LiquidSapphire's Journal

[LiquidSapphire]

thanks Riparian it has been years huh that's crazy

Not much new with me - a lot of the same o same o. I'm down from quarterly updates to twice a year. Oh well

I'm on medicaid legally. This shit is so amazing. You cannot buy insurance this good; you literally cannot. I went to the doctor because I have had some nagging non-serious problems for years and because my copay was all of... $2.00. TWO FUCKING DOLLARS. So I saw this doctor and got a prescription (Flonase) and it cost me... $1.00. ONE FUCKING DOLLAR copay for a prescription. This is unreal. And I apparently qualify for $1000 of free dental or something like that. Just cleanings and cavities, nothing serious. I don't have any chronic or ongoing medical problems so I mainly "carry" Medicaid as catastrophic insurance but. This just blows my fucking mind. Meanwhile ACA last year - I was poor enough on paper that basically my premiums ended up being free after the subsidy but even with that shit - I would have had a $30 copay after my "free" physical. I can now see a doctor FIFTEEN TIMES for the same price. Something is wrong with this picture but I'm enjoying it for now.

I made some really awesome health gains actually, I took up running, just completed a 10K faster than ever before, and I'll likely run another this weekend to try to do better. I was deep into the flu with a fever for the first one so I feel like I left some performance on the table. I have some vanity lbs to lose - 10ish, but by all measures my health is top notch. My blood pressure was like 95/65 or something wacko at the doctor's. It hasn't ever been that low before. So that's pretty cool. I'm still seeing my personal trainer one time per week for $30/session. It's completely an unnecessary expense but whatever. Don't care. I can always cut it later if I have to but for now I like her enough and I've done so well working with her the past year that I would hate to cut her at this point.

I FINALLY got my free Obama phone and of course now I never use it haha oh well it's a nice security blanket. I never made it to Europe because my boyfriend can't afford to take the vacation time to go. So I'm putting together a different bucket list trip on the West coast in a couple months. Gonna hit CA, OR, WA, and AK all in the span of 3-4 weeks. Probably gonna end up being half cash and half miles/points but that's fine. The points have some value and so if I find a screaming deal I'd rather just pay out of pocket and save the points for a time when it makes sense. Like I'm flying from Anchorage to San Francisco for 17500 United points nonstop. That's pretty amazeballs since the points were practically free other than my time spent getting them. In the meantime I am paying $730 for a 1 week Alaska Cruise including all fees and taxes and whatnot. The points didn't make sense there. I might do Europe next year maybe.

I guess ERE-wise there's not much to say honestly I still have my business. It's going fine. I'm somewhat happy with the income level, it's better now than it has been in the past. I have been keeping a running list of things I want to buy and it's rapidly dwindling, which is really weird and cool to watch happen.

OH. I guess this is ERE related. I have this plan. I don't know if I will actually do it or if it will work but this is my plan. I have no car, right? So there's this thing called Relay Rides where you basically rent your car out to other people for a fee that you set. And SO I have this plan that I am going to buy a 2005-2008 Pontiac Vibe with low-ish miles (less than 100k) and I am going to rent it full time on this Relay Rides deal. And so THEY will pay for this car, and I will have a "free" car (well at least the carrying costs will be free, like ideally I'd make $1000/yr on this at least to cover tax/insurance/registration/depreciation/wear and tear). And then any time I need or want to use a car for something, well I just need to plan it around the rental periods, which, given my current lifestyle of needing one nearly never, well, that should be quite easy to do. Sounds good right? I have a CL RSS feed set up with my criteria for this car, now I'm just waiting for the right deal to come along...

[LiquidSapphire]

Long time no write.

Long story short. My boyfriend got a job in the bay area and decided to take it in order to pursue early retirement a few months back. I decided to follow him. Well, that was an interesting experience but in the end I've decided that this isn't a direction I want to go. So I will be slumming it with my dad and the cat for a while while I figure out what to do with life.

I'm sad about it but a bit excited too. He has been a factor for me in this entire ERE journey - from the very beginning. But now I get to think about how I want to live this life without taking his needs and wants into account. And he had many needs that were really limiting. And now I'm virtually unlimited so that's kind of mindblowing. Hardly anyone starts with a blank slate.

