I'm doing a podcast. Ask your questions here.

[jacob]

Do you or DS ever fall off the wagon? If so, what's your biggest indulgence?

How do you define wagon? Wagon makes it sound like there are things we should just stay away from entirely, but in reality the game is to optimize and find the best solution to problems.

Sometimes we get take-out pizza. Little Cesar's is $5, but it's approximately the amount of the daily allowance. Sometimes we buy things new but that's knowing that getting a used version could take a long time.

I can't recall any instances of saying "screw it", we're just gonna blow the money.

Well, maybe one case. We're getting a two-stage furnace which is somewhat more expensive than the original one-stage quote. I'm willing to blow a grand on having a more steady temperature. Basically I hate forced-air heating, so I'm willing to go the extra step. On the other hand, the local utility company offers a rebate and it might increase resale value.

[jacob]

Which lifestyle is more sustainable or ERE-friendly -- nomading or homesteading?

They have different risk/reward profiles. For individuals, nomading is likely the safer one---the ability to move out of trouble spots and contribute value where needed. For society as a whole, homesteading, because without it, there's no foundation for nomads to contribute.

As Dragline would say ...

Yeah, you got it.

Do the homestead, but be prepared to move! I like the idea of something intermediate plan of moving around every 5-10 years instead. I think it beats "constantly" and "never".

[jacob]

How many dishes can you cook with lentils?

How long have you held on hobby stuff in hopes of picking it up again? (Fencing, Sailing, ect)

Have you supplemeted your groceries with wild edibles in a significant amount?

Have you improved your pingpong game since the discussion of buying new paddles?

I can no longer cook any lentil dishes---it's a skill that needs to be practiced regularly. DW took over cooking shortly after we moved in together because she enjoys it and I don't. Lentils and tuna salad is to be considered an improvement on the ramen noddles and instant coffee that many grad students live on.

I hold onto hobby stuff much longer than the edicts deem. I still have my watch making stuff. I still have my swords. I still have my PFDs. However, the pdfs came in handy recently while kayaking.

I suck on the wild edible dietary supplement. I'd like to learn.

I didn't buy a new paddle but I did improve enough to change my style to two wing looper (what most pros apparently play these days) from all-round defensive. We haven't played much this year though.

http://tabletennis.about.com/od/playing ... looper.htm

[jacob]

How do you check for mineral difficeincies that might occur on an ere diet?

What's an ERE diet? I might seem facetious here, but there's no such thing.

Basically, we eat a varied diet based on staples and produce which is better than the Standard American Diet, so I don't worry about minerals.

[jacob]

What is your drive behind doing things? You seem to have all the time in the world now that you are financially independent, and you don't seem to feel the need to 'save the world'. What is your criteria for finding something meaningful to do?

Do you do much along the lines of meditation, yoga, living in the present? I'd love to hear you elaborate a bit on those topics if so.

I have been feeling anxious about how I spend my time..and I keep asking myself "And then what?". I'm trying to find things that will make me feel I've lived a good life. Funnily enough, I lean towards kids as they seem like they'd give me this sense of meaning. I like the idea of starting a family. I know you don't want children, so I am more interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Do you still accept guest posts? Sometimes I see your old recycled posts ask for guest posts but I don't know if they are relevant. I'd be happy to write about my story from an angle you'd like to hear for a guest post. I also want to go on a bike tour or van tour (fits my current lifestyle very well since I am not tied down at all) - and would be very interested in heading your direction to visit you. I would be happy to help you out with renovations (great learning experience for me) and have some very interesting conversations

I do things because I find them interesting. Don't we all? Well, maybe not. But I seem attracted, like a moth to light, towards solving big problems as long as they're compatible with my skills which seem to be in understanding complex systems. As long as I'm entertained and challenged, I'm good ...

I hope to be able to keep finding such problems and unfortunately I don't have a complete line-up ready for the rest of my life.

