T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 111
Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #111!
Here are some things I really like and that you might too.
Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles
The Guilt of Early Retirement (And how to slap it in the face) (Escaping Avalon) – “Personally, when I feel a little guilty for not working The Job anymore, I think about how I owe it to past-me to try and make the best out of my freedom that he worked so damned hard to scrape out for current-me.“
Return to office is ‘dead,’ Stanford economist says. Here’s why (CNBC) – “Long-term trends suggest the share of employees who work from home is only likely to grow from here.“
Video
Regular readers know how much I love bike-stunt porn, and I’ve highlighted Danny MacAskill and Fabio Wibmer before. Not long ago Wibmer released a jaw-dropping video of his 2022 highlights. The impossible stunts, the horrific crashes, and everything in between. It’ll make you sweat, cringe, and cheer. He’s beyond crazy, but I love it that the internet and platforms like YouTube allow athletes like Wibmer to make a living as a crazy stuntperson, and to show what humans are capable of.
What I’m Grateful For
A year that had ups and downs and taught me some lessons about hard knocks and resilience. I’m focusing on the resilience.
Lyrically Speaking
beat down again
no wonder you’re afraid
they can throw you away
if you don’t work every day
if you’re sick well that’s ok
be sure to punch the clock anyway
overcome with Puritan shame
you better arrive on time next time
to play the game
From “Too Late For An Early Grave” by The Reds, Pinks & Purples
The Reds, Pinks & Purples is the creation of the restless singer/songwriter Glenn Donaldson. Since 2018 he’s released seven albums under that moniker (in just over five years!), each with a very cool pastel-blazoned cover full of flowers and random suburban scenery. Donaldson evokes the sounds of the late 80’s mixed with an indie twee aesthetic that’s tailored for the college radio of yesteryear, the station at the far left of the dial. Hints of Luna and House of Love blend with brutally honest and often cynical lyrics that reveal human strife. With song titles like “Never Said I Was Sorry Then“, “We Won’t Come Home at Christmas Time“, “I’d Rather Not Go Your Way“, “Don’t Come Home Too Soon“, and “I Wouldn’t Die for Anyone” Donaldson makes sure you know he’s not holding back.
As for the lyrics above, I sure as shit punched the clock hundreds of times in my career when I was sick. Now that I’m healthier and less stressed, I don’t get sick.
Miscellaneous
New study finds poor diet kills more people globally than tobacco and high blood pressure – “Poor diet is responsible for more deaths globally than tobacco, high blood pressure, or any other health risk.” Dave’s Comment – This is actually not a new study, it’s from 2019. But I’m reposting because the obesity crisis has only gotten worse since then and the chronic disease and early death that result have as well. So if you’re looking to make a new start in 2024 with your health, this serves as a reminder of the stakes.
Will Psychedelics Replace Antidepressants? – “Psychedelic treatment is helping patients make difficult emotional breakthroughs.”
How an underwater sculpture trail plays a role in the health – and beauty – of the Great Barrier Reef – “What role does art have in our future for coral reefs?.”
Happy New Year everyone, I appreciate you reading. Let’s make ’24 epic!
i’m glad you featured escaping avalon. i really feel like he fills in the void of good realistic writing. more cops and firemen should look into this financial independence thing. hell, even my 30 year old nephew works odd hours at the nicest restaurant in town and laments the fact he is a waiter. i want to explain the opportunity in front of him: you live on the cheap and make mad bank doing this work. you could have $100k or more in 2-3 years with some simple saving and investing. and… those fine dining skills travel. i know a service industry couple who worked fine dining in new orleans and moved to napa valley. it took just a couple of reference phone calls and they were working in two of the better paid spots in california.
I agree about cops and fireman etc. As for restaurant workers, I never did it but according to you many are making “mad bank”. I do recall having a female friend back in college who bartended and made lots of money, but she also purposely dressed very scantily and was drop-dead gorgeous. She knew what she was doing. Happy New Year Freddy!
Thanks for the referral Dave, I’m honored. And thanks for the kudos Freddy; I feel bad for not doing SEO and basic finance articles to try and attract more cops and hose jockeys to this FI thing. I look around at the financial wreckage that is the life of most of my friends and wish I could do more.
Liked Fabio’s vid, more so because it shows the crashes and blood. Makes him even more impressive; he keeps getting up and sending it despite the pain. Kind of like you Dave, with your focus on resilience despite the downs this year. If you can bring yourself to do it, it’d be good to hear about what and how you’ve overcome that stuff this year. It sure helps me confront my own stuff when I hear how others deal.
We like your blog because you don’t do basic finance articles – that shit is covered well by others. I very rarely do them either. I think we both know the thoughts and behaviors behind money decisions are far more important, they’re the driver. As for overcoming stuff this year, it’s been a mixed bag. I’ve had some physical challenges (minor injuries) that I’m doing okay with and I find resilience in that area easier. But I’ve also have some relationship challenges and setbacks that I have a harder time with, resilience in that arena is much tougher for me to muster. But 2024 will be great, I know it!
Hey Dave, happy new year, in advance. Something happened to cross my mind, not necessarily related to the post. Have you considered volunteering for big sports events such as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (or related)? I’m currently considering the European Championships athletics in Rome, as I didn’t manage to pass for the Olympics. Might be a fun opportunity to meet some people and at the same time do something you’re passionate about AND travel (and of course, see the top athletes in action).
I would definitely like to volunteer for pro bike races and there’s a big one in Baltimore now that’s new in September. Not sure if they take volunteers but the idea crossed my mind. Yes, I like being around active, healthy people and it’s great advice – thanks!
Great features. Even if that stunt video makes my c-spine cry out in protest.
That durned guilt! Long comment alert applies here!
I suspect for those in “essential services” who have a fundamental connection and loyalty to the nature of the work (and the sense of duty, value and community that it entails), well – their journey is more of finding a means to a happy balance in sustainable provision of services, and not so much of the “I FI/RE’d from Big Corporate” story.
Still, that moment of “I’m walking out and I’m never coming back” is incredibly important to experience.
(LivingAFI’s “Quit” series really helped with this, I must have gone through every mental and emotional phase he described.)
Coming to terms with what is newly possible, does require a period of adjustment. People try to quantify this, “should I give it three months? Six? A year?” but all I know is that it’s proportional to the scale of personal project(s) and life redesign that one is heading into. (The real challenge is Presenting Normality.)
The opportunity to go on hiatus, taught me that:
1) I enjoy going to work, helping people, running things well, in a great workplace that I helped build.
2) Being an Early Adopter-Pragmatist type when it comes to new situations, I get real grrrrh real quick with Maintenance. Whether I like it or not, this is how my skill-set shakes out.
3) I just really, really love leaving. The seasonal set-up/tear-down, THAT is my idea of routine.
P.S. Mid-week Shiga Kogen was blessed amounts of new snow. Worked out to $105 for the day including half-day lift ticket, gear rental, mountain bus with a slushy side hike to snow monkeys. Slightly confusingly, the day started with a loooooong down-gondola in a stinging blizzard with no trail map at the end. Then there was this big wide green slope that midway changed to steep black with no warning. A good day.
Happy New Year to you, all my best wishes for 2024!
“their journey is more of finding a means to a happy balance in sustainable provision of services” – this is the most succinct and accurate way of putting it, well said! As for your hiatus teaching you things, I agree. In going part time I learned lots too. Some things I thought I hated 100% I found that I missed somewhat – but only in their total absence. I also know if I brought them back I’d still hate them more than I miss them. Nothing is absolute, it’s about the balance. Enjoy the powder!