Changing the balance of quality of life and financial independence

[FinanceDude]

You'll be fine................I'm sure you've done "Monte Carlo" simulations and regression analysis to make sure it all works................

[bbbamI]

My best to you and your family. You have to continue to post every once in a while. I enjoy the chuckles!

[califdreamer]

Sounds like you have your priorities in the right place. Congratulations and best of luck in this new phase of life. And, hey, keep us posted.

[lowflyer]

Very interesting to read about your thoughts and plans. One thing that comes to mind is that we often think we need to take a particular stance on issues and be eternally consistent in our thinking and/or message...especially on forums such as this. As we move along in life, things change. Our families change, our finances change, the economy changes, etc., etc. Along with that, our perspective on things can change.

So you are moving away from the LBYM lifestyle a little (or maybe alot), but I'm guessing you've got enough stashed away to still do just fine. Regardless, it's what you want to do now. A few years down the road, things may change again. Have fun.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

...So you are moving away from the LBYM lifestyle a little (or maybe alot), but I'm guessing you've got enough stashed away to still do just fine. Regardless, it's what you want to do now. A few years down the road, things may change again. Have fun.

OTH,
CFB could always go back to his Mega Corp. high flying job with the very high 6 figure income and obscenly generous stock options for a few more years......................Nah....that would really be non-CFB-like.

[Dreamer]

How exciting for you! You and your wife have thoughtfully considered everything and made a great decision for Gabe! Schools and safety are the most important decisions in my mind. You also have to consider the "friends" that Gabe would have had in an unsafe area. Peer pressure can be very hard to ignor.

Good luck with everything and don't w@rk too hard! I agree that you can check in at least once per month and keep us updated. We are family here!

[73ss454]

CFB, when I first started reading your post I thought you were going back to wooooork.

Some how I know that you thought things out and know exactly where you stand on every aspect of the move.

Good luck to you and enjoy.

[HFWR]

Sometimes a bunny's just got to hop...

[mb]

CFB,

Sounds like a good decision!

MB

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

Very interesting to read about your thoughts and plans. One thing that comes to mind is that we often think we need to take a particular stance on issues and be eternally consistent in our thinking and/or message...especially on forums such as this. As we move along in life, things change. Our families change, our finances change, the economy changes, etc., etc. Along with that, our perspective on things can change.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines."

[Retire Soon]

CFB,

Congratulations on your decision to make a change in lifestyle after carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages. I'm sure things will work out well for you and your family. Gabe's education is by far your most important investment.

Retire Soon

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Holy cow, I expected to come back to see that a reciprocated diatribe had started up about all of this...I'm disappointed at you guys!

Of course, you all do understand that the whole thing was couched by a marketing guy, so of course it sounds like a good idea.

After todays 400+ point drop in the dow, I feel a little bit prophetic about dumping most of my equities 3 days ago. Last time I jumped ship was in early 2000...so....uh oh...

Paying cash for the house. I'm thinking of maybe financing a small hunk of it in one of those penfed 5.99% 20 year fixed HELOC's, if the market takes a big dump and doesnt recover by the time I'm taking ownership. Its on the table...IF the numbers make sense!

We looked at 3 more homes in the same price range, nothing came close to this one. Went to the nearby newly constructed super euro walking mall with a brazillion little hideously expensive stores and had a nice little lunch and talked it over. Then I dug at the house with a screwdriver for three hours, found nothing obviously out of place, and we made a lowball offer. Lets see what happens...seller is out of state, probably a lot of faxing and overnighting of stuff will take place. We're all wiped out!

Gabe rode his tricycle all over the empty downstairs for about an hour, then came upstairs and claimed his room. I asked him which one he liked and he pointed to the corner bedroom. Its his...

I'm not terribly sure about the appreciation, but I'm buying the same exactly house/floorplan that sold about 8 houses down on the same street for 70k more six months ago, so at least I didnt buy at the apex. Recent comps put the property in its current condition (which isnt bad, just needs updating and a roof) at about 8-9% more than we're gonna pay. I dont feel like I'm robbing someone or making out like a bandit, but I dont feel too badly screwed about it.

Property tax wise, we'll pay 1% of the homes sale price which is fixed by prop 13 to just small annual increases. Unfortunately its twice what we're paying now, which is a big piece of that extra 8-10k a year.

No mega corp job for me, although if push came to shove, I could probably do a consulting job with them for a month or two. I'd really rather not. Ick. Work!

Annuity? I dont frickin think so...:P

As far as less time spent here...i'm sure some are sad and some are rejoicing. The rest will have to wonder why its taking half the time to 'read the forum' as it used to As I go through all this, I'm sure I'll have a few minutes to drop by one of the many internet enabled coffee shops in the area of the new home to catch up. If I tried that where I live now, I'd be shot and my laptop stolen

[Toejam]

CFB: Good luck on your move and the new priorities in your life. Have always enjoyed reading your posts. Lots of great information, lots of fantastic cooking info and recipes, and (most of all) lots of laughs. Though I realize you will be very busy in the foreseeable future, it's good to know that you will be checking in every now and then to let us know how you are progressing and how little Gabe is doing. Good to know he will be attending good schools (in the new neighborhood) and that you hopefully will be enjoying new neighbors more to your liking.

Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny

After todays 400+ point drop in the dow, I feel a little bit prophetic about dumping most of my equities 3 days ago. Last time I jumped ship was in early 2000...so....uh oh...

Oh, and would you mind starting up your own "market timing" newsletter. I would gladly subscribe to it.

Sincerely,

Toejam

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Couple of photos...

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Oh yeah...and I have my own basketball court to one side of the yard.

[Sarah in SC]

Lots of dog-running, dirt-digging space for the pups!

Sarah

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny

Oh yeah...and I have my own basketball court to one side of the yard.

How about a "FIRE" basketball tournament??

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Lots of doggie digging space. And twice as much lawn as I've ever had to mow

Oh well...guess I'll need to buy A NEW RIDING MOWER!!!

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

How about a "FIRE" basketball tournament??

You probably dont wanna go there. I used to spend a half hour every day shooting free throws when I worked for megacorp. After a while it got boring shooting from the 3-point area. I can hit them about 95% of the time from anywhere on the half court line. One handed.