Living like a king on pennies

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by unclemick2 Uh oh Here comes the wheat bread!!! heh heh heh

I believe Jarhead's gonna need "whole" wheat...and lot's of it.

[kat]

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Originally Posted by d0ug There was a joke that says the winner is he person that has the most toys when he dies.

Actually, what they told us in law school is the person who dies with the most debt wins.

[RP]

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Originally Posted by d0ug .... Facing retirement is the fear, will I have enough. There are many companies making millions of dollars using this fear. The idea of 100% security can be a trap. I know many poor people that are very happy and I know many rich people who are not. When a person tells me they need something. I will ask what does that do for you?

Boy, D0ug, that really struck home. I was trying to explain to a friend of mine recently how I felt about one of my last actions when we lived in Colorado Springs. DW had convinced me that we should get a flu shot before we left home since we'd be doing so much traveling. We went to a nearby office of a Visiting Nurses' outfit and there was a crowd. We waited, chatted with a few people, got our shots, paid (I was the only one the entire afternoon who paid by check according to the lady who collected)... they didn't accept my Federal health plan (now long since "retired" since I don't need it) and my wife an I are both too young for Medicare. The experience was unsettling and unpleasant in some way I couldn't describe.

Not a single person was rude in any way, no one was obnoxious, the wait wasn't that long, the cost was modest, the shot didnt hurt, there was plenty parking .... why was I vaguely depressed/saddened when I left the building?

D0ug's comment above clarified things for me. Retirement in the USA, at least, has become like a game where kids try to scare each other with monster suits or ghost stories. What should be a time of joy, peace and accomplishment has been "murdered" by the fear mongers.

People with significant investments continually toss and turn at night, worrying if "there will be enough", interest rates are debated to 4 and five decimal places s if one's bank account actually means anything when you're dead, people in mostly good health agonize over the cost of health insurance and wonder what kind of supplemental insurance they'll need to add on to their Medicare Part A and Part B ow whatever other complex programs they have grown to become totally dependent upon. Their conversations are heavy with concerns of some new drug's side effects, the accreditation of local hospitals, how many more idiotic air bags some company has been able to stuff into their latest new car ... which they don't drive much because they are worried about Global Warming and the cost of fuel and car insurance. They are thinking about moving because they can't stand the last increase in property taxes but the place they want to move to doesn't have cheap and comprehensive hurricane insurance..... the list goes on and on and on. D.E.P.R.E.S.S.I.N.G

People of retirement age or those nearing it ....lighten the heck up! Worry less and live more. You can never amass enough money to cover every eventuality in life. You can not escape all risk of disease, no matter how many tests you take and how many vitamins you pop. And you are still going to die from something. It's likely everyone reading this message will be dead within no more than 40 or 50 years, certainly including the scribe.

So I ask you ... what will you do with that time you have left? Live in fear of what is coming and what you can NOT avoid, or spend some time in the pursuit of happiness? It's still in the Constitution you know, the pursuit of happiness, the Patriot Act didn't proscribe it, and one of life's greatest blessings is to live free of fear ... don't obsess with the preparation for living, live!

[yakers]

A rich man is one who is satisfied with what he has.

[Budman]

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Originally Posted by RP People of retirement age or those nearing it ....lighten the heck up! Worry less and live more. You can never amass enough money to cover every eventuality in life. You can not escape all risk of disease, no matter how many tests you take and how many vitamins you pop. And you are still going to die from something. It's likely everyone reading this message will be dead within no more than 40 or 50 years, certainly including the scribe. So I ask you ... what will you do with that time you have left? Live in fear of what is coming and what you can NOT avoid, or spend some time in the pursuit of happiness? It's still in the Constitution you know, the pursuit of happiness, the Patriot Act didn't proscribe it, and one of life's greatest blessings is to live free of fear ... don't obsess with the preparation for living, live!

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I really appreciate it. Its really hard for me to make this retirement decision. I have thought about it so much. I guess I am fearing that I may have regrets, since I still like my job. Problem is I am getting really tired of the time and stress commitment and I don't like the politics. I want to be free. I am targeting Jan 1 2008.

[BunsGettingFirm]

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Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm Really? I'm catching all sorts of hell from 30-something women for talking to 20-something women. I'm in school. I can't help it if my target audience younger than usual, and they don't see to mind at all, so is it really my fault?

Ah, after all the replies to this thread, my concern about getting ribbed by 30-something women for dating 20-something women seems like a lot of navel gazing. I think I'll need to follow the spirit of this thread and date away.

[d0ug]

This not a rehearsal of your life this is the real thing so go for it. You will never get a second chance of living your life

[yakers]

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Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm Ah, after all the replies to this thread, my concern about getting ribbed by 30-something women for dating 20-something women seems like a lot of navel gazing. I think I'll need to follow the spirit of this thread and date away.

