Hi Folks,
I had an interesting discussion with a buddy of mine this weekend as we were able to slip off and ride motorcycles in the mtns. Due to different duty assignments we aren’t able to get together very often but we do talk every weekend. So this trip was the beginning of a ramp up to a cross country trail ride we intend to take together when he retires a couple of years after me in the 2013 time frame. The riding was fun but I really enjoyed just hanging out with him.
The discussion was about spending more money/time and/or doing more things along the way to FIRE and the overall impact on terminal portfolio value, having no debt, and the ability to RE. But for me the big question was did it really matter?
What got me to thinking about it is he has some long term health issues and is in his mid 30s. These issues may limit his time and ability to do things with his family and friends later on. I guess the underlying thought could apply to many situations such as wanting to spend time with kids before they were off to college etc.
At the end of the weekend more questions came out of it than answers and we both left with more to think about. It seems like many folks who are marching towards FIRE are good stewards of what they have and at the beginning is in an all or nothing mentality. I would think many put off spending/doing things today for the possibility of future consumption/time when they RE or the desire to leave something for heirs, favorite cause etc. No matter what the situation they must believe there is value in doing this or they wouldn’t do it. We see it posted here periodically where people have a hard time loosening up after they RE or being RE is not what they expected.
So what’s my point? I don’t know I guess. Just something on my mind as I get closer to RE. How do you strike the balance? Is there a balance? How much is enough? Etc.
Tomcat98
I had an interesting discussion with a buddy of mine this weekend as we were able to slip off and ride motorcycles in the mtns. Due to different duty assignments we aren’t able to get together very often but we do talk every weekend. So this trip was the beginning of a ramp up to a cross country trail ride we intend to take together when he retires a couple of years after me in the 2013 time frame. The riding was fun but I really enjoyed just hanging out with him.
The discussion was about spending more money/time and/or doing more things along the way to FIRE and the overall impact on terminal portfolio value, having no debt, and the ability to RE. But for me the big question was did it really matter?
What got me to thinking about it is he has some long term health issues and is in his mid 30s. These issues may limit his time and ability to do things with his family and friends later on. I guess the underlying thought could apply to many situations such as wanting to spend time with kids before they were off to college etc.
At the end of the weekend more questions came out of it than answers and we both left with more to think about. It seems like many folks who are marching towards FIRE are good stewards of what they have and at the beginning is in an all or nothing mentality. I would think many put off spending/doing things today for the possibility of future consumption/time when they RE or the desire to leave something for heirs, favorite cause etc. No matter what the situation they must believe there is value in doing this or they wouldn’t do it. We see it posted here periodically where people have a hard time loosening up after they RE or being RE is not what they expected.
So what’s my point? I don’t know I guess. Just something on my mind as I get closer to RE. How do you strike the balance? Is there a balance? How much is enough? Etc.
Tomcat98