target2019
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I'm a bit tardy with this introduction, having joined in December 2008. Heard about E-R forum from the bogleheads. Grew tired of their message after implementing it in our portfolio.
I became aware of investing in 2005, due to starting my 1st 401k account at megamart (and now a 2nd, at minimart). Up until that milestone year, I was contributing solely to a SEP-IRA. I am mostly using index funds, and the growth from 2008 to now is spectacular, from my perspective. Plowing in 25% of income for 7 or 8 years, and re-starting from a trough, is the way to go. So lucky!
I've tried to keep things private, but haven't succeeded always. It's been a milestone week, and time to review a few things from down deep.
Last Sunday we were on our way to a winery in NJ, to throw down a few samples. On the way I had a missed call and message from sister-in-law, who was nearing the end of a 2-month snowbird thing with my brother, his children and grand-children.
I took my spouse and child (yes, over 21) into the tasting room, got things started, and went outside to retrieve the message from S-I-L. She asked for a callback. Her voice was calm. It was a nice day, and I took in the skies and nearby horse pastures.
She answered, and asked how things were. I mentioned our wine excursion, and so on. Sounding very concerned, she went on with, "I didn't want to ruin your day..."
On Saturday evening, my brother and all were in the FL rental house. Late in the evening he was standing up, fell over, and was not responsive. EMTs could not do much, and took him to the hospital. Sometime early Sunday, after midnight, they told my S-I-L that brother was brain dead, with no hope to come back. Family took some time, and then fulfilled his wishes. By the time we spoke, life support had been removed.
The next day, he died.
Their saga is still playing out. Died in a non-resident state, cremation, doctor on vacation (yeah, that too). I believe her son has gotten her back up the east coast to home. They needed to pack up car, and exit the rental lease early. Next week, I'd think, the cremation should get done, with ashes shipped back to S-I-L. Then there can be a service which she will work out with friends and family.
I think the lesson is pretty obvious. Most of us have no idea when the last breath will come. If you're FI, and on the fence with a job you really don't like, think about the things you want to do.
This morning I thought about the positive influence he had throughout our lives. He taught me about taxes, business, coaching, etc. Many significant decisions we made were due to his advice. He had a way of totally cutting you to pieces, I guess for effect. Picture a combination of Don Rickles and Burt Reynolds. Eventually you understood the advice was gold.
I gave back a lot. I was his on-demand IT person through the 90's and 00's. Always enjoyed answering with a house-call, and asking for his credit card so that I could buy another computer or printer. Each year as he got ready for tax season, something went wrong with the software install or update. Then he'd ask, "Will this break down during tax season?". I always answered with some evasive non-answer. "It should be ok." "We'll have to keep an eye on it." I had no idea!
He was generous, too. I'll truly miss him. Things I wanted to say...
*****
"It's always 1:11" -- where did that come from? We've noticed that a lot of emails and text messages between spouse and I are stamped 1:11 and 11:11.
This has been happening for many years. If you search on Chinese luck and 11/11 or similar, a lot has been written about these number combinations. I once tried to get my niece to hold back her baby delivery until 1/11. She had a lottery for her first born's birth day. Missed out on a nice winning pot cause her child arrived on 1/10. My pick was 1/11, of course.
Best wishes and Take care.
I became aware of investing in 2005, due to starting my 1st 401k account at megamart (and now a 2nd, at minimart). Up until that milestone year, I was contributing solely to a SEP-IRA. I am mostly using index funds, and the growth from 2008 to now is spectacular, from my perspective. Plowing in 25% of income for 7 or 8 years, and re-starting from a trough, is the way to go. So lucky!
I've tried to keep things private, but haven't succeeded always. It's been a milestone week, and time to review a few things from down deep.
Last Sunday we were on our way to a winery in NJ, to throw down a few samples. On the way I had a missed call and message from sister-in-law, who was nearing the end of a 2-month snowbird thing with my brother, his children and grand-children.
I took my spouse and child (yes, over 21) into the tasting room, got things started, and went outside to retrieve the message from S-I-L. She asked for a callback. Her voice was calm. It was a nice day, and I took in the skies and nearby horse pastures.
She answered, and asked how things were. I mentioned our wine excursion, and so on. Sounding very concerned, she went on with, "I didn't want to ruin your day..."
On Saturday evening, my brother and all were in the FL rental house. Late in the evening he was standing up, fell over, and was not responsive. EMTs could not do much, and took him to the hospital. Sometime early Sunday, after midnight, they told my S-I-L that brother was brain dead, with no hope to come back. Family took some time, and then fulfilled his wishes. By the time we spoke, life support had been removed.
The next day, he died.
Their saga is still playing out. Died in a non-resident state, cremation, doctor on vacation (yeah, that too). I believe her son has gotten her back up the east coast to home. They needed to pack up car, and exit the rental lease early. Next week, I'd think, the cremation should get done, with ashes shipped back to S-I-L. Then there can be a service which she will work out with friends and family.
I think the lesson is pretty obvious. Most of us have no idea when the last breath will come. If you're FI, and on the fence with a job you really don't like, think about the things you want to do.
This morning I thought about the positive influence he had throughout our lives. He taught me about taxes, business, coaching, etc. Many significant decisions we made were due to his advice. He had a way of totally cutting you to pieces, I guess for effect. Picture a combination of Don Rickles and Burt Reynolds. Eventually you understood the advice was gold.
I gave back a lot. I was his on-demand IT person through the 90's and 00's. Always enjoyed answering with a house-call, and asking for his credit card so that I could buy another computer or printer. Each year as he got ready for tax season, something went wrong with the software install or update. Then he'd ask, "Will this break down during tax season?". I always answered with some evasive non-answer. "It should be ok." "We'll have to keep an eye on it." I had no idea!
He was generous, too. I'll truly miss him. Things I wanted to say...
*****
"It's always 1:11" -- where did that come from? We've noticed that a lot of emails and text messages between spouse and I are stamped 1:11 and 11:11.
This has been happening for many years. If you search on Chinese luck and 11/11 or similar, a lot has been written about these number combinations. I once tried to get my niece to hold back her baby delivery until 1/11. She had a lottery for her first born's birth day. Missed out on a nice winning pot cause her child arrived on 1/10. My pick was 1/11, of course.
Best wishes and Take care.