CS's Journal

Where are you and where are you going?
CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Wow, the new forums are pretty swanky. Nice job to whoever did that.

So, it has been a while since posting. Lots going on. The house is finally on the market. Unfortunately things have slowed down but it looks good. Hopefully the right buyer will pop along sooner rather than later.

The biggest accomplishment beyond that has been the phones. Finally cut Verizon loose, as well as the home phone and have dropped our monthly phone bill from 160 to 32 or so. Yeah us. Ting and Groove IP are working pretty well. Even counting the cost of our refurbished phones, we will be ahead after only four months.

We also decided to not ship any furniture out to my school location. It is actually cheaper by 2/3 or more to just buy me an ikea bed and desk (cheaper if I would get used even) and skip the rest. My roommate will furnish the rest of the apartment with her stuff so it works out well.

Been reading a lot of Mr Money Mustache lately and it makes me question a tiny bit the decision to go to school for fun (free of course) rather than continue to work for assured retirement in two years. It is a risk, but I think work of some form will always be there if needed. We have about half the savings we need for retirement for two people right now so even just covering costs would allow that to grow to cover two in not too long. Feels pretty good.

Not going to post budget numbers for a while until things calm down on the move. Too much declutter yet to do to spend time on that. We are keeping an eye on it with EEBA though. Nice little application.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

One thing I am seeing a lot of lately is people bailing on the PP. Makes me think that now is the time to buy. I wish we had just a little more cash so we could get gold in Australia directly, instead of an ETF.

In any case, we have about half our retirement money in Fidelity, another half in Vanguard. I've had Fidelity forever, and setting up the PP there was relatively easy, even with traveling and not able to log in often. Vanguard has been another story. For some reason, the orders don't seem to go through so now we have a bunch of cash just sitting there and I need to deal with it. Anyone else had problems with their system?

There is also some money in TPS (government 401k), which has a really low admin cost (variable, but right now lower than Vanguard) but is a pain to administer. It is also only an S&P 500 index fund. Still haven't decided what to do about this - leave it or consolidate.

Wish I had the interest to learn about dividend funds right now, but realistically that is not going to happen for a few years. So the PP it is.

Getting this straightened out, at least Vanguard, is the goal for the week.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

So it has been nearly a year since the last post. Wow.

The news: the house is gone, one car is gone, and the budget is down to about $2700 for the both of us, not including the school travel expenses that we saved for (I commute to another state weekly for school). This budget also includes ~$150 a month I have to pay to various societies and states to keep my licenses and other credentials up. Once I finally retire, that will go away. I think the food budget will also go down (the biggest expense we have) when there is more time to cook.

I get a little depressed looking at other people's numbers, but I try to remember there is two of us, and I can't eat a lot of the low expense things like beans (long story, not that interesting).

On the positive lifestyle note, I've also managed to get things arranged so I can finish the MFA in four quarters instead of six, cutting down on commuting stress. One more quarter. I'm sad to be missing some classes and events winter and spring, but also happy to not have to buy another round of twenty plus plane tickets for each quarter and deal with that whole thing. I feel I've learned enough and can take it from here...

I'm back at working a temporary professional job for the summer after a year of writing and studying anything I liked, and I can tell you I really don't like it. It is like being in prison after a year of freedom. All the posts about writing for a living are definitely the future for me. After this gig, I won't have to work again for at least nine months. So when this jobs ends, the tasks will be to finish up school fall quarter, then get some titles up and published. Probably fiction. Fluff. Stuff I like.

The money situation is hopeful and a bit weird to me. We have enough in the portfolio to be semi-retired now (over the 300k mark with this years contributions). Meaning, if we can support ourselves and let it grow for 10-15 years, we are done. And since our living expenses are low (not extreme low, I know), that doesn't take a heck of a lot of work. Which I am thrilled about, and also a little surprised.

It is even weirder to know that a lot of my classmates are in extreme amounts of debt - not all, just most - and even at the professional job, people are talking about working until they are sixty five or later. All I can think about is why? Why? Why?

Anyway, it is good to be back.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Back for my biannual update (ha!).

