guitar player's journal

[guitarplayer]

To expand:

@J_

After we met last year in the Baltic at @Loutfard’s, I wished that you and your wife would live not so far from us. That we could meet more often. Because DW and me liked you both a lot. And could learn much from you both.

Likewise! We thought about organising to head to the Netherlands this year actually, I will ping you about it separately if we manage to put something together. I know you have a bit of an itinerant lifestyle, so will make sure to get in touch in advance. I say 'if we manage' because it is not that very obvious we will manage because I took a lot of holidays when in Spain earlier this year.

With regard to your last post I asked my wife do you see guitarplayer as a teacher? Answer: yes, he likes to explain, is good communicating with others, is patient etc. And that is my impression too. So, good luck and follow your plan.

It would be a long term plan (to get there), but life still ahead is most likely also long, so it might just work out. It would be putting various elements of my past experience to work together.

@7w5

I have found math teaching and tutoring to be very flexible, in demand, and likely to provide wage adequate to provide 1 Jacob/year income just working 1 day/week.

Strong points, and I will add it can be done internationally. I have access to the EU and EEA space with no hassle whatever (bar the language, but a different language is a bonus from my perspective), and with experience probably a way to move about more broadly. And with tutoring and supply teaching options, it has the potential to expand from salary person to working person.

I'm also as interested in how humans learn math as the math itself, so that keeps it interesting when working with those who still need to master basic skills.

Yes for me this is the case also! It would be access to free lab, being an undercover psychology researcher. Or in fact, it could be a first step for me to move to educational psychology, in a decade? I have a degree to makes this possible.

In some ways, basic math is more interesting than advanced math, because it starts to border on essential questions such as "Does counting require fingers?" or "Does a sense of order depend upon only having eyes in front of head?" or "What is a unit?"

I am such a sucker for these fundamental questions (gazing towards the horison)! First principles.

@Loutfard

Have you tested your tolerance for the rigidity of the job, especially if teaching in the public sector?

I think I navigate pretty well under the radar in rigid environments. Most of my world experience is interacting with what I consider rigid environments to some extent! In this context in particular though, no. However, I have experience of teaching environment in the third sector, and experience of working in the public sector.

A friend was a very good teacher. His paperwork was most often late. Some of it he never filled out. [...] His bosses left him alone. Grudgingly, but they did.

Yes I am okay working this dynamic so long I feel the core activities are worthwhile doing.

If anyone would be the person to change young people's lives for the better, it's you.

I think my starting position would be that I would get to talk about mathematics which I really like, and as a bonus maybe someone's life would be turned for the better. Because the former I am sure of, but the latter is outside of my control. But this said, I think overall if someone pays attention I could be a good role model after years of interacting on the forum here, and for other reasons too!

[Jean]

I can very easily picture you as a good teacher.
But like Loutfard, I don't know if you would enjoy the actual job.
It used to be quite easy to find substitute teaching gig to test it.

[guitarplayer]

Thanks @Jean! I think for me it would be type 2 fun most likely anyway. Like with running a marathon, you don't really enjoy preparing for and running it in the simple sense.

I like the idea that (ETA: at least on the surface, then to bulk it up) there is a very simple and clear goal which is to try to convey a well defined material to (an)other person(s). Whether one succeeds or not is another matter.

Also, I think we finally got there (again). We have a technically paid off place, 10-15 years (depending on the trailing figure) of current living expenses saved (and over and above that the outstanding flat money to pay off mortgage in summer) and ~80% savings rate. So we are in a situation that I had dreamt about as a student and just after my first degree. Take some time off, then engage in something, pick up more studies, try teaching, do a PhD, go travel somewhere, record music, cycle Europe, do half marathon in 90min, go helpxing for a year, be a dad, you get the idea. I'm still up for these things, the spirit's there. Not to turn my back at society, but to be at the fringe of society at times. It's a good place to be and my natural habitat.

[7Wannabe5]

I am definitely not a human who flourishes in a rigid environment over the long run, but I have also found that it can be fairly easy to avoid this within institution of education. Basically, the core of rigidity (adjust as appropriate for realms outside of the U.S.) would be teaching at the 2nd to 4th grade level in a conventional school in a lower-middle to middle-middle class district. This is the sort of realm where if you suggested the possibility of teaching multiplication after addition, but before subtraction, you might as well be mumbling jabberwocky. This is the Simple quadrant, any move away from this core of Simple will head you more in the direction of Complicated, Complex, or Chaotic, therefore, towards less Rigid/Concrete/Conventional.

OTOH, if you are substitute teaching and all you are looking for is an easy day's work for some pay, then this might be one of your more boring, but easy to manage choices. Kind of the gig equivalent of a date with a middle-aged insurance adjustor wearing khakis whose hobby is collecting baseball cards at a chain restaurant located in front of the mall. How did it go? Fine. Do you want to do it again? Not really.