I have enough that if I'm very careful designing this life I shouldn't have to worry much about money or work again. My net worth has gone up quite a lot since I last wrote. I think I'm hovering around $450K and my student loans at $15000 are putting along at 2.5% so no rush on those. At 3% WR that gives me $1125/mo which is a figure I was able to make work previously. I'm also not withdrawing funds right now as my income is in a good place, so that will give me some cushion while I dial it in and nail this down.

I'd like to settle near my family in Denver if I can but I don't know if I can make this budget work there. Their housing market is incredible. I suppose I will find out. I know housing is the big key to solving this puzzle. If I can get a cheap place close to all the places I like to go to the point where I do not need a car, I know the rest will shake out budget-wise. So I will poke around Denver a while and see what there is to see.

I'll definitely be pouring over the ERE city resources and GandK's resources over the next few weeks though...and then I get to finally join in all the single people threads bitching about finding like minded partners... hah

[Chris]

Well that's a big change. Guess you can go to Europe now, huh? If you avoid northern Europe, you can probably live cheaper as a slow-travel tourist than you could living alone in Denver.

[chenda]

Sorry your move didn't work out, sounds like you're in a great position though. Are you still running your side business ?

[LiquidSapphire]

Travel just doesn't interest me now... I'm in Denver still. I am renting a place for $700/mo plus utilities (got a roommate - still more than I want to pay but at least it's in the realm of sanity) and I did end up getting a $1250 car, a 94 Lincoln Continental, single owner, with 72000 miles. Totally not living ERE style right now but this year is a transition year for me so a few other things are more important than staying under $1125 for the month. Still doing my side biz for now but looking to possibly transition away... started a blog last month for any and all who are interested. Have about 30 posts up, 5 scheduled, about 60 drafts, I think I'll be going for a while. I'd eventually like to monetize it - and am stumbling toward that - the blog is basically about just trying to make my life as good as it can be and blogging all of the shit I'm doing in that effort. You can find it at lifenewandimproved.com.

Wishing you all the best in reaching your own ERE goals - I may start poking around here for inspiration once I start becoming more financially focused again.

[Ego]

lifenewandimproved.com

This is incredible!!!!!!!!!!

[C40]

I like it!! And that's a log of posts really quickly. Wow!

[steelerfan]

LS

Super nice. I enjoyed reading some of your new blog and hope it is fruitful and cathartic. You have put yourself out there in a way I never could. Very inspiring and obviously a lot of work. I am not sure I would have linked myself back to this forum but I am paranoid enough to to obscure my identity online as much as possible and keep a low profile. I also avoid social media for the same reason. I have had coworkers that got into big trouble up to and including termination for their free expression on social media (which is no longer your concern). As an older forum member with kids that need support (hs/college), my scenario is playing out differently than most but there is still lots to learn here. I have ordered our life to enable an escape in short order (basically immediately) once the kids are properly stood up. My wife has softened her stance over the years regarding ER so perhaps there is hope LOL! She just had a friend/co-worker that dropped at 44 (F thin vegan). I also have had 4 people in our office of 85 pass away in the last year and a half. You never know when your ticket is going to be punched so we all need to determine what are priorities currently are vs what they should be.


I read your journal cover to cover back in the day and still will always read any new posts such as this. As a SW Jeffco "Littleton" resident/Lakewood worker bee, I am rooting for you. Best wishes for you!!!

[TheWanderingScholar]

Well that's a big change. Guess you can go to Europe now, huh? If you avoid northern Europe, you can probably live cheaper as a slow-travel tourist than you could living alone in Denver.

Even in the Baltics you can even pull that off, from personal experience. During off-season for travelling like winter and fall means you can find cheap rooms (found a hostel that charged five euros per night in an eight person room; turns out besides the first night, I was by myself in it. ). The really expensive parts are the Nordic countries.

[taemoo]

Great blog, very inspirational.

This was one of the journals I followed from early on in real time, looking forward to reading more

[LiquidSapphire]

I am soooooo glad you guys like it! First people other than people I know in real life that I've managed to share it with. I can't tell you how much it all means to me! Made my day!

