Tree_skier

My favorite was at the Ritz in London as well... It was a out 20th anniversary 10 years ago. After that we went to the Globe theater for "Les Miserables". It was the best of evenings.

Another great evening walk along the Columbia river. We're on the Oregon side of the river. One more night after tonight and then we head to a lake in WA. near Mt St Helens.

Yeah, you sort of accept the occupational hazard after a while. There is so much need and so little being done that this sort of thing is just something you have to accept if you want to make a difference.

They try... I had a lot of involvement back in the 90's and up until 2010 but they're all fighting a losing battle. What used to be confined to about two blocks on Hastings stretches much further now and has encroached right up into Chinatown. Chinatown sort of self polices and it has stopped there and the VPD keeps Gastown reasonable but anywhere outside of that along the Hasting corridor has gotten really bad. What was 2 blocks is now really a lot longer. I have very strong opinions on all this and why its happening and what needs to be done but this isn't the appropriate forum for that. I'm stopped along the Columbia river in Northern Oregon enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Only at a table not at a machine. I have done this on each of my last 4 cruises and not been charged anything.

There is no charge if you are putting a room charge onto a slot machine. The 5% is only charged when you are sitting at a table.

The downtown Eastside is utterly destroyed. It is a true tragedy. I have a friend who does extensive work down there. He was recently assaulted on his way to the mission to teach a substance abuse class. YVR has the best and the worst of Canada all within a few Postal Codes.

If someone was asking me and you want to live in town I'd recommend Kingsburg, CA. It is the cleanest city in Central CA that I know. It' proximity to Fresno gives you big city access without being close enough to be affected by wretched crime issues that plague Fresno. For us we want to be out in the sticks away from the city. I just want to be within one hour of decent small or midsize airport or within two hours of a Major airport.

I'm very familiar with Visalia. Ive been there often and have friends there. I'm surprised to find it on 7 great places to retire. Not that I hate Visalia but I don't know if it would even make my list of top 7 places in California.

A lot of my decisions are based on taxes. Right now because of how I have things set up CA taxes aren't really that bad for me. However, once I retire my ability to write off income will change and CA will be pretty unfriendly. If not for that I would strongly consider staying right in the area we call home. Central CA is a very very different environment from SoCal and the Bay Area and has a lot of what I want. No place is perfect I guess. I still have time to look though.

thanks for the heads up... I've added it. It's valid until the end of July... I've got a cruise to pay for before then so this will work out great.

Thanks, I'm preparing for retirement and I want a home in a state that has certain attributes. I thought Idaho might be the answer but this turned into a big waste of time. I'm leaving tomorrow. The search continues...

@dani negreanu I truly hope you are able to stay safe and that this trouble passes you by quickly. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

My old hometown sure looks beautiful in pictures.

I'm currently in rural Idaho looking for property. Two places to look at tomorrow.

That's really sloppy on the part of the bartender. Either someone gave your room number and he didn't look at the corresponding picture or he typed the wrong room number and didn't look at the picture. Either ways, shoddy work.

Thanks for sharing this with me. One of the biggest things I miss in my life, as it is currently constituted, is my involvement with youth rugby. Congratulations, on a great day, those look like some fierce competitors.

As I said, even if they aren't bartenders should easily catch offenders.

If the bartenders are paying attention that shouldn't happen. You picture pops up on the POS terminal when you use the room number. Was it on day one before rooms opened. I can definitely agree with Royal cutting off the room number use after the first afternoon.

These were there but no one was in them and there was no way to purchase them that I saw. They were still working (staining) on the pier/walk way out to them. Perhaps I was there just before hand. All I remember is the they served drinks and I was underwhelmed by the food. It's sounds like @Sea Dog's experience was very different than mine. I'm not complaining about the experience just that it was Ok not great.

Most bartenders don't need your set sail pass. They just ask for your room number.

No that isn't going to work out. They use room numbers when you book. They won't allow anyone not in a suite to access it.

I've stayed in a promenade Interior one time on Navigator. It wasn't noisy at all with the exception of the 70's dance party one night. I remember actually being surprised at how not noisy it was. We were on Deck 8. Cocktails will range between $11- $14 depending on the drink. If you decide to buy the drink package remember that both you and he need a package. If you don't drink you can order the refreshment package while he gets the DBP. You can't order it through the cruise planner, it won't let one buy the DBP without the other. You must call in to make that purchase.