Is everyone here lucky or something??

[brewer12345]

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Originally Posted by ziggy29 Much of this is because we have eliminated many of their natural predators (i.e. wolves, cougars and the like) in many places -- particularly near populated areas and ranches -- so they spread almost unchecked except when hunted or they die out from starvation because there are just too many of them.

If we are talking about squirrels and rabbits, by no means are predators gone in most of the country. Almost everything eats them. I regularly see coyotes and hawks and owls and foxes and... carrying them off or pooping what is left of them out. As for hogs, that is a man-made disaster. Coyotes generally do not trouble hogs, as I understand it (for fear of being stomped or gored into oblivion).

[NW-Bound]

A hog's bite is vicious. Same with javelina. Coyotes or dogs would fear them.

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Originally Posted by brewer12345 The part that would require luck is finding some 22 ammo if you do not have any.

I have not bought any recently, but read about its scarcity. Maybe a conspiracy?

[brewer12345]

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Originally Posted by NW-Bound I have not bought any recently, but read about its scarcity. Maybe a conspiracy?

Nope. Classic retail investor-type market panic that any experienced investor would recognize.

[jollystomper]

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Originally Posted by Maenad +1 I'm also proud of the good choices I made, but I'm sorry, folks, it's the height of arrogance to take pride in your accomplishments without acknowledging that you were also lucky to be born a white male.

Some of us who weren't born white males still feel lucky to be born what we are.

I'm not saying luck has no factor, it certainly does. But perhaps had I been born into situations that others deemed "lucky", I would not have had the same motivation and discipline to achieve.

Perhaps it is like willing the lottery. Winning the lottery is pure luck. But what happens to the money after you win the lottery it is more up to the person and what they choose to be influenced by.

[NW-Bound]

I think I am lucky to be me.

It could be better, but it could be a lot worse. I did the best I could with what I had.

Well, not really, as I did not always work hard, and in the end slacked off and ER'ed, but I am not going to envy those who work harder. They can have their money, while I am home BS'ing on this forum.

[Cut-Throat]

Here is what the Hardest Working person (he's the hardest Working because he has the most money, according to most on this thread) in America says about it.

[NW-Bound]

Bill forgot to add that his lazy person was also hungry and needed to work.

The lazy posters here have their stomach full already. They don't wanna work!

[MRG]

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Originally Posted by NW-Bound A hog's bite is vicious. Same with javelina. Coyotes or dogs would fear them. I have not bought any recently, but read about its scarcity. Maybe a conspiracy?

It can be found. Maybe higher price match ammo. Then there's the local shops, if they know you. In states that allow online purchases, there's a few dealers that will notify you of availability.

Yes, hogs are vicious, wild or domestic. Ever hear the expression 'he went out back and the hogs ate him', I don't think all of those stories are legand. I've seen how domestic hogs eat meat.

The only thing I disagree with my state's attitude about controlling the wild hog, is they refuse to give any information about what areas are worse impacted. I understand they don't want an overabundance of hunters, but gimme a clue.

[redduck]

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Originally Posted by Cobra9777 I've had people tell me I'm "lucky" to be retired at such an early age. Usually from someone in a low-stress, 9-5 job. I just smile politely, but deep down it hurts. They really have no idea... The stress. 65-hour weeks, including a two-hour daily commute. Constant travel and jet lag. Pressure to hit P&L targets. Impossible project deadlines. Conference calls with Asian customers at 5am and then again at 11pm the same day, with hopefully better answers. Missing the kid's Christmas choir concert while sitting in O'Hare waiting for the weather to clear. The look you get from good, hard-working people after being told their plant is being closed. Waking up in a panic at 3am to send an email to Japan that I forgot to send after the 11pm conference call. Endless political corporate nonsense. Sure, there were plenty of good days when I felt like I was on top of the world, especially in the first 15 years. But later it was like a never-ending emotional roller-coaster ride through Hell, and I've got the hairline and blood pressure to prove it. Through all this, I always had a positive can-do attitude, worked my @ss off, was a top performer, and was compensated accordingly. But I literally squeezed a 40-year career into 25, both time and money. "Yeah, I'm just lucky," I respond, as all of the above flashes through my head.

What kept you at this job after the 15th year?

[Al in Ohio]

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Originally Posted by Cobra9777 I've had people tell me I'm "lucky" to be retired at such an early age. Usually from someone in a low-stress, 9-5 job. I just smile politely, but deep down it hurts. They really have no idea... The stress. 65-hour weeks, including a two-hour daily commute. Constant travel and jet lag. Pressure to hit P&L targets. Impossible project deadlines. Conference calls with Asian customers at 5am and then again at 11pm the same day, with hopefully better answers. Missing the kid's Christmas choir concert while sitting in O'Hare waiting for the weather to clear. The look you get from good, hard-working people after being told their plant is being closed. Waking up in a panic at 3am to send an email to Japan that I forgot to send after the 11pm conference call. Endless political corporate nonsense. Sure, there were plenty of good days when I felt like I was on top of the world, especially in the first 15 years. But later it was like a never-ending emotional roller-coaster ride through Hell, and I've got the hairline and blood pressure to prove it. Through all this, I always had a positive can-do attitude, worked my @ss off, was a top performer, and was compensated accordingly. But I literally squeezed a 40-year career into 25, both time and money. "Yeah, I'm just lucky," I respond, as all of the above flashes through my head.