The permanent portfolio has *finally* recovered and given some gains. Geez. It was a little depressing there for a while. I'm in the position that a lot of people find themselves in here... I could retire at 3% if I got my expenses down to 1.5 Jacobs. I'm not quite ready for van living, but then again I never thought I'd shed most of my belongings. After this fall, I'll be able fit nearly everything I own into my 18 year honda civic. The freedom is great.

And yes, my husband and I split. I was able to retain all my pre-marital assets due to a good prenup. The income earned during the marriage was divided evenly, which seems fair. All in all, it has actually helped my in my retirement plans because he was against my not working while he was still doing so. That felt like an unfair burden.

I'm traveling for work with my cat in Kansas right now. The travel gigs pay extremely well. I can cover all my expenses for the year, and save fifty percent along the way with only working three months a year. That is with admittedly spending a lot on housing when traveling, as well as wanting to living in LA for friends, plus reasons below. If I keep on this path, I'd have the proverbial million in ten years, which seems way, way too long to keep working this job - even at three months a year. I don't have the stomach to get a full time gig to grind out the savings over three or four years. Wimpy wimpy (anyone remember those trash bag ads?).

The part that I'm thinking the most about now is becoming more anti-fragile. I'm anxious to start another income stream. This winter I'm sitting in on a class with my old school where you write an entire novel in ten weeks. This will only be a rough draft, but it is an excellent foundation to more. This seems like an ideal way to build momentum that turns into new habits, as well as published novels. Perfectionism, or more bluntly fear, is a another challenge. Honestly, I've read so many not good books that are published, out there in people's hands, that I can't image I couldn't do better. I'm not shooting for a hugo award, or pulitzer prize, just some decent sales. In the past, new ventures generally turn out better than expected - I just have "to do" to find out. Plus majority of the last several years have been devoted to learning how to write better, so I'm not starting out on the bottom of the learning curve. I know there are several writers in this community, in addition (of course) to Jacob. :D

Does anyone here have good leads for cheaper places to live in the LA area? I stayed in an airbnb last time for work in Long Beach - which was cheap, but too loud to do any writing (sharing a one bedroom with one person who liked to watch TV). I need some place I can write. A friend has told me her neighborhood of Glendale is quiet. Koreatown has cheap studios - but I'm leary of noise and crime. I know there has to be mother-in-law type places with decent rent that would love a quiet professional woman renter.

Dragline
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by Dragline »

The sleeper awakes! Nice to hear from you again. It's been over 25 years since I lived in the LA area, but I would imagine Glendale would be exceedingly quiet. And old. Same for Pasadena.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Dragline - old is good for me. I feel old sometimes. I even fantasize about when I can living in the 55+ neighborhoods because...quiet

It's really odd... but I've found that the one thing that has helped me let go of my need to cling to all my 'precious things' is browsing ads for consumer goods. There are so many pretty delights out there! It makes me feel so safe enough knowing that these things exist, that I can let go of my own excess stuff. Then I don't have to pay to cart it around, search through piles of it for what I really need, and get stressed out by the lot of it. And if I really do end up needing something I don't have, then I know there are ten stores a few miles away where I can get it... cheap. It's a weird coping technique, but I've found it works for me. It's calming. Has anyone else had that reaction? Note: I don't have to actually buy anything. It's enough knowing it's out there in case I need it.

Perhaps this is just a manual reboot from 'scarcity' thinking to 'plentiful' thinking.

I've also found that what I really need is so little, that paying to move it is an order of magnitude more expensive than just buying the few big necessities again at my destination (like the ikea bed that is honestly my top choice, regardless of the fact it is cheap as heck, etc). That is definitely not something my parents taught me. They also tend to stay in the same location for multiple decades at a time, so wouldn't really have a reason to know the most cost effective way to move often.

The job in Kansas started out rough but I'm enjoying it now. There are parts of this job that I really like. I get lots of satisfaction from a well organized physics plan: all the qa ducks in a row, the spreadsheets completed neatly, getting the knowledge of my machines down like the back of my hand. Plus technology in the field changes so quickly that I always get something new to learn at each job. I think relaxing into this cycle of working intermittently would be good for me. I want to think of it as brain food, and not some horrific task that I must complete to begin my real life in ten years.

