Quit the world at 34 and now "broken" and refuse to go back

[jim584672]

How does one landlord while traveling the world?
What do you do about health insurance?
How do you maintain a legal US address?
Are you concerned your Social Security will be greatly reduced (I'm assuming you have 10 years)?

 

[daylatedollarshort]

And THAT's exactly the kind of "judgement" that makes me feel like the general response is so negative!
Notice there are no links to a blog (or anything else) in this thread or any of my other posts... so while I don't claim to understand how page ranks work... that seems impossible

I write as I think... sorry if you'd prefer something else, but I assume you im a real person (last I checked).

A changed my post wording to be clear I meant the web site in your profile page.

 

[DINKFIRE]

We are about your age with no kids, but we are still working. Everyone has different goals and different risk tolerance, and everyone has different view of the future economy and health care costs. Nobody could predict the future, even those at the same age with same amount of asset and same level of health could make very different choices. Me and my SO always take conservative view of the future, and we don't want to ever work again once we retire, so we try to build substantial cushion before our ER. I guess we just think the world is pretty screwed (just our opinion). Thus our plan has to weather a recession similar to 1929, and our withdraw rate has to be no greater than 3%. We have met that target already with our liquid assets, and we also own several rental properties with no mortgage. But we are still waiting, because it is more and more likely the next recession is coming soon, and this time nowhere will be safe, not stock, not bond, not real estate, not bitcoin, nor gold. When everyone we know has multiple properties and eager to buy more, we know the **** is gonna hit the fan soon. When the majority of people think they are doing great and invincible, it's about time the super wealthy pull the rug out under us, again. We'd like to retire after the recession bottoms out, and after we find out if we will have a affordable health insurance option.

 

[Cincyguy63]

Thanks brydanger for the story. Your story is a dream and very idealistic and I would say bordering on dangerous and irresponsible. But of course there are so many caveats here I need to be careful for my own perspective. You make the assumptions that a "life well lived" should be one without work, sweat, toil and sacrifice and scraping by is just enough to bring a life of happiness. It's hard for me to assess your situation financially to comment since this is a FIRE forum so my general observation from your statements is that you don't have enough to support you and your bride thru retirement and you will end up somewhere down the line of life back in the states and on welfare so others
will need to assist. This is the delusion and seduction of youth but the good news is that you're are still young and from your comments are smart, confident, articulate and brave. Don't put your future and that of your strong wife in jeopardy. There are ways in today's modern tech to have a life un-teethered and to take gigs and time off between without completely checking out and kicking the risk down the road. Holding off now only makes it so much harder when it's really crisis time for your family when you find your skills, experiences are outdated from years out of the workforce or just too old to compete with limited experiences. You than are forced to find work with far less income than expected where suffering, stress and tension envelope your life.



A bit of sacrifice, sweat, hard work and service to others (family, community) is the essence of that life your are seeking. When beaches, boats, oceans, sunsets become the norm, what are your really left to look forward to? My own perspective! Having a family member that's a cancer nurse, she's talked with thousands of people days away from departing this lovely life. What's she's heard from people on the doorstep is that true joy is not in the life's work or the pretty sunshines or beaches or destinations. It's not the amount of months or years not worked that bring that spark of life but it's being in the service of others and the love from and to your family that count. Life is not and should not be measured in quantities (money, work years etc) but in the moments that truly matter. Just my 2 cents.

 

[HI Bill]

For the record...we don't plan on hitting bottom again.
Most of our investments are in real estate and while we're traveling/sailing they are gaining in value and being paid off by others.

No one, ever, that I know of, planned on hitting bottom. But life happens. People get sick, have an accident, or get cancer. The boat or RV is totaled. The rental property catches fire. Tenants leave.

At 35, you could have 65 years of life remaining, and in addition to enjoying freedom and a minimalist lifestyle, a lot of things can, and will go wrong. $500K just doesn't have much contingency in it to allow for you to recover without going back to w$rk (if that's even possible when the SHTF, especially if you are injured or very ill). As a geologist, I like to look at cycles, and plan for the future.

