My 2000th + Post a couple of thoughts

[dex]

I passed my 2000th post a copule of days ago. I was thinking about making these thoughts for my 2000th post but it got by me. I joined this forum in Oct 2003 and like many others I did so because I was unsure of my ability to ER at what became 52. The replies to my questions were generally helpful and considerate; made me think and it was good to know others had the same concerns. I greatly appreciated them.
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f26/need-advise-if-i-should-retire-14172.html
This was my first post and Cut-Throat comment about "About Schmidt" got me to see the movie - it was scary. It still is. I have a ways to go.

I also appreciate the people on this form because of the diverse subjects raised and the various points of view presented. It is not like a “Frugal Forum” where you get a set mindset.

What I do find missing on this forum are the inspiritional, challeneges and/or phases of ER.

I don't have an idea on what to do about my comments but they make the board less interesting to me.

++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm in Moab, Ut. and will be here for awhile biking and hiking in the area. The sun is setting, I have a beer; it is beautiful; life is good.. In this RV park there are big rigs ($250K+) to tent campers. The gas plentyful, food stores stocked with every conceiveable fresh fruit, beer wine and nationality of food. The roads are smooth and safe. The people are friendly, we speak the same language, I pay the posted prices, I can go where ever I want and feel safe. Why say the ovious? Because in many parts of this world these things we take for granted are not the norm. I love this country.

 

[statsman]

I really like this quote from the thread you linked:

"Many of the people who seem happiest with retirement seem to have reached a point where work was getting in the way of the things that they valued doing most."

 

[haha]

What I do find missing on this forum are the inspiritional, challeneges and/or phases of ER.

Dex, I really can't understand your statement here. People have shared stories of illnesses, divorces, deaths of spouses, moves, lay-offs and all their various ways of dealing with these setbacks in their own lives. As far as phases, some here are in their 20s, I and others are 60s, and there is every age between.

This is the only board I know about about where the people seem real, and that is what makes it interesting and very valuable to me.

Reagrding the USA, I agree- I love this country!

Ha

 

[headingout]

Ditto on Moab (great place!), the USA, and appreciating the obvious. Let us be grateful for what we have.

 

[Jarhead*]

Dex, 20s, I and others are 60s, and there is every age between.



Ha

And one that was born in 1936.

Dex appears to have things under control.

For a quick trip down memory lane, look at John Galt's advice to Dex on the thread that was inculded on his post.

Classic JG. (Don't make them like him anymore. Thank God for small favors.)

 

[HFWR]

Ah, yes. JG. A bit of undercooked potato, a bit of undigested beef...

 

[haha]

That was a good thread; oldies but goodies.

Ha

 

[REWahoo]

For a quick trip down memory lane, look at John Galt's advice to Dex on the thread that was inculded on his post.

Classic JG. (Don't make them like him anymore. Thank God for small favors.)

Reading that 2003 JG post I couldn't help noting this one sentence:

And, of course,
we bought a small ranch in Texas which will
obviously suck up a lot of time.

2003? The same year the guy bought the old Issacs ranch just north of El Dorado?

You don't think... Oh, surely not.. Polygamist ranch turns Texas town upside down

 

[Midpack]

Can you elaborate on what's missing? I'm a newb here but I find many to be surprisingly candid (anonymity must help).

 

[Harrison]

Hi Dex,
I'm new to this forum. Just joined this forum yesterday. Don't know how much time I need to hit your level. Just need some encouragements from you all.

Anyway, nice to meet you all

 

[HFWR]

Reading that 2003 JG post I couldn't help noting this one sentence:



2003? The same year the guy bought the old Issacs ranch just north of El Dorado?

You don't think... Oh, surely not.. Polygamist ranch turns Texas town upside down

JG's "ranch" consisted of a condo near Lake Texoma...

 

[Moemg]

What I do find missing on this forum are the inspiritional, challeneges and/or phases of ER.

I don't have an idea on what to do about my comments but they make the board less interesting to me.

Maybe starting a thread or two about this subject will start people talking about it ?

 

[RonBoyd]

I don't have an idea on what to do about my comments but they make the board less interesting to me.

I don't understand this statement. Are you asking us what to do with your comments?

I agree wholeheartedly about Moab. In the past couple years, it has replaced Hawaii as my destination of choice. Same applies to the Capital Reef area.

 

[kcowan]

I joined in July 2006 after being retired for 4 years. So the ER focus has been of limited value to me. Plus I live in Mexico so the issues related to the US are not relevant.

But there are some interesting threads and I do like the people here...

 

[Martha]

Dex, thank you for your 2000 posts. You certainly don't waste words!

What I discovered from my retirement is that life continues with its ups and downs.

I didn't magically have my BP go down or lose weight. In fact, I gained a bunch of weight! Now though I seem to be back on track with eating properly.

I also know that I need some discipline and goals in my life or I tend toward the melancholy. Before, work provided most of both. Now, I have to be self motivating.

 

[Dawg52]

I was in Moab just for one day 5 years ago. Been saying I would go back when I have a few days to really explore the area. Would like to visit southern Utah while I'm out that way. Got the time, just got to get moving in that direction. Maybe early fall. Post some pics of your stay if you don't mind.

As far as the forum is concerned, we all go through periods of not being very interested. If you have been a member for a few years, you see a lot of the same old questions so it's hard for the veterans to be into it all the time. That's just the way it is.

