I’ve read a lot of books in my day. A large part of childhood was spent with my nose firmly between the pages of one tome or another. I loved how the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes discovered the truths hidden behind deception and clever disguise, and the worlds where magic and sorcery were more powerful than science.
Whenever my mind grabbed hold of a new interest, it was the library that enabled me to share the experience and knowledge of my elders and superiors. Through books I learned about the brave adventurers who explored our planet and those nearby, the inventors who pioneered new industries and created the futuristic world of today, and how there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.
So it is no surprise that when I first started to think about investing and early retirement, I returned to the library. I’ve read hundreds of books on topics as broad as personal finances, taxes, stocks, bonds, stock options, clever real estate investing, and more.
Some time ago I received an email from one of the big brokerage firms, titled “Savvy Year-End Tax Strategies.” It contained much advice on how to minimize taxes and how to reduce taxable income, such as “Consider contributing as much as you can to a 401(k)” and “Be careful when selling highly appreciated assets, such as stocks, land, fine art, precious metals, or antiques.”
This might be considered good advice by some, but I just call it, “Boring!”
Benjamin Franklin once wrote that nothing is certain except death and taxes. I beg to differ. I personally expect to never pay taxes again, legally and respectfully.
“Wow, you guys are just traveling full time?! That is so great! How do you do that?”
Often when people hear about our nomadic lifestyle, they get excited about the possibilities. Many assume that you have to work 40 or more years to retire, or that long term international travel is only for college drop-outs and dirty hippies living on rice and beans. So when they meet us, two (somewhat) normal looking, articulate, and fun people, traveling the world in the lap of luxury, sometimes they start to wonder… “Could I do that?”
The answer we’ve shared with inquisitive fellow travel lovers over and over, is Yes.
There is an abundance of (seemingly) free crap in the world. Free latte! (just fill out this survey!) Free phone! (with two year contract.) Free whatchamacallit junk (just pay shipping and handling.) Free puppies! (take two!)
But sometimes, there are some real gems to be had. In our old apartment, most of our high end furniture was free. We’ve had several free nights in hotels and numerous free meals. And most recently, we will fly to Mexico for free
Alexander Ruled the World. What Would He Have Paid for Modern Medical Care?
What do King Tutankhamen, Alexander the Great, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Queen Elizabeth I, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, and J.P. Morgan all have in common? Despite living the richest and most luxurious lifestyles for their time and era, their lives sucked compared to yours
I’ve read a lot of books in my day. A large part of childhood was spent with my nose firmly between the pages of one tome or another. I loved how the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes discovered the truths hidden behind deception and clever disguise, and the worlds where magic and sorcery were more powerful than science.