Do I enjoy the sameness of work life? Not so much (but my job has allowed me to travel to Guam, dive in Palau, dive in Japan, visit South Korea, and dive all of the main Hawaiian Islands. For me, the trade-off is a better quality of life (better food, better living conditions, better security), in exchange for basically, the last 20 years of my life (during which I traveled to the Maldives, Wakatobi, Australia, New Zealand, California, Washington, D.C., Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Bahamas (Nassau and Tiger "beach"), Cayman Island (Little and Grand), Bonaire, Hawaii Island, Maui, Wake Island, Japan, Okinawa....). To each his or her own. Like others have intimated, this isn't really a forum of LEAN FIRE folks, but all are welcome here...you might just get some negative (constructive) feedback, if folks don't think you have 100% chance of success using FIRECALC or something similar!

 

[folivier]

If I would have asked opinions on my finances and if I was ready to RE I would have probably been sent back to the job also. Especially the few times I've mentioned that I use a financial person to manage my finances, learned my lesson about mentioning that. But here we are 10 years into retirement enjoying life as best we can. Don't understand why so many here are sniping at this guy and his successes, especially when we see many members here bragging about their successes. He's doing something very different than the majority of us, perhaps some here are jealous of his success and happiness? I know I am and wish I could have the adventures he's having when I was younger.
Hang in there Brydanger, you're at least my hero!

 

[Teacher Terry]

Yes the wonderful people in my life has made life worth living. No amount of money or travel can replace that.

 

[brydanger]

You claim not to be judgmental, but you use judgmental words and hyperbole to belittle people with different views or life circumstances than yours.

You are right that sometimes people who come to this forum to ask if they are ready to retire are indeed told that they are not ready and they do have to work longer. But I can't think of a single case where someone was told that they have to "go back to the grindstone for a few more decades." Aside from the fact that the phrase "go back to the grindstone" is judgmental because it assumes that someone hates their job which is not always true, I don't recall anyone being told that they have to work "for a few more decades." I define a few as at least 3, so a few decades would be at least 30 years. Even with the most charitable interpretation "a few" must be at least 2 or more, so in that a few more decades would be at least 20 years more of work. I don't know that I remember anyone being told that they have to work for more than 20 years more than they expected to work. If you can cite one example, I will stand corrected, but I think you are using false hyperbole to pass judgment while claiming not to be judgmental.

No belittling intended. Quite the contrary. Feeling a bit attacked/misunderstood, yes. Using the best words to reply - probably not.

And you're right, a "few decades" is excessive. I have no example of that because it likely doesn't exist.
As I've admitted... I indeed hated my job, thus the term grindstone used when referring to one (mine).
I'm actually thrilled to see so many people here love their job... it's clear I falsely assumed that if everyone was so busy trying to RE then they must not love going to work everyday. My friends and colleagues who love their work very much have no desire to RE (or at all) as they cant imagine leaving, so I drew an unfair correlation.

Maybe I'm worthtlessly fighting for the little guy/gal who isn't represented or speaking in this thread (or, who knows...maybe not at all in this forum) - and maybe I'm speaking too much from my own interpretation (as someone who retired a "couple" decades early than seems to be recommended here), but I feel like I read many posts that receive only negative criticism rather than trying to help infuse confidence or to support another forum member.

My intent is simply to show that you CAN actually leave a job (IF you don't love it) before having all the calculators appeased and having every detail figured out and that there can be positives to doing so.
Bit...thats obviously only IF you're into that kind of thing and or looking for that kind of thing. And certainly, if you aren't into that kind of thing... no worries!
No judgement from me whatsoever!!

 

[brydanger]

How does one landlord while traveling the world?
What do you do about health insurance?
How do you maintain a legal US address?
Are you concerned your Social Security will be greatly reduced (I'm assuming you have 10 years)?

All valid questions... and more like what I expected to be talking about

How does one landlord while traveling the world?\

We don't... thats the beauty. We have managers that we pay to do that for us.

What do you do about health insurance?

We pay it (way too much for it) just like everyone else

How do you maintain a legal US address?

This is actually proving very difficult but right now we have a box at the UPS store that is working, mostly.

Are you concerned your Social Security will be greatly reduced (I'm assuming you have 10 years)?

