Get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and experience the incomparable privacy of this small, 40-residence Mediterranean-style high rise.

I often view my #1 value as being totally financially free. Mobile in everyway shape and form when I want where I want. But as time goes on, I realized that I am not this economical monster machine bent on no-life in order to achieve no-debt. So I see what you’re saying.

When I was growing up I wanted my eyebrow pierced and to dye my hair often. There is no reason to do this, I have great blond hair that not many people can get the shade of, but that is despite the fact of what I WANTED.

Most of the things we want are not things we need. But if we listened to people saying not to get what we want and we ended up with everything we needed, what then? You’ve driven all life out of your existence. All you have is your debt-free reality and who knows how long that took you to get there?

As I told my dad back then, “Let me be foolish and young!” and now as I say to myself, “Let me see the world and dream!”

No point in doing anything for the world if you’ve never experienced it or dared to dream what could be if tried.

Long comment sorry man! Your posts always make me think. Excellent.

-Greg
PS. I got my blog up. Tell me what you think? Working the kinks out… haha good thing didn’t try to learn html just this basic stuff throws me for a spin.

With the sale of my home in LA I bought my current home on 3 acres, & house is 2,900 sq ft for less than $225K, and had enough money left over to purchase several pieces of income producing real estate to support me when I do finally decide to retire. Most everything I need however I can find either on-line, at the big retailers in town (Target) or the specialty retailers (Pier 1, Hobby Lobby, Dillard’s) and Aiken actually has an amazing array of restaurants.

Before I moved however, I did several months of research to find a town I wanted to live in presumably for the rest of my life. I was mid-50’s then and while I might never retire “officially” I wanted a place where I could experience life at a slower pace.

All this said I have to admit I’ve been a nomad most of my life – the 6 years I spent living in CA was the longest I’ve lived anywhere since I graduated high school 40+ years ago and started moving up that proverbial career ladder – which accounted for several of my moves. I also have a small family (no siblings – Mom lives with us) and enjoy visiting family & getting to see new scenery. I also travel for business so boredom is not an issue either.

I guess my point is work should not dictate where you live nor should the cost – Your happiness with where you are should.

(though I have to admit to missing my jaunts to the Hollywood Bowl..)

Joking aside, I agree with you. My wife and I are considering a move to be closer to the rest of her family, even though it is substantially more expensive than where we currently reside. IMO, family is much more important than kiving as cheaply as possible. But that is our choice; others can choose whichever is best for them.

We’d miss the food variety too if we moved out of NYC.

But things would be easier in another state, especially one where housing is cheaper. My husband and I talk about selling our house at retirement and downsize to something cheaper at another state, but I think it is just talk. Who wants to start shoveling snow for the first time in your 60s?