[guitarplayer]

OTOH, if you are substitute teaching and all you are looking for is an easy day's work for some pay, then this might be one of your more boring, but easy to manage choices. Kind of the gig equivalent of a date with a middle-aged insurance adjustor wearing khakis whose hobby is collecting baseball cards at a chain restaurant located in front of the mall. How did it go? Fine. Do you want to do it again? Not really.

My analogy when chatting with DW about it was that of a shepherd.

[...] yet the occupations which require not too much physical exertion do not hinder the mind from reflecting on some of the higher things and by such reasoning from increasing its own wisdom—a goal toward which every philosopher earnestly strives. For these reasons I recommend particularly the life of a shepherd.

[ertyu]

suggestion: research how to train specifically as an international baccalaureate diploma program maths teacher.

[guitarplayer]

Interesting, thanks @ertyu!

For this project, I would take @mFs van approach: first build van space in your house. First I would try to casually tutor people. I might even sign up for tutoring people at work in programming - there are schemes to do with this.

[guitarplayer]

I am looking for a mastermind group, in the first instance joining one that’s already out there, but could try to build one (in which case it would be on a light ‘socialiser’ side). Let me know!

viewtopic.php?p=300112#p300112

Hi, are there any mastermind groups which have space for people? DW diagnosed me with extroversion which has no way out because of lack of likeminded people.

This is after I shared with her that I have thoughts of doing a presentation about ere to my line manager.

If there’s no groups that have space, are people keen to start one?

[jayritchie]

Are there many schools offering IB in Scotland? It seems unfortunately to be becoming less popular in England.

It would be worth reading international teachers forums to see what they suggest and to get a feel for the current opportunities and developments.

[loutfard]

I am looking for a mastermind group, in the first instance joining one that’s already out there, but could try to build one (in which case it would be on a light ‘socialiser’ side). Let me know!

viewtopic.php?p=300112#p300112

I would certainly apply to join.

[ertyu]

Are there many schools offering IB in Scotland? It seems unfortunately to be becoming less popular in England.

It would be worth reading international teachers forums to see what they suggest and to get a feel for the current opportunities and developments.

Scotland idk, but if your priority is international mobility + teaching at schools with language of instruction English, the IB gives you the widest options. IB schools might not be the most common, but there are a couple in every single country. In addition, being IB specialized/certified won't hinder your options anywhere else, but not having the cert bars a certain range of schools to you. The better teachers gravitate towards the IB for that reason. There are teaching programs in the UK that offer an IB track - if one is thinking of training as a teacher + has a strong background like @gp, going for the specialized track is a no-brainer.

[NewBlood]

I would certainly apply to join.

Me too!

[jayritchie]

Scotland idk, but if your priority is international mobility + teaching at schools with language of instruction English, the IB gives you the widest options. IB schools might not be the most common, but there are a couple in every single country. In addition, being IB specialized/certified won't hinder your options anywhere else, but not having the cert bars a certain range of schools to you. The better teachers gravitate towards the IB for that reason. There are teaching programs in the UK that offer an IB track - if one is thinking of training as a teacher + has a strong background like @gp, going for the specialized track is a no-brainer.

My thoughts also. I remember discussing this with teachers who were focussing on working at IB schools or in schools which offered IB pathways as a couple of years experience made a massive difference to getting the most desirable international jobs.

[guitarplayer]

Slack. To expand (slack and on the topic of slack) hopefully.

Also, allotment looks great I’m going for a coffee with plot owners this weekend

We have plans to visit forumites across spring and summer.

[basuragomi]

I'd be interested in starting a new MMG now that I've got fewer daily obligations. Looks like from this thread that'd be four people.

[guitarplayer]

Okay, I created a thread on what I call a hive mind group where I describe a bit what I have in mind, let's carry on there to see if we can converge of something of common interest.

===============================

So slack, underappreciated slack. I think with my transition to another team at work (or maybe just some recent changes) I am getting the 'no slack' or 'hurry up and wait' approach that casts its shade on the rest of life. Not good! The first team, or first manager in particular, let me roam freely doing stuff I was interested in. The second one is, I don't know, maybe more your regular manager. Sometimes I talk to DW and I struggle to put my finger on what is bothering me there. They are trying to be cool and all that, but at the same time I hear stuff that sounds really unnatural to my ear. For example 'xyz person so many levels above looked at your work, well done!'. Or that we have to continue pressing with something at this crucial moment even though I know the moment is not crucial. So I don't know if my manager is clueless about what is going on or rather is a calculating person. My first manager was definitely taking it easy and this was an approach I appreciated.

Otherwise, I got DW dad's parker rollerball pen and am enjoying hand journaling. I went through a(n admittedly small) notebook in a week and a bit! Writing down thoughts on paper feels good.

For the allotment, went for teas and coffees this morning. A run there is about 25 min, on my plot there is shed, so I think I will keep a set of clothes there and either run or cycle there. The plot is great, there is a plum and apple tree, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, a shed with tools and well maintained 65 square meters for growing food. This can be expanded, there is quite a bit of grass paths and a bit of a hedge. I think the whole plot is above 200 sqm, maybe something to check. There are structures on it, like shed, greenhouse, compost bins. But blackberries grow sort of outside of it, by the fence so there's some sneaky stealth growth. The greenhouse needs fixing with about 5-7 panes missing after storms earlier this year.

