while you are under a doctor's care, whether on the job or not. CHUBB has been doing this for over 100 years.

This isn't an advertisement, I am simply explaining how I work from home as a duly Licensed Insurance Agent

[Tom19176]

I have AFLAC through work now, but I plan to leave the company soon and semi retire. Thankfully, I have never had to use it....

[sammy the blade]

You're really lucky if you've never had to use your insurance. Wish I could say that!

[Fishtail Picklock]

I have AFLAC through work now, but I plan to leave the company soon and semi retire. Thankfully, I have never had to use it....

You dodged that bullet. Don't hold your breath, as we age, the probability of a catastrophic health event increases with each day.

[sammy the blade]

I have AFLAC through work now, but I plan to leave the company soon and semi retire. Thankfully, I have never had to use it....

You dodged that bullet. Don't hold your breath, as we age, the probability of a catastrophic health event increases with each day.

True that, one little thing can change you for the rest of your life. Be glad for what you have, we never know when the fuse will burn out, especially when you get older. I'm 70 know and I think back and it just amazes me that I'm not 6 feet under.

[Fishtail Picklock]

I turned 71 on December 1st. Believe me, after burying four children and one wife in this lifetime, I know how fragile this life is. I was nearly killed when a tow truck driver failed to secure a wheel on a huge flatbed. The loose wheel flew across three lanes of traffic and struck my friend's '02 Malibu just inside the driver's side headlamp, forcing us off the road and into a tree. That was a good five years ago.

Believe me, I have "seen the elephant" and survived to tell the tale.

[Tom19176]

So sorry to hear about the loss of four children. Was it an accident?