Sure... but mostly trying to setup our finances in a way that we don't rely upon it anyway. Don't really trust it will be there for us to begin with.

 

[brydanger]

We are about your age with no kids, but we are still working. Everyone has different goals and different risk tolerance, and everyone has different view of the future economy and health care costs. Nobody could predict the future, even those at the same age with same amount of asset and same level of health could make very different choices. Me and my SO always take conservative view of the future, and we don't want to ever work again once we retire, so we try to build substantial cushion before our ER. I guess we just think the world is pretty screwed (just our opinion). Thus our plan has to weather a recession similar to 1929, and our withdraw rate has to be no greater than 3%. We have met that target already with our liquid assets, and we also own several rental properties with no mortgage. But we are still waiting, because it is more and more likely the next recession is coming soon, and this time nowhere will be safe, not stock, not bond, not real estate, not bitcoin, nor gold. When everyone we know has multiple properties and eager to buy more, we know the **** is gonna hit the fan soon. When the majority of people think they are doing great and invincible, it's about time the super wealthy pull the rug out under us, again. We'd like to retire after the recession bottoms out, and after we find out if we will have a affordable health insurance option.

I wish I disagreed with you on that pessimistic outlook... but I cant stay that I do.
We are just taking a different approach thats all.

I have no doubt yours is smarter/safer than ours.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

A lot of people here seem to have nothing better to do than criticize or comment negatively, either obviously or implied. I thought his responses were a lot more respectful than was deserved (by some).

If you care to read an interpret the OP exactly as is was written and intended, you will see that it was nothing but encouragement for those who consider themselves on the fence, from someone who had FIRED on their own terms.

Please get over it and take things for what they are and not what a lot of you like to interpret things as.

I am leaving this post because of such pointless commentary and I suggest the OP does too.

I for one think it was a great post, and deserves a lot of kudos, as opposed to the reasons why anyone would not do it or consider it not a great way to go through life, especially when one is young enough to enjoy it. Congratulations brydanger and safe travels.

 

[Teacher Terry]

On Mr. MM there are many people that have retired young on very little. This forum tends to be older and more conservative.

 

[JustCurious]

I'm actually thrilled to see so many people here love their job... it's clear I falsely assumed that if everyone was so busy trying to RE then they must not love going to work everyday. My friends and colleagues who love their work very much have no desire to RE (or at all) as they cant imagine leaving, so I drew an unfair correlation.

I give you credit for recognizing that your assumption was false. Indeed you should not assume that just because someone is planning for early retirement that therefore they must hate their job. Also, I should point out that there are many people, like me, who do not hate their jobs but are focused more on the "FI" part of fire than the "RE" part, so their goal is to acheive financial independence and have the option to continue to work or work less or at a different job, or not at all, but the point is to have options, and that may not include early retirement.

 

[Katiek]

I'm glad you found a path that works for you and your wife, and I trust if circumstances change, you'll address those circumstances at that time. I enjoy hearing about the different lives and approaches that people here have - everything expands my knowledge and my view

.

 

[Dash man]

I’m also happy for you that you’ve found a path that is working for you. As for me, I’m retired and loving time with my DW, kids and grandkids. Life is good!

 

[jollystomper]

The Sly principal: Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Retch The Grate]

On Mr. MM there are many people that have retired young on very little. This forum tends to be older and more conservative.

That's a rather broad overstatement, though this thread is illustrating the crotchetiness of the old/conservative portion of the userbase here. Traditionally the FIRE community on the Motley Fools board wasn't that old, and when a bunch of us transitioned here, it was still a new/cool thing. Definitely not the conservative route which was work until you got Social Security. Now a bunch of us are older than we were, but 42 is not particularly out of band for the crowd. And Imoldernu is one of our older posters and clearly made choices that were not in the pile up $2M+ and then retire side of things, and nobody attacks him for it, he too built a life he really loves on far less money than is the typical discussion on here and has been very open about how it worked for him.

 

[Retch The Grate]

Really fun and interesting post brydanger, thanks for sharing!