I should be sleeping, but I was so fired up from the debate that I couldn't. Tomorrow is going to be rough!

jacob
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by jacob »

CS wrote: It's really odd... but I've found that the one thing that has helped me let go of my need to cling to all my 'precious things' is browsing ads for consumer goods. There are so many pretty delights out there! It makes me feel so safe enough knowing that these things exist, that I can let go of my own excess stuff. Then I don't have to pay to cart it around, search through piles of it for what I really need, and get stressed out by the lot of it. And if I really do end up needing something I don't have, then I know there are ten stores a few miles away where I can get it... cheap. It's a weird coping technique, but I've found it works for me. It's calming. Has anyone else had that reaction? Note: I don't have to actually buy anything. It's enough knowing it's out there in case I need it.
Its' the "the [super]market is my library"-strategy.

What I find the hardest about it is that it often costs more either in time or in dollars. For example, I have some hockey gear that I lug around even if I haven't used it for 5 years now. Replacing it would cost about $300 (it's rather good stuff) but selling it would net me about $0 because it smells like hockey gear :-P ... Therefore, I'm calculating that storage costs < probability that I'll go skating * $300 and so I keep it in a box.

This example extends to a lot of my stuff. I keep stuff around because time and money went into acquiring it for very little money. I don't have piles to search but the inefficiency is annoying. Accepting the inefficiency would add a couple of thousand to my annual budget.

I've tried one solution which was to DIY things. I figured that if I didn't spend more than $10 in wood on a desk, I would be quite complacent about turning it into kindling. Turned out not to be the case because I felt like I sunk 30 hours into it + it's a quality piece.

The other solution is simply to have few/cheap wants i.e. ultraminimalism/hobo. I also find that restricting.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

jacob wrote:
CS wrote: It's really odd... but I've found that the one thing that has helped me let go of my need to cling to all my 'precious things' is browsing ads for consumer goods. There are so many pretty delights out there! It makes me feel so safe enough knowing that these things exist, that I can let go of my own excess stuff. Then I don't have to pay to cart it around, search through piles of it for what I really need, and get stressed out by the lot of it. And if I really do end up needing something I don't have, then I know there are ten stores a few miles away where I can get it... cheap. It's a weird coping technique, but I've found it works for me. It's calming. Has anyone else had that reaction? Note: I don't have to actually buy anything. It's enough knowing it's out there in case I need it.
Its' the "the [super]market is my library"-strategy.

What I find the hardest about it is that it often costs more either in time or in dollars. For example, I have some hockey gear that I lug around even if I haven't used it for 5 years now. Replacing it would cost about $300 (it's rather good stuff) but selling it would net me about $0 because it smells like hockey gear :-P ... Therefore, I'm calculating that storage costs < probability that I'll go skating * $300 and so I keep it in a box.

This example extends to a lot of my stuff. I keep stuff around because time and money went into acquiring it for very little money. I don't have piles to search but the inefficiency is annoying. Accepting the inefficiency would add a couple of thousand to my annual budget.

I've tried one solution which was to DIY things. I figured that if I didn't spend more than $10 in wood on a desk, I would be quite complacent about turning it into kindling. Turned out not to be the case because I felt like I sunk 30 hours into it + it's a quality piece.

The other solution is simply to have few/cheap wants i.e. ultraminimalism/hobo. I also find that restricting.
Yes. I hear you on time portion of the equation. I've not been willing to get rid of my fabulous Jack Sparrow costume. It took two years to make, and involved such fun challenges as pattern making from old books on historical garb. In addition to that effort, the materials were not cheap. The way you talk about time makes it clear why my gut just wouldn't let me dump it completely. (I did get rid of the backup pieces for the backup pieces... I can be a little out there when it comes to guarenteeing completeness!) What remains can fit into a medium size box. So it stays.

I'm also cheating a bit - my Dad has his father's antique table that I had rescued 25 years ago and had refinished. It is not replaceable by either time or money. He's using it in his living room. So I don't exactly have it, but it is not gone forever either.

Other things have been easier to let go after some analysis. My drums were sold three years ago. That was a lot of sunk money, but the knowledge it takes to buy the right equipment again in terms of quality (cheap stuff just doesn't work right), and the desired sound, that itself a time costly experience lesson, is still in my head. To make it easier, storage costs were a full room of space. 100 square feet of overheard quickly overtakes the costs of replacing the the equipment in a few years if I change my mind. Even renting a cheap storage space would be $100/month x 12 months x X years. Five years of storage exceeds what I would need to replace them, even at top quality.