Thank you ego and C40 and taemoo

Feel free to subscribe to get posts emailed, like on facebook, follow on Twitter, all that jazz... at some point I hope to get a newsletter going. If you find a post that you like or speaks to you - let me know! Would love to hear it. Would also love any sharing that you all may be inspired to do.

steelerfan -

I had to think long and hard about how to do this, and what my voice would be... but basically I am thinking my ticket to growth right now is authenticity and being 'real'. People want authenticity and realness. So much 'fakery' going on now, especially in the world of Facebook and what not. People are so worried about managing their image and what people think of them, and blah blah blah. They are starving for someone to tell it like it is, to be real with them - I mean that is probably why Trump is here, because he's not toeing the PC line we are all so used to. People are starving for a real connection. And I don't mind being real. I am not ashamed of my choices. I own them. I made them. Some were not so great. Some were great. I will tell anyone who asks the exact same thing. I've had successes and failures. But funny thing is, people respond to both. You just don't get to hear about people's failures too often. No one wants to say "hey I fucked up" - but I'm getting to a point where I'm starting not to care. Because I know I have worth, and a message, even though I do fuck up sometimes. Successes are inspirational. Failures are "hey, I'm not alone in failure". I'm confident enough so far that I know in writing about my failures, it doesn't make me a lesser person, or anything like that... I failed... whatever... hopefully I'll learn from it. Hopefully you can learn from it too, so you don't have to fail like I did. Ya know? Glad to know I have a fellow Coloradoan checking up on me Stay warm this weekend.

[wolf]

I like your posts and I am very interested in your journey and experiences. Now I gotta start at the beginning of your journal back in 2011. Keep on writing!

[wolf]

Some two hours later I have finished reading your journal completely. So inspirational. Found out that you are also like 34 yo like myself. I am really interested in your plans to meaning in life and what you want to do in life. Currently I am thinking about my FIRE phase and what I will do after FI. If you ever visit Germany you could stop by.

[LiquidSapphire]

Hi there! Sorry I only log in now and again - but here I am
Not much has changed for me lately

I still live in Denver. My NW is $450,000ish. I have wildly varying income but enough that I'm not withdrawing any funds. I'm still putzing around with my blog, less so than before, but I still hope to make something of it soon. I've been less motivated in its direction and probably will shift it a little soon to make it easier to build.

My current goals are:
1) Lose 20 pounds - I'm training for a half marathon right now. I run about 5 days per week.
2) Get more spiritual - basically do a bunch of meditation, inner work, journaling, that sort of thing. I'm trying to be more consistent about this. It's been really rewarding- I feel I have changed an awful lot the past 4 months or so! I also became a Reiki Master - really enjoyed/am enjoying that very much!
3) Would like to meet someone I'm compatible with, a life partner, but have had three short lived relationships - so I've struck out for now. As conceited as this sounds, I think men find me intimidating after a short period of time? I guess most women don't have their shit together? When they see I don't "need" them to "fix" me or "help" me with anything concrete - like logistics, or money wise or anything like that, it seems like it makes them feel pretty insecure. Or maybe that's just the story I'm telling myself, haha Also - I am finding it difficult to find people that are able to accept my level of frugality - as an example - so many people that don't want kids are all about travel, Travel, TRAVEL, but in the conventional sense of the term, which I find very expensive. I like travel but I don't want to spend $10000+ per year on it.

Anyway I'm not really focusing much on this area at the moment... don't want kids so I'm not in a hurry. So I'm just working on my social network and having a ton of fun that way for now. I go to free city festivals, run, read internet things that interest me, practice reiki, meditate, I'm about to try a rock climbing gym, I play pick-up volleyball, I take swing lessons (once you pay for a full course the teacher let's you repeat for free ), pub trivia, board game meets, and just general hanging out with friends... takes a surprising amount of time. My social network, for the first time in my life, is large enough that I am making it a thing to plan some unique outings for all of us once per month. I rented out a Laser Tag place for 35 adults last month - I got 35 people to pitch in financially $25 each and we had the whole place to ourselves! I really impressed myself with that one. Then I have 12 people meeting me at a karaoke bar tonight and we are going to make complete asses of ourselves. Next month I have a deal that if I can get 12 people to come with me, we can all go 'indoor skydiving' at a discount. I'm really enjoying being 'that girl' right now.
4) I'll probably shift my blog soon and work more on it, hope to drive more traffic soon.
5) If the blog ever makes money that'll make me super happy It'll happen once I find the right combination of effort and inspiration that matches me.

