colorado_felix
Dryer sheet wannabe
Hi everyone. I've been browsing this forum for a good part of the last decade and decided to come out of lurk mode today. I love this site.
My story: worked my butt off in Silicon Valley from 1997-2005 and did well financially, first from the dot-com boom and then from the housing bubble. After scheming for years on how to escape the rat race of SV, I finally quit my job as a full-time mechanical engineer in early '05 and then sold my Bay Area home in July 2005 at nearly the peak of the market.
Did an epic road trip through 20 states and provinces to investigate places to relocate to. Places that were close to mountains, had mild weather, lively downtowns, low cost of living while having a high quality of life, etc. Ultimately, I picked Fort Collins, Colorado. Purchased a home out here for about the value of the capital gains from the Bay Area home sale, and consider the move one of the best decisions of my life. I love living here and in the last few years some of my closest friends have moved here as well.
The lower cost of living coupled with large savings to fall back on has enabled me to work as a mechanical engineering consultant just 3-7 months of the year, mainly to ensure that my net worth continues to grow over time to facilitate perpetual semi-ER. For the most part I am frugal, with the main discretionary expenses being travel and athletic events--two things I figure I could easily cut back on if funds became tight.
During the months I am not working, I've done things like 100-mile runs, marathons in 20 different states and a self-supported 2700-mile mountain bike race from Canada to Mexico. In October I will be racing the Furnace Creek 508--a 508-mile bike race through Death Valley--in the classic randonneur division on a vintage Gitane bicycle using 1983 technology. I am doing this to raise money for charity and also for the adventure.
Lately I've also developed an interest in volunteering both locally and abroad. For example, in January I went to Guatemala to help an organization called Maya Pedal to design and manufacture bicimaquinas (machines made from bicycle parts) to help the locals with manual labor such as pumping water, blending liquids, shelling macadamia nuts, etc. It was a very rewarding experience and I'd love to do more things that help others in tangible ways while using a few unique skills that I have, without the commitment of an 8-5 year-round job.
On the domestic front, I am unmarried with no kids, which probably helps on the ER front. I do have a wonderful girlfriend, however, who also has an interest in working less and living more.
Anyhow, enough about me. I'm looking forward to reading your posts and to continue obtaining knowledge and inspiration from this site.
My story: worked my butt off in Silicon Valley from 1997-2005 and did well financially, first from the dot-com boom and then from the housing bubble. After scheming for years on how to escape the rat race of SV, I finally quit my job as a full-time mechanical engineer in early '05 and then sold my Bay Area home in July 2005 at nearly the peak of the market.
Did an epic road trip through 20 states and provinces to investigate places to relocate to. Places that were close to mountains, had mild weather, lively downtowns, low cost of living while having a high quality of life, etc. Ultimately, I picked Fort Collins, Colorado. Purchased a home out here for about the value of the capital gains from the Bay Area home sale, and consider the move one of the best decisions of my life. I love living here and in the last few years some of my closest friends have moved here as well.
The lower cost of living coupled with large savings to fall back on has enabled me to work as a mechanical engineering consultant just 3-7 months of the year, mainly to ensure that my net worth continues to grow over time to facilitate perpetual semi-ER. For the most part I am frugal, with the main discretionary expenses being travel and athletic events--two things I figure I could easily cut back on if funds became tight.
During the months I am not working, I've done things like 100-mile runs, marathons in 20 different states and a self-supported 2700-mile mountain bike race from Canada to Mexico. In October I will be racing the Furnace Creek 508--a 508-mile bike race through Death Valley--in the classic randonneur division on a vintage Gitane bicycle using 1983 technology. I am doing this to raise money for charity and also for the adventure.
Lately I've also developed an interest in volunteering both locally and abroad. For example, in January I went to Guatemala to help an organization called Maya Pedal to design and manufacture bicimaquinas (machines made from bicycle parts) to help the locals with manual labor such as pumping water, blending liquids, shelling macadamia nuts, etc. It was a very rewarding experience and I'd love to do more things that help others in tangible ways while using a few unique skills that I have, without the commitment of an 8-5 year-round job.
On the domestic front, I am unmarried with no kids, which probably helps on the ER front. I do have a wonderful girlfriend, however, who also has an interest in working less and living more.
Anyhow, enough about me. I'm looking forward to reading your posts and to continue obtaining knowledge and inspiration from this site.