In short, we got really lucky with the plot!!! I ordered 10 kg of vitanoire purple potatoes from Northern Ireland to ensure I get a variety with compounds that you get from blueberries (hence the colour) that thrives in this climate. First year I am playing defensive to see how the year unfolds there at the allotments, and these purple potatoes are just going to be an easy win all round, needing so little work as potatoes do. Elsewhere, I will use our seeds from back when we lived in the countryside. I see there are lots of brassicas, eg rocket, kale, broccoli, as well as squashes and pumpkins and greens of course. I also got some seeds from today's teas and coffees, onions, lettuces, white cabbage. All fairly easy to grow. This time round I will be dealing with it, where the few years back it was mostly DW dealing with gardening.

I think I will be spending a lot of time there, journaling with my parker rollerball pen in the shed with a head torch or toasting in the glasshouse, if I manage to fix it. People there seem good to be around.

[guitarplayer]

Finance: what would you do in this situation (I know this would not be financial advise and I am to do my own research).

I have been on the forum for a few years now, and whilst I tried to educate myself about investing, my investments did not fare well so far and overall it might be DW and I have at this point an overall negative return on investments in stocks (which does not mean it will stay like this if we hold into the future). I did lots of smart moves in terms of taxes, and the spending side of things I have well under control. In general we are very well financially, in particular we were not much exposed to the recent and ongoing market downfall (also did not participate, okay we did but just a little, in the market going up previously). I tried to read the investment curriculum but I am just disinterested, at least in the first book 'Economics', and I cannot get interested.

I recognise there is a correction going on, or what other technical term you have for it. We have now $40k cash (not counting an emergency fund cash) and there will be another $40k cash released from one savings account in the summertime. We also generate surplus cash every month (that is the post tax cash that does not go to retirement accounts etc). We have a mortgage of about $40k and were planning to pay it of in the summer. I see variable interest rate on the mortgage after the current fix is 6.74% but I can remortgage to 4.5-4.3% fixed for 2-5 years, and even take some of the equity out. Our place is cheap but also we currently have well over 50% of it paid off.

Now, recognising that we might be experiencing another of these 'rare (yet becoming more common) moments', I want to put my mind to doing something smart with the cash. S and P 500 is over 20% down from where it was less than 2 months ago. Now a blanket question: what would you do or what would you read up on in this situation?

[sky]

I am following the strategy in the book "The Income Factory" by Steven Bavaria. This is an income investing strategy where the goal is to select high dividend funds, generally in the range of 8% - 12% annual return. The idea is to take less than the full dividend as income and reinvest the additional amount. General advice is to take the first 8% of your annual return and reinvest the rest, and in order to keep ahead of inflation, target a fund balance of 130% to 200% of your income needs at an 8% withdrawal rate. (A fund balance of 200% of your needs at an 8% withdrawal rate calculates out to 4% withdrawal rate). The book and its fund recommendations are starting to get old, go to youtube and search on "Income Factory" for more up to date information.

This is a model portfolio from the book:

Table 7.1 Income Factory Model Portfolio
(Aggressive Risk/Reward - 12 Funds)

Senior Loans
BGB

High Yield
BGH

Multi-Asset
RA

Preferreds
LDP

Convertibles
CHY

Real Estate
AWP

Utility/Infrastructure
MFD

Energy and MLPs
FMO

Finance
FGB

Equity - Covered Call
GPM
IGA

General Equity
USA

Now you don't have to buy the book. As I mentioned, there are probably better fund choices today, because this list is from a book printed in 2020. Go to youtube and try to find income investors who follow the "Income Factory" strategy to learn more. Income Architect and Armchair Investor are good.

I do not think we have hit the bottom, but who knows. By using an income investing strategy, rather than a growth strategy, market volatility becomes less of a worry.

[jacob]

I do not think we have hit the bottom, but who knows. By using an income investing strategy, rather than a growth strategy, market volatility becomes less of a worry.

But by using high yield (the yield is usually high for a reason), dividend cuts (during a recession) become a real worry.

[Stasher]

Find a good Global EX-UnitedStates index fund (I only say this because of my recent personal choice to divest from US) and invest away, just keep buying more ETFs as you get the opportunity. Then depending on your risk tolerance split some of the cash into a bond index also, we recently went from 10% of our investments to 30% here in 2025 after seeing all the chaos. I've been doing the simple invest and forget path of index funds for 13 years now, it has yet to be the wrong decision and the best thing I learned in the MMM ERE FIRE world.

If you aren't after the traditional 6-7% annualized stock market growth, I see nothing wrong from bank term deposit products of the 6-12 month nature. Where we are in Canada they are paying 4% currently, so if you are trying to live a true ERE life and your mortgage will paid off soon in your plans this might fit your goals?