T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 140
Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #140!
Here are some things I really like and that you might too.
Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content
Why Do We Avoid The Things That Matter Most? Greg McKeown And An ‘Essentialist’ Approach To Personal Finance (Forbes) possible paywall – “Why do we avoid the things that matter most?
It’s Time to Face the Truth: We’re All Minimizing Something (Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff) – “You’re already a minimalist. You’re already putting limits on some areas in order to have more for others. It’s time to face that truth, and figure out if you’re really happy about how you’re choosing to do it.“
Video
The majestic Andean Condor is a big bird. How big? Probably qualifies as a dinosaur. I love how this guy spends time carefully gauging the wind and checking out the surrounding terrain before launching his massive self off the cliff. Spectacular.
The size of an Andean Condor
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 22, 2025
What I’m Grateful For
That I discovered a few small cracks in my rear wheel on my racing bike before they caused any problems or a crash. A friendly reminder to inspect my bike more often and closely!
Lyrically Speaking
Further down the road, my fortune lies
Though that’s never how I planned it
So I leave my home with the morning light
Won’t come back here empty handed
From “Anjalee” by Lucero
Lucero are from Memphis but don’t call them country. Click the song above and you’ll hear a straight-up riff-rock banger, with influences all over the map. It’s easy to spot a Lucero song even if you’ve never heard it because of their singer, Ben Nichols. His throaty, smoke-swamped voice is instantly identifiable and sounds like no other. As a band they could be seen as a mix of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Social Distortion, and Buffalo Tom with some Stray Cats mixed in. They combine raw, anthemic, guitar riff-rock with angsty Tom Waits-y lyrics that are mostly about drinking and the dark sides of life. No wonder I took to them early on, haha. Lucero have 12 albums dating back to 2000, and are still going strong.
As for the lyrics above, my fortune is not further down the road, but in hand. It’s a wonderful place to be and I’m grateful.
Miscellaneous
We Live Like Royalty and Don’t Know It – “In Jefferson’s time, not even the president of the United States had what we have. But few of us are aware of that, or of what it means.”
As more Americans work later in life, poll shows positive health impacts, especially for those over 65 – “Having a job — whether it’s working for someone else or being their own boss — gives older Americans more than just a way to earn money or get health insurance, a new poll finds. More than two-thirds of those who work after age 50 say that working boosts their physical health, mental health, and/or their overall wellbeing.” Dave’s comment – bold emphasis mine, I strongly advocate for retiring early from a job you no longer love to either do something you love or get a job that you love.
How cryopreservation could end death as we know it – “It’s 2045, and you were just diagnosed with kidney failure. A couple of decades ago, this would’ve meant years of dialysis while you waited for a donor kidney to become available, but thanks to advances in cryopreservation, your doctor is able to order you a new organ from cold storage right away.”
Balloon-Borne Telescopes Take Off – “Stratospheric balloons are giving astronomers sharper views of the universe.”
Have a wonderful weekend Dave, lots of riding and running in my plans and hopefully the same for you. Quick question, have you looked into adding a BlueSky share button on your blog?
Had to look up what that is… seems like a social media thing. I’m trying hard to purge SM from my life, happiness is increasing 🙂 And I’m itching hard for spring and to start doing heavier miles outside, we’ve had our coldest winter in almost a decade and it’s been tough to get outside. Let’s kick 2025’s ass!