White Cloud Poppy

I just got my annual 401K statement.  While I could easily calculate my balance down to the penny, I recall going with a more conservative estimate for my 12/31 numbers.  I was short by $6,000.  (Oops, didn't mean to be quite that conservative). So I adjusted my sidebar today.

I surpassed my first six figures on 12/31/24.  2025 contributions were $6,400.  Employer matched $5,000.  Market gains were $18,000.  It's crazy to me, that I put in the bare minimum of $6,400 (bare minimum to get the full match) and that the other $23,000 was pretty much gravy.  Even if it wasn't a super high stock market return year, there still would be a lot more than just what I put in.

I think this sums up 'efficiency' pretty well.  Also, starting young.  Not this particular account, which I started in my 40s.  But you can imagine how my 'started in my 20s' accounts are doing.

This is the first 401K statement that blew my mind.  But it's the longest I've had an employer retirement plan.  I can see the numbers get more interesting after the first $100K. 

I had a very relaxing week off of work.  

I did not do much of anything, other than a day trip to the coast.  I was planning to visit a more popular stretch of coast but realized at the last minute that the roads were pretty windy and it would probably take 3 hours just to get to our destination (though it's probably just a few miles from where we ended up).  So I went to Plan B.  Which was Sausalito (just north of San Francisco).  We had just been to the hike that I love over there, so I picked out another hike (just a few miles further south).  It wasn't challenging or as long but it was a unique experience.  We went through a one way to tunnel to get to this beach.  There was some WWII installations (we saw abandoned concrete structures).

The birds were just coasting by on the wind.  It was very serene to watch the floating birds.  We mostly had the place to ourselves.  

& we saw the velella velella on the beach.  Another thing I thought was more of a So Cal thing (and have seen lots of pictures of).  But I guess they also wash up on the north shores, in the spring and fall, when the wind patterns change.  The poor guys (related to jellyfish) get stranded on the beach.

It was the first time I had seen in person, but I immediately knew what it was when I saw all the blue glistening in the sand.

We topped off our day with a fancy dinner on the Bay.  The food was okay (not bad) but I felt the pricey dinner was worth it for the view.  

Total cost:  $150 for a splurge-y dinner and $7 parking.  The drive is a little over 90 minutes but somehow we don't have to cross any bridges or pay any tolls.  

Last time we were here on a week day, everything closed up super early.  So we were surprised how much was still open later on a Thursday night.  We originally thought we'd have dinner in Napa, on the way home.

Today is a little more back to reality.  All else being equal, I'd probably just veg out another day or two.  But after delaying many times, DL(20)'s girlfriend is moving in this weekend.  !!  Now the self-imposed 'crazy' can commence.  More immediately, will just by tidying the house (my least favorite thing).  & over the next few weeks I will be assisting the GF with car shopping and with financial things. 

I'll be in chore mode for a couple of days, but I have a spring hike planned for Sunday.