I would say that "those folks usually with a low stress 9-5 job" are more accurately "those who can't plan ahead and spend most of their income while having no investment strategy". The really successful folks I know are the ones that do work low stress, jobs, often manage to work close to a 40 hour week (or less) and make high six figure incomes with net worth over one MM and also managed to retire early. There are a few on this forum if you didn't know that. That my friend, is the most impressive method to get there.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[Samething]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra9777 I've had people tell me I'm "lucky" to be retired at such an early age. Usually from someone in a low-stress, 9-5 job. I just smile politely, but deep down it hurts. They really have no idea... The stress. 65-hour weeks, including a two-hour daily commute. Constant travel and jet lag. Pressure to hit P&L targets. Impossible project deadlines. Conference calls with Asian customers at 5am and then again at 11pm the same day, with hopefully better answers. Missing the kid's Christmas choir concert while sitting in O'Hare waiting for the weather to clear. The look you get from good, hard-working people after being told their plant is being closed. Waking up in a panic at 3am to send an email to Japan that I forgot to send after the 11pm conference call. Endless political corporate nonsense. "Yeah, I'm just lucky," I respond, as all of the above flashes through my head.

I told one of my regular golf buddies that I was going to retire soon. He said with a serious face " boy you sure got lucky". This guy retired at 49 after the business he was VP at got bought out. His family had money and he married very well. His money makes me look like a pauper. I never thought he got lucky. I always admired the guy for his obvious smarts, business sense and outgoing personality but I was really kind of PO'ed that he actually said I was lucky. I worked my a** off.

[EastWest Gal]

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Originally Posted by sanfanciscotreat Trichinosis is not a problem with pork anymore. You can now eat pork without cooking the hell out of it.

According to Wikipedia, there were an average of 11 cases if trichinosis each year in the U.S. between 2002 and 2007, mostly from undercooked home raised pork and game. So be sure to use great caution in handling your squirrel and cook it well. Actually other game is more problematic but hey, I got to mention squirrel.

What this has to do with luck and wealth, I have no idea (grin).


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[sengsational]

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Originally Posted by EastWest Gal According to Wikipedia, there were an average of 11 cases if trichinosis each year in the U.S. between 2002 and 2007, mostly from undercooked home raised pork and game.

You'd have to be really UN-lucky to get trichinosis nowadays.

There's being lucky, and there's feeling lucky.

I, personally, have never pressed the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button on the Google home page. Never once. I've been tempted, just to see what it does, but for some reason, never pressed it.

I wonder what personality type presses the 'feeling lucky' button most

[CaliforniaMan]

Hmmm, I pressed it once, just once. I wonder what that means?

[MichaelB]

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan Hmmm, I pressed it once, just once. I wonder what that means?

You're not repressed?

[redduck]

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Originally Posted by sengsational ... I, personally, have never pressed the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button on the Google home page. Never once. I've been tempted, just to see what it does, but for some reason, never pressed it. I wonder what personality type presses the 'feeling lucky' button most

OK, I just pressed the "I'm feeling Lucky" button for the very first time. After pressing it, I didn't feel especially lucky (or especially unlucky). Maybe I needed to actually be feeling lucky before pressing it to get a better result. It's like that button just knew I was feeling kind of neutral and it matched that neutral feeling.

[NW-Bound]

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Originally Posted by sengsational There's being lucky, and there's feeling lucky. I, personally, have never pressed the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button on the Google home page. Never once. I've been tempted, just to see what it does, but for some reason, never pressed it. I wonder what personality type presses the 'feeling lucky' button most

See, that's what some people say about ER's. They say some people ARE lucky, but do not know it and acknowledge it because they do not FEEL it.

And then, there are people who feel lucky all the time, and keep going to Las Vegas. They may be truly "lucky" but just do not have anything to prove it, other than their internal feeling which cannot be shared.

[sengsational]

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Originally Posted by redduck ...It's like that button just knew I was feeling kind of neutral...

[Cobra9777]

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Originally Posted by redduck What kept you at this job after the 15th year?

A large pile of unvested stock options and RSUs. And a plan to ER in my early 50s.

[ArkTinkerer]

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Originally Posted by MRG The only thing I disagree with my state's attitude about controlling the wild hog, is they refuse to give any information about what areas are worse impacted. I understand they don't want an overabundance of hunters, but gimme a clue.

Nothing official here but call the game and fish commission or call any of your public lands officials. Around here, if they have a problem they are happy to tell you where to go hunt them.