May Update
Musings
This thread made me think about what my strategy has been all along, assuming I had one.
I'm a very simple ISTJ (sometimes testing as a ESTJ when I feel merry), so I generally have no strategy, but rather a simple goal, and then I act pragmatically and consistently to achieve it.
I'm basically a mule. That's probably why I've been relatively successful as an employee.
My simple goal has always been freedom, which in the larger sense, also carries the meanings of independence/resiliency/optionality.
The plan has always been a logical follow up to that.
When I was 14, it translated into starting to work part time in order to have the cash to buy videogames.
When I was 19 it translated into studying economics (the degree that left the widest range of options).
When I was 23 it translated into picking the job offer farther away from home instead of the other ones in Milan, so that I had to move out of my parent's home.
Right after that, it translated into saving, so that I had the money to not be a slave to my job.
Around 7-8 years ago it translated into pursuing FIRE/ERE
etc
Jacob designed his life to minimize resource wasting and came up with a philosophy, a book and a great forum of interesting people as a side effect.
I instead just long to be able to have no masters, and I'm happy to notice my behavior is actually good for the planet or have other positive side effects.
In life, I'm a decent checkers player who doesn't think he's good at chess, and I am a huge believer in the fact that knowing your weaknesses is one of the most important strengths one can have.
Life
The auction sale of the apartment I had been looking to buy has been now set for July 21st. Will almost certainly go and bid to try snatch it.
I'm hopeful this shitty pandemic may scare off other potential buyers, if I could get it for the minimum price it would be a complete steal.
In other news, the motorbike is awesome.
I also just sold the scooter I had, for basically the same price I had bought it for about two years ago.
Cost of ownership including insurance and gas came out to around $200 per year, not bad.
Work
I received my contract offer for Hong Kong, it's in line with the upper range of what I was expecting, so I didn't negotiate anything except for very minor details.
I am of the philosophy that one doesn't have to negotiate at all times out of principle. They made me a good offer, I take it. I feel like I have to reward the company for being fair in the first place.
Also started the process for the work visa, let's see when I'll be able to move there (expecting year end or so).
In related news, I miss traveling so much.
Money
Saved 78%, no weird one-offs this month.
NW increased by more than 4 years of expenses since end of March.
Starting this month, I'm again allocating about 40% of them to cash, but stocks have recovered so fast that my cash % allocation has actually gone down
I now have 4 years of expenses sitting in a CD