 

[Gumby]

I think one thing we can all agree on is that we each run the race of life in our own way. No matter what the subject, I am happy to tell people what I do and how I do it, but I have no intention to proselytize. What works for me may not, indeed probably won't, work for someone else. I like to indulge myself by thinking that maybe someone will see what I write and say "Hmmm, never thought of that. Maybe I'll try it." Although I'll admit it's far more likely someone will say "What a maroon. I'd never do that."

I salute brydanger for his choice. It looks like he is having fun and it appears to work for him. It's not what I did, but that doesn't mean it is wrong, just different. It is certainly not my place to second guess him.

 

[ivinsfan]

That's a rather broad overstatement, though this thread is illustrating the crotchetiness of the old/conservative portion of the userbase here. Traditionally the FIRE community on the Motley Fools board wasn't that old, and when a bunch of us transitioned here, it was still a new/cool thing. Definitely not the conservative route which was work until you got Social Security. Now a bunch of us are older than we were, but 42 is not particularly out of band for the crowd. And Imoldernu is one of our older posters and clearly made choices that were not in the pile up $2M+ and then retire side of things, and nobody attacks him for it, he too built a life he really loves on far less money than is the typical discussion on here and has been very open about how it worked for him.

Good grief, crotchetiness and attacking people too.. Did you drop by to add some gas to the fire? Mr I is hands down one of the most courtly, courteous, and considerate posters here..

As for OP , he manages to pay for HI and hire professional managers for his rentals, so I think doth protest too much about being a have not and a risk taker. No kids to provide for and a portfolio of real estate, good on him but it's not that much of a high wire.

 

[RobbieB]

Having fun and doing what I want to do have always been the most important things in my life!

 

[DINKFIRE]

I wish I disagreed with you on that pessimistic outlook... but I cant stay that I do.
We are just taking a different approach thats all.

I have no doubt yours is smarter/safer than ours.

If Yellowstone is to erupt tomorrow, you will be way ahead us on the retirement front

 

[24601NoMore]

Deleted..

 

[brydanger]

You make the assumptions that a "life well lived" should be one without work, sweat, toil and sacrifice and scraping by is just enough to bring a life of happiness.

I make no such assumptions! Exactly the opposite in fact.
We have worked our asses off to get where we are. We worked 60-80 hour weeks only to come home and work on renovation and remodel projects and even now as we travel we are working (both on projects that pay and projects that are only to support others that we refuse to take money for). We have no fear of work, sweat, blood, tears and sacrifice... and I would hardly call what we are doing "just scraping by".

What I said was that happiness is more important than money and none of us know how long we will be around, so we intend to find that balance and enjoy life while we have it (and each other).

It's hard for me to assess your situation financially to comment since this is a FIRE forum so my general observation from your statements is that you don't have enough to support you and your bride thru retirement and you will end up somewhere down the line of life back in the states and on welfare so others
will need to assist.

I actually haven't listed numbers here at all, so you have no way to make make that statement, and just as we are still working and paying taxes now we have no intent of "living off the land" or "living off of others" at any point in our lives.

If you look back a few posts you'll see I outlined our investments, passive income and the businesses we've started while on the road. You don't need to worry. We should have enough... and if we don't we will figure out how without burdening you and/or anyone else.

Life is not and should not be measured in quantities (money, work years etc) but in the moments that truly matter. Just my 2 cents.

On this we very much agree... that was actually intended to be the whole point of my posting this thread to begin with!!

 

[exnavynuke]

Sounds like you enjoy your minimalist lifestyle, and have found a way to fund it, so good for you.

As someone who is also 42, and that plans to buy a sailboat and go sail around the world, I'm slightly jealous of the experiences you're having now, though I suspect I would not be jealous of the living conditions in which you have them (I would not be content to live in a van personally for instance, and I want a modern boat, though I don't know anything about your boat other than it's a 39' cat). I know that I wouldn't personally be able to enjoy my retirement if I wasn't very certain that the funding would last and maintain the lifestyle I enjoy. It sounds like you're not confident in that for yourself, but I hope that changes for you in the future and that you remain happy with your chosen path.

Congrats on the accidental retirement and the adventures it has brought you and your wife. Maybe someday in 5 or 6 years when I grab my boat we'll run into each other and have some sun-downers (or some other time if we happen to be in the same anchorage/marina when I charter). What's the name and make of your cat?