It rather annoyingly seems 'stuff' has to be judged on a case by case basis. That itself takes time. Now that I'm traveling more, one set of decisions makes more sense, but when I settle down, that balance will change. Hopefully I won't regret the decisions I'm making now.

Speaking of which, I've noticed that loss aversion rears it's ugly head when people tell me how much they like the stuff I've given them. Or worse yet, if they tell me what high quality it is. Even if I would not currently use the item anyhow. I'm glad to understand the psychology behind the rather unpleasant feelings, even if it doesn't banish the emotions completely. It goes much smoother if I just never hear a word! :roll:

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Reread the War of Art. That is such a good book. I think my Dad would like it. I have to see if he's read it. There is a lot of mystic stuff in it that I happen to believe about creativity (it's something you channel, not necessarily originate). I've also had that voice tell me things at key moments in my life. Sometimes I wished I had listened when I had ignored it.

Sitting in Wichita, I get a call from a recruiter that a job close to family (few hours) is actually interested in looking at my resume. I say actually, not because I'm not a worthwhile candidate, but because I am not available until April. That is a long time off in the recruiting world. I guess no one else is looking that great so they want to look at my resume. We'll see. I'll probably hear more in a few weeks - this company is not racing along on it's decision making process.

That brings up the perennial question (for me) of suck it up for full time work and get this FI thing done, or keep going employed part year as a traveler.

Pros and cons to full-time: I could double my savings in three years through sheer brute force (aka saving's rate). But I'm a low energy person. When I have a full time job, it's hard to do much else besides basic errands. I can fit some socializing in too, but as an introvert, that can be more a drain than a help.

Pros and cons to traveling: The older I get, the harder it seems to pop into a new environment for a few months and then leave. The plus side is I learn TONS of new technology. There is no other way to accumulate that breadth of experience so quickly. And I pay a much lower tax rate since I'm make 1/3 to 1/4 I would as a full time person.

Probably more important for long term robustness, I could get a novel (or more) done a year and get it up on Amazon. I know it's going to take a few books to really learn how to write a book, if that makes sense. And there is learning to do about the publishing business.

Plus, I want to live part-time up north by family, and part-time on the west coast. I am done with winters, and the not so subtle misogyny of the midwest. Dating there for women is an uphill battle due to numbers alone. On the west coast the odds are ever in my favor.

Frankly, I know what I want is the traveling, but my resistance is giving me fears about the possibility of not getting a gig when I need it, of never writing anything that sells, of being a fraud. The cure to this is doing. I know that. I guess I'm just venting here.

Plus I can live in my mom's art studio if I really need to. I've already done that for two weeks this year while between places.

Sorry to not having entertaining financial charts. I did just commit 18k of this gig to the recruiting company's 401k. It feels good to get that socked away in a short period. It's an addicting thrill in fact. Even with going to school for the last three years, my net worth has never been higher. Don't ever pay for grad school, boys and girls, not ever.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Made black lentils the other day, One of the first recipes I've made with legumes that I've really liked. The pickled jalapeños, and fresh red onion and greens mixed in probably helped a lot. It was four meals this week, plus that many more in the freezer for about $9 (including the toppings). I can do better by buying in bulk, although I refuse to settle on non-organic. I can't do the ultimate in cheap (rice) due to my digestion not being thrilled with it, but I can supplement with delicious potatoes for carbs. They are not that expensive if purchased by the bag, even at organic prices.

I'm also looking forward to playing more with my pressure cooker. My grocery list has a ton of different types of beans to try. I'm thinking a white bean turkey chili might be a great treat.

I recently calculated my WR at 6% for a studio all by myself. I think I can do better on the living expenses by getting a roommate. My last experience was surprisingly awesome - I find myself wishing I had not given up that two years ago, thinking I was moving to OR full time for the ex. That place would have brought my WR down to 4.15 percent. Viola - next career here I come. Dang nab it. There has to be other amazing roommates out there. I'm going to find them! I might look by the university and see if I can match up with a female grad student.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

What a week. I just got my HSA ACA health insurance policy lined up for 2017... then Cheeto Hilter gets elected. Hopefully I can at least use the deduction for 2017, even if the policy goes away. Now I for sure will be either a MN or CA resident. Both have ways to get health insurance even if I cannot get an individual policy. I don't know what those red state residents are going to do.

