Today’s post is technically a 10 Questions. I usually publish these on Saturdays, but today I make an exception.
Normal life is a compromise. We work for 40 or 50 years. When our time finally frees up, our bodies aren’t what they used to be. What fun is having all of the time in the world and not being able to completely enjoy it?
One of the aspects of a normal job that I despise most is lack of time for travel. If your vacations are anything like mine, you get a week a couple times per year. In that precious week, you try to cram a bunch of stuff in. Often, I’ve just started to decompress at the very end of the vacation.
Perhaps the part of Financial Independence that I look forward to most is slow travel. Instead of renting a hotel room somewhere for a week, I’ll rent a home in an interesting place for a month or two months. There will be plenty of time to walk to town every day, read books in the afternoon and hear stories from the locals. We’ll immerse ourselves in the place and take it easy.
Because we have children in school, these trips will be restricted to the summer, but that is still 3 whole months that we’ll be able to do whatever we feel like. I can’t wait.
Of course, we all know it doesn’t have to be this way. Save like crazy and Financial Independence can be yours decades before most of us hang up our keyboard or tool belt. Jeremy and Winnie from Go Curry Cracker! have done just this.
Today is the 7th edition of our new periodic guest post series called 10 Questions. We have a list of 17 NEW questions we pose to fellow financial bloggers, and they are free to pick and choose 10 or answer all of them. Let us know if you would like to be featured in a future edition of 10 Questions. (If you have already answered the first set of 10 questions, please feel free to answer these new ones.)
Tell me about your blog and why it’s great
I’m still trying to figure this one out myself, but we get emails nearly every day saying our story has changed lives for the better, which gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every single time. We mostly write about our nomadic lifestyle, and how it costs less than you might think, but occasionally we break out Excel and geek out on optimizing taxes and investments.
My personal favorite part of the blog is the professional photos of each unique place we visit.
What post are you most proud of and why?
One of the most common questions we are asked is, “But isn’t every single place on the planet dangerous, except where I live right now?”
Of course, the answer is yes. Just ask Fox News.
My favorite post has one goal, to help at least one person avoid a gruesome footwear related death.
Do you enjoy writing?
Writing an essay on “What I did during summer vacation” or a book report on The Old Man and the Sea was pure torture, worse than pulling out my own hair (probably why I have none).
But when I started writing about stuff that I was actually interested in, surprise! It was fun.
Do you have Early Retirement dreams
Winnie and I retired in our 30s to travel and make babies.
We are now 2.5 years in, have traveled very slowly through Mexico and parts of Central America, and by the time you read this will be parents.
Do you ever miss your job?
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been missing it, Bob”
Any difficulty adapting to your new life?
Even 6 months after leaving the workplace, I would find myself sometimes thinking about work. There I was on a beach with an ice-cold coconut, and my mind was thousands of miles away trying to solve a problem that no longer existed.
I’m happy to report that this bit of neurosis has been solved by an intensive regime of more beach and more coconut.
What is a typical day?
I follow the healthy lifestyle regime of Hunter S Thompson as best I can.
Each day typically has good food, art, and music at the core.
When you are 90 and look back on your life, what do you hope you have accomplished?
That the people who know me think I’m a good person, who never let fear hold him back.
And that I still look as good as I did when I was 40.
What is the best money management or investment tool you have come across?
Low cost index funds from Vanguard
How do you handle people with different views on money, i.e. spendy people?
The same way I treat everyone, as an equal. But an equal I want to be my Secret Santa.
Did you grow up with money? How did your money situation growing up influence you?
If there was a TV show made of my youth, it might be called White Trash Couture. What kid doesn’t look good in hand me downs, standing in front of a mobile home with a car up on blocks?
Money was always scarce, and there was a general distrust and anger towards anybody that might have money. Obviously they got ahead by taking advantage of people via illegal or unethical behavior.
In a sort of crab mentality, getting ahead was frowned upon, as explained by philosopher Notorious B.I.G., “Mo money, mo problems.” This kind of attitude is horribly self-defeating, and was something I had to unlearn.