I do absolute nothing when it comes to yoga, meditation, and living in the moment. That is to say, I am quite focused on my mental state and how "my brain" works, but as far as my understanding of these things go, it has little connection to yoga or meditation methods although the outcome may be the same. I live very much in the future always considering possibilities and different lines of what could happen. I have no regard for the past and practically no regard for the present. The present is but a fleeting moment; the past is gone forever, but the future has many possibilities open.

I also continuously ask myself "and then what".

Guest posts and any renovation help are happily accepted. As long as you're somewhat sane, you can stay here for a while (have to check with DW).

[jennypenny]

boxers or briefs?

After years of fancy $$$ boxer-briefs (something used daily is worth paying for), I settled on cheap briefs, because they take up much less space and are just as comfortable. They cost less too.

I can't believe you answered that.


I don't own many videos, but I do own the Hornblower series with Ioan Gruffudd. Love that one.

[jacob]

You're fortunate that your wife is on the same wavelength as you as regards ERE. (I know, not from the word go, and not in everything even now, as you've mentioned here, but still.)

Had that not been the case, and what's more if "let's each do our own thing on this" hadn't been an option, would you then have diluted your ERE substantially?

For instance, would you have consented to continue working (3 years back), live a 50K lifestyle (or more), and what's more finance (most of) it yourself?

In short, what scores higher? ERE or love? Personal philosophy or what the loved one desires? Where, if at all, do the graphs of accommodation and exploitation intersect?

Since I already harbored these ideas prior to meeting DW, had we not at least been somewhat compatible we probably would never have gotten married. That said, DW has told me that at some points she still wondered whether this [relationship] would work out. She also says I've mellowed out over time.

We compromise.

When it comes down to it, ERE is my life-philosophy, which is simply the way I operate and am. I do not believe I would have sacrificed who I am as a person for love [of another person].

To give some concrete examples. Were we to divorce, I would probably live out of a duffel bag on a boat. She might get cable and go to restaurants more but wouldn't go into debt for a McMansion and a fancy new car. We're both willing to compromise on a $10k/year lifestyle that shows no apparent/visible difference from our friends' 40k/year lifestyle as long as we do things more frugal/efficiently. Basically, I'd probably go to $3k/year and she'd go to $15k/year. One Wheaton level up and down respectively. We meet in the middle.

[jacob]

I am fascinated by the idea of having enough money to never have to work again. Here on the forums I love seeing people make the transition. However, I'm not there yet. And I also see people here on the forum struggle with it. (The one more year syndrome, or even the "Quit the job, now what?" syndrome).

I would like to ask you how it feels to not have to worry about money anymore (if being FI feels like that?). Plus also on whether you have advice for people who are making the transition.

I don't worry about money but I still think a lot about it. To consumers money is the only ingredient when they're cooking up solutions. To me, it's but one ingredient out of many. Being super-FI just means I don't have to worry about a shortage of that particular ingredient. I still have to consider it though.

I guess it's similar to thinking about access to running water. I don't worry about availability---I just turn it on when I need it---but I still think about it.

The advice would be to implement your post-FI finances BEFORE quitting your salary/job-income. Gain some experience with it. Give it at least a year if not more. Until you feel comfortable with the idea.

[jacob]

DW poses the following question:

How has your opinion on having kids changed over the years?

Honestly, I don't think so. I never really seen myself as a parent. I think I could do the job if I had to but I never really wanted it. The fact that I think of it as a job probably gives some idea of how I feel about it.

[jacob]

ERE philosophy espouses physical fitness.

How much money have you saved over the years on not having to buy clothes with ever-larger waistlines?

Not as much as I would have saved if I was 5'11" with a 38" waist line ;-P

Being in shape means I have to buy most clothes new because there's little availability in the used clothes market for people who aren't out of shape.

[jacob]

1.) As your net worth has skyrocketed enough to support a <3% SWR, do you find yourself spending more money at all? I.e. outsourcing certain activities to save time, upgrading often-used tools/gadgets, or paying for hobbies/sports that you wouldn't before considered?