The job in Kansas is weird. I am surrounded by people who voted for Trump. It's uncomfortable. This state is poor as fuck, and treats it's residents terribly. They have a high tax rate on food. Food. That alone tells me there is a war on poor people here. In contrast, there also seems to be a high number of people driving Cadillacs. One of the women here gave me a ride to pick up my car that needed a new battery. I was shocked when we got to her car and it was a Cadillac SUV. I guess it cost about as much as her yearly salary, if not more. Her husband is a Texas state trooper supervisor, so not some investor high roller. I wonder what she thought when she saw my 18 year old Honda. I know she was surprised when directed I her to some tiny immigrant owned garage in a working class neighborhood. I trust yelp, and like supporting small businesses.

The sexism in the workplace is palpable. The women working the treatment machines are 'the girls'. I am the only women physicist out of four. I am also the only one with a PhD (another use for education - trying to level the field). I had to ask one of the others to not use the word 'Puss' to describe someone else. Grrr. Not in my presence.

In that context, amongst some other things, I want this job to end soon. I would have actually walked off two weeks ago except I want to retain my good relationship with this recruiting company.

Under the cloud of all that, I get an offer by the newest physicist (the new chief) to stay on a few months into January and February. He and I have the same work ethic so get along well. It is a bird in the hand in uncertain times. Contrast that with my plans to spend the winter in LA writing a novel to get my new career started. The timing is because 1. winter and 2. I can sit in on a class at my old school where every student is also writing a book in ten weeks (60k words minimum) I'm torn. I had decided this morning to keep my end date in December, but haven't told anyone yet so can change my mind on Monday. My existence is pretty fragile right now - I have my singular (granted high) income source. Even with working with four different agencies, as well as independently, it feels crappy to not have another strong alternative income source already rolling.

My living expense 'envelope' is fairly flush so I'd be good for a while even without the extension.

My mind is weighing: earn my 2017 401k contribution immediately verses working on getting a income source going that might eventually pay enough to live on *if* I do it right. Going by the Wheaton scale, the smartest thing to do is reduce fragility.

My experiments with the high pressure cooker have gone well. I have not used it as much as I thought I would, because frankly I can't eat food that fast! Haven't spent a dime at the work cafeteria last this week. Even splurging on a grass fed tenderloin steak for dinner one night, I'm still way ahead just by not buying lunches at work.

Not a word about the job in WI. Just as well. F Wisconsin. They killed that Saudi student in the rural area I'd be working at. It's time to be in the (relative) safety of a blue state.

Not too impressed with the general populace's ignorance of history - or even current events. The mess that is Syria was triggered by a peaceful public protest that ended up in a massacre. Turkey is the grip of a similar dictator type. He is planning on building 174 prisons to house all the professors and librarians he has rounded up (35k+ people!). How long before he decides to just kill them all, like China did with the intellectuals? Things can change faster than you can imagine.

Has anyone heard about the story of three aircraft crashing on a runway? One craft clipped another on the runway, tearing off it's roof. A survivor on that craft tells of her, and others, being in shock - just sitting in their seats staring forward. Her partner had to scream at her, and shake her to get her to move. Just as the two of them crawl off the plane to safety, along with some stewardesses who had tried and failed to immobilize others, another plane crashes into the damaged plane, killing the remainder.

The image of the people on board immobilized by shock is a haunting one.

I think that is what happens at first with dramatic social change - the ones who survive are the ones who move.

So another task in the upcoming months is to get my italian passport together, both for me and my family. I'm also thinking about applying for a job in Aus. Not my top choice but nothing is open in NZ right now. Go I'm too old to get in on points alone - need a job offer. Much as I'd hate a permanent full time job. And it sounds like Australia might have some facist issues going on itself... going to have to learn more first.

If the passport and/or job are not needed, fantastic. I'd much rather stay here.
Last edited by CS on Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:41 am, edited 4 times in total.

DutchGirl
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by DutchGirl »

Hi CS,

I'm glad I don't live in the US at this moment. But on the other hand, my country, the Netherlands, isn't doing that great, either. Elections coming up in spring, and we have an idiotic political candidate too, who might win votes as well. Unfortunately. People are pretty weird, aren't they?

