Philip Greenspun on life

[Nords]

Thanks to BunsOfVeal & Kramer who have posted this before, but I just rediscovered the site and its author's musings. As Kramer says, "Philip Greenspun retired at the age of 37 in 2001. He was a dot-com computer guy from MIT who retired as a single multi-millionaire. He has done lots of things since retirement including learning to fly a plane, visiting many countries, writing a book, teaching a class part-time at MIT, and building up a nice blog over the years that a lot of folks follow."

His guide to ER is new this month.

Résumé: http://philip.greenspun.com/narcissism/resume
A brief guide to ER: http://philip.greenspun.com/material...ly-retirement/
Where to live?: http://philip.greenspun.com/material.../where-to-live
Investing: http://philip.greenspun.com/material...ment/investing
Money Money Money: http://philip.greenspun.com/materialism/money
Materialism: http://philip.greenspun.com/materialism/

[haha]

This guy sounds like he is way out of my class financially. But anyone who has noticed the following can't be all bad.

"If you can rent anything decent, try to avoid buying property. Think about the most interesting people you know. Chances are, most of them are renters. People who rent talk about the books that they've read, the trips that they've taken, the skills that they are learning, the friends whose company they are enjoying. Property owners complain about the local politicians, the high rate of property tax, the difficulty of finding competent tradespeople, the high value of their own (very likely crummy) house or condo, and what kinds of furniture and kitchen appliances they are contemplating buying. Property owners are boring. The most boring parts of a property owner's personality is that which relates to his or her ownership of real estate."

My house is falling down around me; but whenever I go into a Home depot or Lowes I get nauseated and dizzy, and have to leave right away.

If you rent, you can cancel your relationship with your environment on very short notice, and with little or no penalty. Renting is like dating; buying is like being married

Ha

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Funniest. Line. Ever.

"A young man asked an old rich man how he made his money. The old guy fingered his worsted wool vest and said, "Well, son, it was 1932. The depth of the Great Depression. I was down to my last nickel. I invested that nickel in an apple. I spent the entire day polishing the apple and, at the end of the day, I sold the apple for ten cents. The next morning, I invested those ten cents in two apples. I spent the entire day polishing them and sold them at 5 pm for 20 cents. I continued this system for a month, by the end of which I'd accumulated a fortune of $1.37. Then my wife's father died and left us two million dollars.""

Some good reading overall. His page on investing was pretty interesting.

[shiny]

Originally Posted by HaHa

whenever I go into a Home depot or Lowes I get nauseated and dizzy, and have to leave right away.

I feel this way in Home Depot too, but I thought is was because I'm a woman! I had to go to one shortly after we moved (I hadn't been in one for over 2 years) and I hated it. Seems like we had to go ever other weekend when we had a house.

[unclemick]

Hmmmm

I have no great desire to be er ah - an interesting person. Never pass up a chance to go to Home Depot - although ACE is the place for me - used to buy tools and stuff - just in case - maybe someday I'll do some remodeling or something.

Off to the cruise for a week - hate traveling - but it's going down to single digits this weekend - so going someplace warm may perk me up. Heck - may even read a book.

I've been to his website in the past - interesting fella.

heh heh heh heh heh

[cute fuzzy bunny]

You crack me up, Unclemick...

[REWahoo]

unclemick,

I don't recall what cruise line you're on, but if it's Carnival, be sure to give their pizza a try. They bake it fresh 24/7 and it was surprisingly good. Enjoy.

[unclemick]

Princess Lines - out of LA.

heh heh heh

Packing today - instructions for the housesitter - later heading for Kansas City for a late night flight to LA. 10 degrees on the tool shed thermometer.

[justin]

Don't forget the sunscreen, swim trunks and sunglasses!

[BunsGettingFirm]

Yep, I read his new postings on retirement. Too bad I'm no longer on speaking terms with the guy because I crapped over his "corporate raider" rants and raves. After all, he retired because he was rewarded handsomely for being the CEO of a company. Granted, it was a company that he built from scratch. Still, the same power structure that rewarded Jack Welch so richly is the same power structure that rewarded Greenspun so richly, but Mr. Greenspun doesn't think so. Oh, well.

His articles are definitely interesting to read. I'd choose either DC or a college town to ER, and you know the reason.