I have been a bit busy with [-]work,[/-][-] no, portfolio-depletion avoidance[/-], revenue-generating activities, and am just now taking a break to log in.
Frankly, if it was not for the car lot I would be flat freaking out. I really hate the idea of pulling money out of the portfolio when it's shrinking or flat, and all the market uncertainty is one reason why I started the little lot-- kind of like insurance against a long, Japanese-like lost decade (or more?) going forward.
The other reason was I got a little bored.............
Yes, it is nice not having to sell low to buy food, although I am nowhere as worried as previous years. Haven't we been through worse, much worse? It just bothers me when I trail the market and most people here, particularly when I picked my own stocks.
Compared to you, I am less worried with my children already grown, and myself being closer to SS and Medicare eligibilities. Darn! Since when is getting old a nice thing?
And looking at your signature (new, I think), I saw that your wife does not work. I thought she was a school teacher, no? And ain't nothing wrong with doing what should be so easy for you, and generating some good money too.
Here, just for you! My retirement portfolio is down 1.2% YTD. I think I hold a slightly higher equity allocation than many, as my target is 54%, which includes a decent international exposure. Feel better?
I appreciate your post, though mine would make you happier than yours me.
And I thank you for not taking offense at my adjective of "manly", which might be construed as sexist. I do remember that you are the one making investment decisions rather than your husband, in addition to being the RV driver. Darn, my memory is GOOD!
Anyway, from 2000 to 2003, I was down 40%, then rebounded with money to spare. Currently, 47% in individual stocks, 21% in equity MFs, for a total of 68% equities. Many of the stocks I have now are of large cap foreign natural resource types, hence got hurt by the world-wide economic slowdown. Ditto for my beloved semiconductors.
Me scared? Nah! I could lose a lot more, and still have plenty of money left to fill up my RV to head down to Mexico to join some Canadian RV'ers who are sunning themselves down there as we speak. They don't seem to be scared, of either the market or the reported violence down there. The only hard part is to persuade my wife to come with me, and to convince myself I can still learn some Spanish.
No, on second thought, there is still plenty of the main US and Canada left to me to explore. And then, Alaska and the Yukon are beckoning. My wife is still not sold on traveling to those wilderness areas.
Maybe next summer, I will just show her Glacier NP and Banff on the itinerary, and once I get there, just keep going generally in the NW direction. Think that might work?
Had no idea Wellesley had done THAT well this year! Kudos to the Wellesley holders.
As I mentioned earlier, I have 1% in Wellesley. I have found that the only way I would remember to track something is to own it. I was going to buy more, then got greedy and wanted to ride my high-octane stocks a bit longer. Oops...
My style of investing is a lot whimsical than most people here. I tried not to take things too seriously. It's just money...
