We got to Europe last week and on the first day had a great lunch with another American couple we were paired up with at a garden table. Alex was an accountant from Albuquerque who was often in Europe, with an American client in Germany. Before the bill came, I asked him to remind me what the tipping custom was. He said to simply round … Continue reading The American Tipping Contagion
Numbers, numbers, numbers. Even though my career was in brand, new product, and corporate strategy, I was always very good with numbers. Sometimes people would think I had a finance background. I could tear apart an income statement, market research survey, pricing/margin structure, marketing budget, or ROI better than most. I remember that I could very quickly – almost instantly – add, subtract, multiply, divide, … Continue reading Mathematical Acuity Lost
You’ve probably already read that Jimmy Buffett passed away this weekend at the age of 76. A lot has been written about Buffett, but I thought I would add a few words on his music and philosophy on life and how it relates positively to our early retirement lifestyle. I’ve mentioned Buffett quite a few times in my posts and feel like I’ve learned a … Continue reading Jimmy Buffett Lifestyle Legacy
A short post for a busy Friday … When I chat with friends, I often say that when it comes to money, we all have more than we need by any global standard. We also have a higher standard of living than we would have expected growing up in the 1960s-70s-80s. Because of this, I believe that time is the ultimate luxury. Time to live … Continue reading Bob Dylan: “What’s Money?”
Our pupper, Riley, celebrated his half-year birthday recently and my wife observed that based on an online calculator, he is now 27 years old in human years. I was surprised that he is already ‘older’ than our adult son by a couple years. It’s shocking to think about how quickly the little pup is aging. As most everyone knows, dogs age at about a 7:1 … Continue reading Dog Days of Life
It’s been quite a few years since I commented on Independence Day. If you value the freedom and autonomy that come from reaching FIRE (financially independent & retired early), you probably have an American flag flying in front of your house this holiday weekend. Related: Freedom For Our Nation & For Ourselves Unfortunately, our government representatives are letting our economic freedoms slip. The Heritage Foundation … Continue reading Our Economic Freedom
With the start of June, we’ve arrived into Glorious Summer in Minnesota- and peak lawn mowing season. At the FIRE Station, we’ve also made the full jump to an electric lawn mower. When my folks moved to a senior apartment a few years ago, I bought my Dad’s Snapper Electric Mower. I used it now and then, but mostly relied on my trusty, gas-powered Toro. … Continue reading Quietly Moving To Electric
It seems every generation wants to dump on the next one. Or, the one before it. Boomers complain about Millennials and Millennials say, “OK, Boomer”. Millennials say Boomers left the world a mess and Boomers say Millennials are ruining the world with their decisions. The irony of the situation is that the Boomers parented the Millennials themselves. (I’m a Gen X’er and our son’s a … Continue reading Gen Z Growing Wealth: The Kids Are Alright
Our preseason softball practice was cancelled this week due to rainy, windy weather in the low 40s. While other parts of the country are already enjoying golf and baseball opening day, we are muddling through April. We’ve had some nice days in the 80s, but also below freezing temperatures and snow. Our unpredictable ’Spring Showers’ season is meteorologically frustrating. People are anxious to get outside, … Continue reading Cold & Rainy
I was ordering a beer at the Margaritaville pool the other day and commenting on the run of great, sunny, +80-degree days we are having in Central Florida. (Far different than back in Minnesota where it was -14 degrees this morning). The waitress commented that her “off day” this week is Friday, and that “with my luck, it will probably rain that day.” (Perhaps she … Continue reading With “My Luck …”
