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veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

indeed...

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

For the 500 types accumulation is an end in itself. Consider "Silas Marner" a character in 19th century English fiction.

The Fifth Column · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:22 am Post subject:

Silas Marner was fiction???

I gotta rethink that story!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Be wary of the paths of those who worship the false god Mammon !

dustdevil · Joined: 27 Mar 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Retired in U.S.

I try to strike a balance. I take my retirement in installments (using the total of 8-9 weeks off per annum) but will still have enough to retire reasonably in another 18 months. I won't have enough for paid-off houses in Hawaii and Thailand both, but I don't even want a house.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I can get you a park bench in a good location.

dustdevil · Joined: 27 Mar 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Retired in U.S.

Sitting on a park bench... eyeing little...well, you know...like Aqualung... no, I mean I can rent a house or very nice apartment in Chiang Mai for well under $300 a month, in which case anyone who understands personal finance will tell you it's better to rent than to own (especially as you can't buy a house in your own name as a foreigner in Thailand). In a place like Houston I can still rent an ok apartment for $600 in which case, considering my age of retirement, it's still better to rent. I've owned houses before, outright, and prefer not to bother. This strategy also allows me greater mobility. Don't like the place so much? Break the lease and go somewhere else. Life is good being single.

dustdevil · Joined: 27 Mar 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Retired in U.S.

That being said, my other option is to retire in a dumpster in Burkina Faso if my stocks take a dive. I think they have dumpsters in Ouagadougou.

The Fifth Column · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: but...

dustdevil · Joined: 27 Mar 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Retired in U.S.

My clinic's front-end staff here in Houston were supposed to call me about insurance authorization for a procedure. What did they do? They called a friend of mine in New Jersey. Very helpful. Good thing I don't have Ebola, or they would have sent me straight out to somebody's wedding or something to kiss the bride!