I hope things aren't going to be as bad as you think they will be. Being in a blue state indeed may shield you from the worst consequences of the voters' choices. Good luck!

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

Hi DutchGirl,

Thanks. Yeah, I'd heard you guys were dealing with that too. It's a horror show - people struggling seem to just want to stick it to others when they've had enough. Or maybe it's just desperation. Whatever the source, it seems to be a deep seated part of human psychology. We are deep in an oncoming wave of destructiveness. Our current period of peace has been the longest in recent history... shockingly long, actually.

We are just a few days post election here and already some (most?) campaign promises that got him here are on the table if not outright broken. No term limits for congress - gone, shaking up Washington - gone (he is appointing longtime politicians), the ACA healthcare might stay after all, or at least the most important parts, but also the parts that would bankrupt the insurance companies. This man knows nothing about policy, much less complex systems.

I just hope no country treads on his fragile ego enough to trigger a nuke strike in the next few years. Turkey seems intent on needling the US. That is just not a good idea right now. Two narcs go head to head, blowing the human race to smithereens.

I truly hope it doesn't get that bad too - but four days and not a word against the violence in his name is not a good sign. Kids in schools are out and out telling the minorities they are going to go. Attacks are up. People are threatening to 'grab women by the pussy' because now everyone can get away with it.

I am worried about one of my teachers. He is a prominent and outspoken muslim scholar. In the short term he has the resources to protect himself. But a national registry?

DutchGirl
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by DutchGirl »

Ouch. That sounds an awful lot like the national registry they started on the jews, WW2, and which then meant it was awfully easy to pick them up and kill them. I hope enough people in the US will have enough historical awareness to rally against that idea.

I also don't see why the government needs to know what religion you have. I guess lots of governments disagree with me (the German one, for example), but I don't see why it would matter to a government.

henrik
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by henrik »

DutchGirl wrote:I also don't see why the government needs to know what religion you have. I guess lots of governments disagree with me (the German one, for example), but I don't see why it would matter to a government.
The German government has a practical reason for it - they collect tax on behalf of the church. You can always just declare no affiliation, it's easier and cheaper:) Then again who knows.. rounding up atheists might also be something someone will deem necessary to save the society at some point.

DutchGirl
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by DutchGirl »

henrik wrote:
DutchGirl wrote:I also don't see why the government needs to know what religion you have. I guess lots of governments disagree with me (the German one, for example), but I don't see why it would matter to a government.
The German government has a practical reason for it - they collect tax on behalf of the church.
Yes, but that is something where I don't see why the government should have to do that. If a church wants to have money from its followers, it should convince them to give them that money and it should have its own system of collecting that money. Why have the government involved in it? Why pay civil servants to collect money on behalf of several different churches?

I come to understand that in Germany this has grown historically after world war two, the churches were supposed to keep citizens from doing immoral things like those that had happened during WW2 (nevermind that most Germans were christians before and during world war two anyway). Still, that they decided that this was the best option, back then, doesn't mean that it actually is the best option. So, again, I see no reason why the German government would need to know to which religious faith one belongs.

henrik
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by henrik »

@DutchGirl, I absolutely agree with you. My point was that the government doesn't necessarily "disagree with you", it's just that they've been given the task by the legislative powers (i.e. "the people") and they need the information to carry it out. You're right that the solution would be to take away the task.

CS
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Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

That involvement of the government in with the church seems eminently disagreeable. And yes, Atheists make just as good a target as any other in some people's minds.

Been feeling a bit down lately. Perhaps too much work. Perhaps the uncertainty of life here now...

In CA for a week doing coverage on a job that will probably bring me repeat business every year. That's good (I think... uncertainty again). It's in the east bay - coincidentally where Rachel Maddow was born, which delights me. I learned that on her website recently (there is no cable here), where I also learned that she lives in or near Northampton, the location of my favorite travel job ever.

Wisconsin got back to me (surprise). I have an interview for a chief position. Crap. Mixed feelings on that one. And a lot of frustration that I'm still dealing with trading my life energy for dollars in my late forties. If only I had been just a wee bit smarter with money in my youth - at least I've only worked full time for about 7 years of my life.

