One of the things that falls off your radar as a 9-to-5 employee is the idea of going on big outings with the kids. When I was working on my most recent two contracts I was tired by the time Saturday rolled around. The tiredness on my part wasn’t physical – I can admit that to myself now – but mental. that the idea of going anywhere other than a local park or to the local mall seemed almost painful. Going back into New York after five consecutive days of commuting there was almost out of the question.
Now that I’m starting my fourth week away from work that mental exhaustion is leaving me. My mind is getting clearer and I feel like doing things again. We went to the New York Botanical Garden for the Holiday Train Show on Thursday. I was so unaccustomed to going anywhere in New York on a weekday that I was stunned by how empty and pleasant the park was – no crowds, no lines. Life moves at a different and more pleasant pace when you don’t have the exact same schedule as millions of other people within 25 miles. I like it. I am going to try hard to keep this lifestyle I have now. It won’t be easy and I have to start working harder at it. I also need to think of how you represent it on a treasure map.
Some links from the Money Writers and others:
Using Retirement to Get Really Good at Something: Exactly what I’m talking about – now is the time when I can get really good at something, and use that to stay “retired”.
17 Tips for End of Year Tax Planning: I can’t believe 2008 is already over – time to get excited about April 15th!
Ebates Review: Online Rewards, Double Cash Back When You Shop!: I recently “discovered” ebates, too (note the link over on the right) but I have to admit I haven’t used it yet. Here is a brief introduction to the site.
Peer to Peer Lending Offers High Returns In Low Rate Environment: I have to say that all of my worries, and many other people’s worries about P2P lending appear ridiculous now. I thought “I’d better leave my money in index funds, where it’s safe” rather than investing more heavily in P2P lending. I’ve written about Lending Club before and I have generally liked tinkering around with my account there and at Prosper (full disclosure: I used to write for their blog). But the kicker is this: my Lending Club account has outperformed EVERY SINGLE stock market investment I have this year. And it’s not even close. I’ll have more to say about that.
Earn More than You Spend: One of my favorite pieces of advice. Earn more, earn more. Keep an abundance mindset.
Small Businesses Need Your Advice: Here’s your chance to do some small business consulting if you have experience in that area.
What if History Doesn’t Repeat Itself?: What if “the market goes up over every 15 year period on average?” isn’t true this time? What if “the government can spend its way out of a recession” doesn’t work? If you say it, people accuse you of being Chicken Little of The-Sky-Is-Falling Fame… but what if?
Suze Orman Answers Some Financial Questions from Various Bloggers: I always enjoy seeing the “real media” crossing paths with bloggers – and you realize that “real media” is an outdated term. I am real media, too.
The Two-Career Assumption: We abandoned this thinking a long time ago, but it is interesting how Americans have bought into the idea that it is the norm, not the deviation, for a married couple with kids to have two careers. I’ve written about the myth of the parent that NEEDS to work, too.
Your Health: This paragraph says it all, and echoes how I feel: “Recently Seth MacFarlane, the creator of “Family Guy” and other shows, got a contract worth $100,000,000 from Fox. He made the comment that he traded Fox his 20’s for a hundred-million dollars. He figures they got a good deal, since money is a renewable resource but time isn’t.”
Checking out Kiplinger’s 2008 Best Financial Service Picks: I hate changing checking accounts and other financial services, but mine are so much worse than some of these I might have to consider going through that pain.
CNN Inspire Summit: Millionaire Mommy Jen Smith participated in this CNN event last week – hopefully she’ll get permission to put the video up on her site!
Too Tired To Succeed?”: “The ancient Greeks came to the same conclusion, viewing intense daily physical practices as a necessary element of the pursuit of scholarly success thousands of years ago. ” My dad, since he retired, has gone on a massive health kick and says he wishes he had started sooner and done more (and this is someone who has always been physically active and fit). I am slowly, slowly getting back into an exercise routine, and it does make a massive difference.
Why we need an obesity tax – CNN.com: I understand this thinking, and in some ways I endorse it. We’ve certainly taxed nicotine for years. We should legalize marijuana and tax it, too. But let me ask – where does it end? A too-much-TV-watching tax? The not-taking-your-vitamins tax? The runs-with-scissors-in-their-hands tax? Taxation is not a good way to shape social policy.
For 7 1/2 yrs I worked Fridays nights, 8 hrs Sat and 4 hrs Sun in order to put myself through school.
When I graduated, I told myself that I would never do that again, even if it meant making less money. Of course the universe gave me an opportunity to test my resolve within 6 months of starting practice.
I didn't give in and 10 yrs later, my hours have gotten even better and I love having a couple of days during the week to enjoy my city.
I hope you hang on to this.
@Middle Way: Kudos and congrats. Thanks for the encouragement
@Middle Way: Kudos and congrats. Thanks for the encouragement