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Keep retirement costs low: become homeless
07-28-2009, 07:42 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
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Keep retirement costs low: become homeless
I think this is worth a read/listen:
Homeless Man Leaves Behind Surprise: $4 Million : NPR
This homeless guy left a $4 million estate. He apparently used other people's telephones to manage his portfolio.
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07-28-2009, 07:58 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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Although he was supposedly an atheist, it seems like his decision was based on spiritual, rather than financial reasons. Or maybe it was based on curiousity.
Even in Phoenix he could have bought a modest house and still would have had plenty left over to live on and to leave to the mission and NPR.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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07-28-2009, 08:56 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
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Or how about this definition for him: weird eccentric.
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
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07-28-2009, 09:43 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
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Seems odd that an atheist would leave money to a Catholic mission. Come to think of it, the whole story seems odd. I hope no one gave him money while he was on the street, thinking he was down on his luck and needing a few bucks for his next meal.
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
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07-28-2009, 09:47 AM
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#5
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Has anyone noticed that most of the people who do this are single ? Does marriage save people from being overly eccentric ?
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07-28-2009, 09:55 AM
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#6
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Has anyone noticed that most of the people who do this are single ? Does marriage save people from being overly eccentric ?
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A person can be just as eccentric married as single.
Marriage has absolutely nothing to do with it.
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07-28-2009, 10:02 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jalisco, Mexico
Posts: 1,745
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I think his eccentricity may have *prevented* marriage. I'm a millionaire but own no car or house. Who would believe that?
I think we can answer the question about why a Catholic charity received money - it's because of the nurse who was kind to him. She works for that mission, the mission received some money. And so did Belle! I think there might be a bit of a romantic thing in there somewhere....either that or she's a gold-digger....
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07-28-2009, 10:04 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Has anyone noticed that most of the people who do this are single ? Does marriage save people from being overly eccentric ?
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I don't think so. To the extent that your observation is true, I'd say it's more likely because marriage brings with it some degree of "veto power" over these "overly eccentric" lifestyles. Or because their eccentricity makes them less desirable to potential partners.
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
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07-28-2009, 02:33 PM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
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For some reason, I didn't get the idea she was a gold digger. Just a kind lady who felt sorry for this guy for whatever reason. I mean, look how he lived. You would have to feel sorry for someone that chooses to live like that. Or I would, anyway. I'd be thinking "what happened to this poor guy that made him such a weirdo."
On the other hand, he might have been really interesting to talk to. With his background and knowledge--and his current experience as a hobo--I would have found it fascinating to learn how his mind worked. Maybe she's the only one who took the time to really try and understand him? Just a thought.
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
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07-28-2009, 02:57 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jalisco, Mexico
Posts: 1,745
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Orchidflower, that may indeed be true, but I'm just a skeptic
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07-28-2009, 02:59 PM
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#11
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 731
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He'd be right at home up here. Not everyone accepts membership in our materialism-centric culture.
Speaking purely as a (married) weirdo myself.
No, I'm not homeless (knock on wood). But some of my best times have been when I was living out of a backpack, traveling.
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07-28-2009, 03:23 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 5,177
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I am intensely curious as to why/how he led the life he did....
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07-28-2009, 03:25 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: At The Cafe
Posts: 6,873
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I know an apparently homeless woman at the coffee shop. She usually carries a copy of “Forbes” with her or a finance book, favoring a biography of someone like Bogle. She likes that particular coffee shop because they allow her to stay there undisturbed for hours, when they close, goes to another one across the street, doesn’t seem to buy anything. She does have a cell phone, is always very clean and well groomed, goes to a membership gym where I assume she showers. I’ve never been able to pin her down about where she lives, maybe stays in shelters or sometimes with relatives in the suburbs.
Could be the man in the article was “off.” That certainly seems the case with my acquaintance. SO avoids her because she is a bit crazy; but who wouldn’t be at the bottom of the economic chain? I try to talk to her about once a month which seems to be my limit. Everything for her is in the future, she will start a catering business, drive a cab, there is an affordable room nearby.
She had experience helping disabled people, working as a companion; saw her in action one day helping a semi-blind old guy get a ride home. He thought every car was a cab, and waved his cane at it. No one else tried to help him or even notice he was in trouble. She talked someone into leaving their coffee behind and giving the guy a ride home.
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07-28-2009, 04:00 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Has anyone noticed that most of the people who do this are single ? Does marriage save people from being overly eccentric ?
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Don't be so quick to judge. He also has a master's degree in engineering from a good Midwestern university. Wait, I also have a master's degree in engineering from a good Midwestern university.
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07-28-2009, 04:26 PM
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#15
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm
Don't be so quick to judge. He also has a master's degree in engineering from a good Midwestern university. Wait, I also have a master's degree in engineering from a good Midwestern university.
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and you are also single !
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07-28-2009, 05:39 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Perhaps he is a romantic, and took a vow of poverty to mourn the loss of the love of his life.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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07-28-2009, 08:23 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
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Quote:
Has anyone noticed that most of the people who do this are single ? Does marriage save people from being overly eccentric ?
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Maybe not. It does seem to prevent becoming a millionaire, though.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
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07-28-2009, 09:08 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,007
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Whoops! I thought this was another thread about living in an RV during retirement!
Audrey
P.S. Houseless, but not homeless!
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07-28-2009, 09:22 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Collin County, TX
Posts: 9,294
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
Perhaps he is a romantic, and took a vow of poverty to mourn the loss of the love of his life.
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Interesting theory. I hope you're not right, but I bet you are.
__________________
There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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07-28-2009, 10:22 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,856
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmm99
I am intensely curious as to why/how he led the life he did....
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Maybe he was trying to go one up on Joe Dominguez...
__________________
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Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
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