401k is maxed out for the year, the money is set aside for IRA, HSA and SEP, and enough non-retirement funds to last me for a year without work. All told it is about 50% savings rate. Am I the only one with nearly all my money in retirement funds? Thank goodness for 72t if needed.

I did some research on writing romance novels a week or so ago. Read a few by an author on Amazon that claims to be making a few thousand a month selling at the $2.99 price point. I could tell she wrote them fast - and didn't splurge for a picky editor. Not so much typos (few), but a few gaps where she had clearly rewritten something and forgotten to match up a detail here and there. The writing was so simple. All first person, little time spent setting the scene or carefully laying out backstory to come back later. But I think I could tell why people buy them... they want to see the satisfaction of having their characters win.

On the flip side, I'm reading Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge. He's on the edge for me: his character and setting are a bit like literary science fiction. Lots of thought provoking detail. But sometimes I struggle to stay in the story.

I'm also reading Lolita. I fell in love with Nabokov's writing in "Speak: Memory". But somehow, knowing just a bit about this story drags on me. I'm not sure it's a world I want to know more about.

Looking forward to get back to Southern California. Not a fan of either the cold or the dark - and when working that is what greets me every evening. There is a monthly MFA/PhD sci fi book club at my old school that I plan on attending this winter. I'm excited to see everyone again.

I'm also excited to get back to waking at the decent hour of 9 am, writing until noon, and then... perhaps dating? It's a thought.

CS
Posts: 709
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:24 pm

Re: CS's Journal

Post by CS »

I'm coming to realize just how much time I can waste ruminating. Sometimes it is effective, like when planning out the most efficient way to save money, but sometimes it gets in the way, like when I've got the problem figured out and now need to put any further time into something productive.

Does anyone else do that?

I keep thinking about the three week position I turned down in Northern CA because it would conflict with my planned time in Southern CA. It was good money for an easy stint. But I think paying yourself first doesn't just include money - it has to include time too. I mean, that is why we are doing this, right? For control over our time?


Financials:
164-206 months of expenses saved up - depending on how credit I'll get for the health insurance payments (affecting my monthly costs)

My current big obsession is reaching 500k saved. Should happen some time in the next 24 months, barring something unusual.

Having some misgivings about the PP, but then again, things are so uncertain, this doesn't feel like the right time to make big changes either. It might be the perfect time to be in it.

It is just a faulty, (uninformed) perception of mine that there is just too much money, from too many people, floating around? It seems to have flooded the market. People don't know where to put their cash. I hope we are not (but fear we are) in the midst of a cycle that will thin the herd. Having half the population would solve many problems.

News:
Had a Skype type interview with WI after all. Was asked if I was good in conflict (can I stand up to people). Sure I am, but do I want to deal with that for a job in a place I don't want to live? Probably not. The recruiter is persuasive though... Or perhaps I am susceptible to pressure. Need to work on that.

Plan for 2017:
Earn enough to cover a year (April to April 2018), save at least that much again (MMM Wheaton level), and have a check from Amazon by the end of the year. I don't care if the check is for $1. I want to have my first book sale.

DutchGirl
Posts: 1646
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: CS's Journal

Post by DutchGirl »

Ruminating. Yup, I do it too. And it definitely helps, sometimes. Sometimes other people are running around panicking, and I'm the one who is already working on the solution, because I had already thought about what to do if this were to happen. Sometimes people accuse me of being cold when I don't react like they do - shocked and overwhelmed. So that's a downside, as is spending too much time ruminating, and fearing things that will never happen...

And remember that the recruiter's job is to connect a worker (employee/contractor) to a specific job; if they can convince you to take that job, they will get money. Doesn't mean that it's a good job for you. Actually, this particular one doesn't sound like a good job for you at all. I assume that you'll have different options, too? I see this with my boyfriend, sometimes he says "no" to an opportunity, and then the next one will present itself within 1-2 months...

I think your observation is correct, CS, to me it also feels like everyone is investing these days, because savings accounts bring in hardly any money. People start exploring other options, but people also generally aren't very good at that. They just seem to jump in, and transfer money to anyone promising them "more money". I see it with Dutch bloggers who are all blabbering about P2P-lending (a very new market in the Netherlands) and also about at least one multilevel-marketing scam...

Still, doesn't mean you and I can't just keep going.

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