Hello to all. I have been a browser of the Retire Early home page for a few years years and a follower of simple living for as long. At 52 I'm probably in a position to quit work - at least by the FIRE calc. I still have some details to iron out and the posts and help I've gotten here so far are just great.
I have had two fun careers. My first was as a fishery biologist. For several years I worked with state agencies, hatcheries, and private companies to preserve certain salmonid interests. I've travelled the NW promoting fish vaccines to protect hatchery salmon from estuarine diseases, done alpine fish inventories and environmental assessments, and worked in hatcheries just raising fish. My second career has been in the beer brewing industry and I've worked for one of the big three breweries as a quality control microbiologist. If I've learned a thing or two from this, it would be to beware of making your hobby a business. and that modern American life offers so many fun opportunities you should sample more than one. My current interest as hobby and income provider is nature photography, which is notoriously low paying. But hey, I'm getting to where I don't care.
My concerns are creating a portfolio that will last a lifetime. It seems like what one would consider a huge amount of money in times gone by are now marginal in providing a decent fixed income. And covering rising health insurance and medical expenses, as I will have to self-insure or continue working.
There is one overriding thing that the working world has taught me, it is that in 100 years, it probably will not be worth worrying about, and it's probably now worth worrying about right now. Happiness starts in one's heart and properly applied can spread contagiously. This applies to beer, fish, and most money issues, but not to the doctors and technicials who will care for me in old age.
I look forward to the exchanges here!
I have had two fun careers. My first was as a fishery biologist. For several years I worked with state agencies, hatcheries, and private companies to preserve certain salmonid interests. I've travelled the NW promoting fish vaccines to protect hatchery salmon from estuarine diseases, done alpine fish inventories and environmental assessments, and worked in hatcheries just raising fish. My second career has been in the beer brewing industry and I've worked for one of the big three breweries as a quality control microbiologist. If I've learned a thing or two from this, it would be to beware of making your hobby a business. and that modern American life offers so many fun opportunities you should sample more than one. My current interest as hobby and income provider is nature photography, which is notoriously low paying. But hey, I'm getting to where I don't care.
My concerns are creating a portfolio that will last a lifetime. It seems like what one would consider a huge amount of money in times gone by are now marginal in providing a decent fixed income. And covering rising health insurance and medical expenses, as I will have to self-insure or continue working.
There is one overriding thing that the working world has taught me, it is that in 100 years, it probably will not be worth worrying about, and it's probably now worth worrying about right now. Happiness starts in one's heart and properly applied can spread contagiously. This applies to beer, fish, and most money issues, but not to the doctors and technicials who will care for me in old age.
I look forward to the exchanges here!