Another thing you could do is check out the women who are 35+, even 40+ as well. There seems to be a number of couples on this board where the women is older and that can bring a lot of resources both personal & finacnial to the relationship. My wife is a bit older but looks like a trophy wife, hey does that make me a trophy husband?

[BunsGettingFirm]

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Originally Posted by yakers Another thing you could do is check out the women who are 35+, even 40+ as well. There seems to be a number of couples on this board where the women is older and that can bring a lot of resources both personal & finacnial to the relationship. My wife is a bit older but looks like a trophy wife, hey does that make me a trophy husband?

Yeah, I have thought about that too. I have a potential who's a CFA and head of research at a bank. She's still quite good looking.

[haha]

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Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm Yeah, I have thought about that too. I have a potential who's a CFA and head of research at a bank. She's still quite good looking.

If you plan to date older women you will have to excise the word "still" from your vocabulary.

Ha

[yakers]

Good advice from Ha. And if you don't even think it you're home free.

[chinaco]

Go for it D0ug. I am not critical of you for marrying a younger woman. You have found someone that needs (in life) what you can provide an vice versa. You can be sure that your wife knows what she is doing. She is likely balancing the practical matters of life and relationship.

I have to hand it to you... some single expats would just shack up and cut and run later.

On a side note: Not to criticize your personal decision and adventure (i.e., FI balancing act in retirement) in DR. I have been to DR on vacation. It is a dreadfully depressed third-world country (other side of Haiti). If I were to go international to fully leverage a fixed pension, I would consider Mexico, Argentina, or some other more developed Latin/South American country or the western part of Eastern Europe. Those countries are more developed (and refined) and have lower expenses!

[d0ug]

The country might be third world but I have everything I want and need. There is nothing that I had in Canada that I don’t have here. Probably here I am more self-reliant as I don’t expect the government to coddle me. If there was a disaster I have my own electricity, my own water and grow my own food. I have seen places after a disaster how helpless everyone is that relied on the infrastructure when it no longer exist. I live an the countryside where I know people for miles around if I was in a city I would probably not know the people living be side me. Most people that visit the DR come as tourist and never get to know the real country. They flock together with other ex-pats and recall all their horror stories of being taken advantage of, or the government corruption. Please don’t judge this country from a tourist point of view. I am not saying this is a perfect country for every body and some people need to be crowed in a big city to feel comfortable. There are many counties that fit the life stile that a person wants and probably the DR is not for everyone. I like it here that’s why I’m here.

There was a story about a man wanting to know all about a certain town. He asked around and finally someone told him to ask the barber he knows all about the town. The fellow asks the barber what is it like here? The barber answered what was it like where you came from? Well everyone was a cutthroat and just bad people. The barber said it is just the same here. Little while later another fellow ask the barber the same question. The barber asks what was it like where you came from? The fellow said everyone was very friendly and good. The barber said it is the same here.

It seem we find what we look for and some times what we fear. 

[haha]

I know a Dominican woman I her early thirties. I met her in a salsa club, continue to run into her in the same places and recently found discovered that she lives near where I am staying. (I ran into her in a local Starbuck’s.)

The striking thing about her beyond her physical loveliness is the way that she treats me like any man, not like an old man she is trying to humor.

Very pleasant change from the usual here in USA, and I can easily understand how Doug finds it irresistible.

Ha

[d0ug]

I had a gentleman visit me from the US [Georgia]. He stayed here 12 days to find out living conditions here and thinking of moving here. While he was here lots of girls came to visit hearing there was a man looking for a wife and planning to build a house. All the girls where under 23 years old they all wanted the same thing my wife has. There is no shortage of opportunity to live your dream here.

[Retire Soon]

dOug,

It sounds like you're having a blast in the Dominican Republic. Please don't be bothered by the criticism by some people on this board in regards to your 21 year old wife that you've been married to for four years. She is probably a very intelligent person as you are and did not want to marry an immature man her own age. Someone on this board eluded to the idea that she is too young to make such a long lasting decision at such an early age. Do we say the same thing about 21 year old Americans who come back from Iraq in body bags or without legs?

[mh]

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Originally Posted by Retire Soon dOug, It sounds like you're having a blast in the Dominican Republic. Please don't be bothered by the criticism by some people on this board in regards to your 21 year old wife that you've been married to for four years. She is probably a very intelligent person as you are and did not want to marry an immature man her own age. Someone on this board eluded to the idea that she is too young to make such a long lasting decision at such an early age. Do we say the same thing about 21 year old Americans who come back from Iraq in body bags or without legs?

As a matter fact a lot of people do. Everyone thinks they know what's best... what else is new (shrug)

[d0ug]

Visiting other countries. Being exposed to their beliefs and values. The only way to understand the culture is to except their belief and values. If you apply the values or beliefs of your culture to another you will never understand. I know as a tourist it is difficult to make that changes.

[JOE_PANAMA]

well i live in panama for less than 750 i have a maid and i bouth my condo for 150 with a bay view

[d0ug]

Well is sound like you found your paradise too. Thank goodness there is more than one.