So I guess long term life goals:
1) Be a uplifting force for people through my reiki, my relationships with others, and through my blog
2) Have fun
3) Once the kitty I have passes, I'd like to foster shelter animals.
4) Travel a bit, have 300,000 frequent flier miles, will happen eventually, not in a hurry. I actually really enjoy my life and miss it when I'm gone. I don't really find the need to travel so much. Once per year is fine.

Just kind of blissed out right now... probably pretty annoying. Haha I'm well. I hope you are well too.

[LiquidSapphire]

Oh yeah, I just randomly stumbled upon a thread about "failure stories" and why people stop updating and have they "failed"?

I can only speak to my particular case - I don't feel that I have failed or succeeded yet. I consider myself a work in progress, though my goals have shifted. I haven't succeeded yet because to me a total success of "I am done" would mean that I have enough saved for a 3% WR to cover my current and foreseeable expenses. I don't have that. My expenses are not very permanent; I rent and my lease ends in September, and I'm not sure what my new housing cost will be. Also I'm spending more than what a 3% WR would allow. It would be a lean lifestyle to cut my expenses that low in the Denver area right now. It'd require roommates and no car, at a minimum. I think I could handle a 5% WR fairly easily though.

I haven't failed either though because my net worth has been increasing, albeit slowly as of late. I think for me, failure would mean that my net worth was actively going down due to my spending choices+investment failures, and I ended up having to go back to work I really didn't enjoy just to make money. To be honest it's one of my greatest fears - having my current income stream go *poof* and having few other options and being forced to go back to work I really hate and that doesn't pay anything close to what I used to make or even what I currently make. Or having to move somewhere I don't want to live because I can't afford Denver anymore. Or having to really really cut my lifestyle down, not that I live extravagantly now, but I definitely spend more than I did in my accumulation phase.

It's a pretty irrational fear, I guess. There must be jobs out there that, while maybe they aren't self-actualizing, they may not be so bad. Even a minimum wage job would supplement my savings pretty robustly. And I'm fairly flexible when it comes to expenses - I'm just not incentivized to track and cut them at the moment.

Hope that helps someone

[enigmaT120]

My favorite job was moving irrigation pipe in crop (green beans, corn, carrots) fields summers when I was in high school. $2.90/hour though.

[Viktor K]

For climbing gyms, I would recommend Movement Climbing and Fitness in Denver. Best gym I've climbed at, albeit pricey. Fitness and yoga classes are included in the membership last time I was there. I was also interested in a sweet looking gym in Golden, but never got the chance to climb there. For a more ERE version, just find some climbers and take a day trip up to Golden and/or Boulder. Free climbing. You could even try just in tennis shoes if you didn't want to buy a pair of climbing slippers.

[LiquidSapphire]

Irrigation pipe... man that was fun? How did that work? It sounds brutal to me!

@Victor - Friends of mine have a 1x per month guest pass I'm going to use next week, and another friend has a "guests are free on the first Friday of the month" at her gym, and then my rec center has a climbing wall and it's just $4.50 to get in there, you can rent shoes there even for a couple bucks... so I'll try it those 3 times and if I really like it, I'll go after it. And be the next American Ninja Warrior Haha

[frihet]

Sounds like you have an amazons life, wanted to write amazing, but it became "amazons" with Swedish spell checker on. That sounds right also . Flew to Denver on my way to Creston last September. Although I didn't,t see downtown I enjoyed the wibe and even more so driving through Colorados open and rocky landscape.

You are lucky getting in to spirutuallity already being ERE and living there. A lot to choose from, and beautiful nature to connect with. a lot going on in Boulder also isn't it

The energy from reiki and the like can get you really high for a while, enjoy!

And

Keep on rocking your "amazon life"

[LiquidSapphire]

Thanks frihet Colorado is a great place to be, not gonna lie, and yeah, reiki is great. Thanks for stopping by!