2.) Regarding types of full time jobs available - do you think the vast majority are pointless? In your opinion, should a future EREer spend time finding a fulfilling job given the short time frame, or just make do for a few years pushing paper? Are there enough FT jobs that actually benefit society that it's worth seeking them? I think a lot of us feel like FT work is just like swallowing a big pill - uncomfortable now but just gotta wait for the medicine to work and we'll feel better.

1) Not at all. My net worth now supports a 1.1% SWR. I see no reason to waste money simply because I can. Decisions are still made based on ERE principles. Not consumer principles.

2) I wouldn't go as far as the vast majority, but a lot of jobs simply serve to solve problems that are created by other types of jobs. Personally, I would rather take longer and do something that's fulfilling than work in hell for the money. I've been fortunate to spend very little of my life working jobs I hate. Are there enough jobs? The main problem facing capitalism is the distribution problem. We still believe that people need to work in order to deserve goods, so we make up such jobs. This is a very hard concept to abandon, because it just doesn't seem fair that some people should work so that others can benefit w/o effort. The solution might be to move to 4 or 3 day work weeks like some magnates are beginning to advocate. FIRE is another way and one which the individual can do without having to wait for society to adopt.

[dot_com_vet]

Do you or DS ever fall off the wagon? If so, what's your biggest indulgence?

How do you define wagon? Wagon makes it sound like there are things we should just stay away from entirely, but in reality the game is to optimize and find the best solution to problems.

Sometimes we get take-out pizza. Little Cesar's is $5, but it's approximately the amount of the daily allowance. Sometimes we buy things new but that's knowing that getting a used version could take a long time.

I can't recall any instances of saying "screw it", we're just gonna blow the money.

Well, maybe one case. We're getting a two-stage furnace which is somewhat more expensive than the original one-stage quote. I'm willing to blow a grand on having a more steady temperature. Basically I hate forced-air heating, so I'm willing to go the extra step. On the other hand, the local utility company offers a rebate and it might increase resale value.

Good choice on the multi-stage furnace! Technology has finally made forced air hvac very good. It's likely the rebate and efficiency benefits will make for a quick payback.

[DutchGirl]

Thanks for the answers, Jacob.

[LonerMatt]

Given that your writing and the communities you've built, grown or inspired have helped a lot of people find a sense of themselves and improvement do you feel satisfied or rewarded regarding the community here, and in other FI circles?

[jacob]

Given that your writing and the communities you've built, grown or inspired have helped a lot of people find a sense of themselves and improvement do you feel satisfied or rewarded regarding the community here, and in other FI circles?

Yes, I still consider ERE the most important thing I've done in my "career" (=active life). I'm very happy with the community here and its derivative influence elsewhere. However, I've definitely created a handful of "enemies"---people who either hate what I stand for or simply and more likely use me to promote their own platform (I guess in fairness not unlike what I do to them)---in the process too which I could have done without. This is probably inevitable whenever the pot is stirred and it gets more prevalent the further one goes towards mainstream. This is why I now try to stay "local" in terms of thought and influence, respecting the Wheaton levels. I try to let people come to me instead of presuming that I'm welcome coming to them. Ultimately, reality will be the judge and so far reality has worked in my favor

[jacob]

By the way, the interview lasted 3+ hours.

[workathome]

I'll keep my eye out for the Podcast!

Sorry if this was answered, but I am curious:

It seems extremely unlikely you will run out of money. You will have a major surplus. You also have no heirs. What are your plans for the remainder after death? A particular charity?

[GandK]

Not as much as I would have saved if I was 5'11" with a 38" waist line ;-P


You can kiss my ass. haha

[Dragline]

By the way, the interview lasted 3+ hours.

Thanks for doing all that, and answering all those questions -- it looked kind of exhausting. I sense it might not be something you would have cared to do a year or so ago. A wise inconsistency, eh?

Isn't nice to have a wife and a house and a dog that are all agreeable? It just is.

[1taskaday]

Loved reading all this.So interesting.Thank you.