 

[unclemick]

I was in Moab just for one day 5 years ago. Been saying I would go back when I have a few days to really explore the area. Would like to visit southern Utah while I'm out that way. Got the time, just got to get moving in that direction. Maybe early fall. Post some pics of your stay if you don't mind.

As far as the forum is concerned, we all go through periods of not being very interested. If you have been a member for a few years, you see a lot of the same old questions so it's hard for the veterans to be into it all the time. That's just the way it is.

Ahem: to repeat -

'God Looks After Drunkards, Fools, and The United States of America.' - for years I blamed it on De Gaul (my spelling) until someone(aka Nords pointed out it was Bismark).

Psssst - Wellesley! Actually in my 15th year of ER, my trad IRA is Target Retiement 2015.

Inspirational my butt - mountains suck, I grew up near Mt. St. Helens(aka da volcano).

Soon as gets really warm - I plan a Sunday drive across the river to someplace really flat in Kansas - and do some 360's to celebratate the joy of flatness!

heh heh heh - at little tongue in cheek, lefthanded inspirational stuff. .

 

[friar1610]

I was a fairly regular poster on the Motley Fool REHP beginning back in 1999. I learned a lot from it and very much enjoyed it for a number of years. (I ER'd at 58 in 2003). Over time, it became increasingly political and I really got sick of it. I just checked to see when the last time I logged on was and it was February of this year. I doubt I will go back there.

I had been a member of this forum for quite a while, but rarely dropped in, but have made this my ER "web site of choice" over the last 6 months or so. I don't post as often as I used to on TMF/REHP, nor do I read as many posts, but - hey - I'm retired and I'm busy as hell! I do like the way this site is organized and although I haven't spent enough time here to have a good handle on all the posters, there doesn't seem to be as much strident posting as on TMF.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

but have made this my ER "web site of choice" over the last 6 months or so

"We're the one to have when you're not having any more of that work baloney."

 

[TickTock]

Dex,

In your original thread, you wrote, "It is a bit like training to climb a mountain, climbing it, reaching the top and saying now what? Is that all there is?"

Reminds me of a couple of things - Your Money Or Your Life by Dominguez and Robin, and some of Ram Dass' works (I'm thinking specifically of the first part of Be Here Now, but there are others). You familiar with either of these?

In any case, the thing is that many folks have some vision of 'The American Dream' - corner office, nice salary, executive house - all the trappings of success in our society. Once you achieve that status, you feel unfulfilled ("I thought this was supposed to make me happy, and I'm not") so you start looking for different avenues for fulfillment.

***********************************

For me personally, I rather enjoy the meat of my job (as opposed to the fluff), but I don't enjoy the hours or the amount of travel.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Yep that was me. Corner window office (with great views of accidents on the freeway), nice salary and the mcmansion. And I thought "Is that all there is?".

Well, what immediately leaped to mind was "I could do without dealing with all these immense buttheads on a regular basis..."

 

[TickTock]

Yah. When you're oriented on a long-term goal from an early age (get good grades/behave in school -> go to college -> get a high-paying job -> have a big house/expensive cars/et multiple cetera) and finally achieve it... where do you go from there

 

[HFWR]

I had a cubicle [-]overlooking[/-] amongst a bunch of other cubicles...

In a room with no windows...

 

[dex]

Can you elaborate on what's missing? I'm a newb here but I find many to be surprisingly candid (anonymity must help).

Midpack,
Let me see if I can answer your question from what I learned from the business world - surround yourself with eagles and you will sore; surround yourself with turkeys and you will be eaten. Early in my working career I was surrounded by turkeys and did OK but I could have done better. Later I was in senior management and I saw how I was held back from my full potential. I do not want to repeat the same thing in ER. A little dramatic but it is true with many things in life and our parents have told us so also - show me your friends and I will show you your future.

The negative aspects of the above doesn't apply to anyone on this board; it is more to say we need positive examples in our lives to help give us directions, inspiration and example.

Another example from the business world - streach goals. In business planning meetings targets would be set based upon normal business expectaions. Streach goals would then be established. They were a little difficult but they made everything a bit better and were usually met.

This ER thing is new to most of us and we do not have many examples or a road map - it is uncharted territory. My comment is not a Type A personality desire. It is more to say I want to be challenged by others who have made the most of thier ER life. I want to see what some of them have done, learn from it and find it as a source of encouragement. Billy and Akisha come to mind but I do not feel I have to follow them exactly. But they are an inspirition.

My signature below is an insight into what I am talking about also.

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/path-no-11-a-24557.html

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/remembering-why-fire-22182.html

 

[Linney]

This ER thing is new to most of us and we do not have many examples or a road map - it is uncharted territory. My comment is not a Type A personality desire. It is more to say I want to be challenged by others who have made the most of thier ER life. I want to see what some of them have done, learn from it and find it as a source of encouragement.

You do know that YOU serve as a source of inspiration for others, don't you? Ever since you posted about the 14ers I've been craving to go hike them -- they're on my "must do before getting too old" list.

This last year I bought a used Fiberglass trailer which is small and lightweight like your Casita. I have started fixing it up in anticipation of the many travels I plan to do post-FIRE.

About two more years to go....

--Linney