But I also learned how toxic debt could be, and the fear of having rent due but no ability to pay. Although I made financial mistakes early on, this background limited those mistakes to a recoverable size. Over time I was able to turn a fear of having no money into healthy respect and then abundance.
Did your parents teach you about money as a kid? How so?
Good money habits weren’t their specialty. For example, I learned that if you came across an unexpected windfall, perhaps from a tax return, you should spend that sh*t ASAP. But only on something practical, such as a chainsaw or a sofa with faux mahogany trim and an embroidered avocado and gold colored rose.
But I learned other, much more valuable life skills, such as a love of reading, the importance of education, a strong work ethic, to respect everyone, that complaining never solves anything, and the only person to blame for your situation is yourself.
Favorite beer?
In high school, some friends started brewing beer under the Big Shooter label. We even had T-shirts, “Big Shooter Beer for the Big Shooter in You.”
Nowadays, I prefer something distilled and aged in oak barrels for a decade or two. Perhaps a Lagavulin or Talisker.
Best thing you read lately
“It’s a boy!”
We’ve also been doing daily reads of Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar
What do you do for exercise?
I swing a kettlebell around from time to time, and do push-ups and sit-ups. Walking and biking are my preferred form of transport.
Join the 10s who have signed up already!
Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.
*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.
I see your site and think “if only we did this when we were younger.” I think we’re a little too rooted and would have the family guilt (really though, we’d miss them) where we wouldn’t want to be out of the country for a long time.
My work is talking about opening a plant in China and needing people to do 1 year stints over there. I just can’t bring myself to do it though. I’m on a 10 year path and that might get me there a little quicker but I can’t bring myself to ignore the cost on my current lifestyle.
Either way, your blog is funny and fun, and your stories let me live another life even though it’s vicariously!
Chris @ Flipping a Dollar recently posted…Vintage 90s Nickelodeon Merchandise – Rugrats Hat
Thanks Chris!
(sales pitch)
One crazy idea. Your family could come to China for 2-3 week vacations to visit, and you could Skype every weekend
It isn’t for everybody, but living Internationally drives huge personal growth. My own expat gig helped pad the savings early on, and 1 year in a 80 to 100 year life is really not that much of a commitment
(end sales pitch)
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
The worst part is I brushed it off and then my wife says “I WOULD TOTALLY DO THAT!”
Chris @ Flipping A Dollar recently posted…Vintage 90s Nickelodeon Merchandise – Rugrats Hat
What a great, inspiring story! Jeremy – have you seen my stapler?
Brian @ Debt Discipline recently posted…Financial Independence
I’ve got your stapler right here, Brian
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Congrats on having a boy!
It really is an awesome experience, but the time you have available to write decreases significantly. If you figure out how to look as good as 40 at 90, let me know!
Debtless in Texas recently posted…How I Retired with $1 Million by 30 – Not!
Thank you kindly
In Chinese culture, the eldest male child is responsible for taking care of his parents in old age, so I now have a Retirement Plan C
I’m looking forward to an excuse to write less. Spring is here, and there is a baby to introduce to the hiking trails outside of town
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
GCC, if you are living the Hunter S. Thompson lifestyle, you are almost guaranteed to look like 40 forever, but not for the right reasons! Really fun interview, and congrats on the newborn – it’s a lot like being on drugs too: always being in a daze, inability to sleep, up all hours of the night, and many other things that would seem bizarre to you just a few short months ago…
Steve@EscapeVelocity2020 recently posted…Am I the Only Person on the Internet that Didn’t Retire When I Hit Financial Independence?
There is definitely lots of bizarre stuff going on. I never thought I would look at a poopy diaper with interest
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Wow an interview with the now famous GCC! Great answers GCC, especially Hunter S. Thompson.
Fervent Finance recently posted…Anything is Negotiable
Infamous maybe.
I recently reread Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and am always happy to do a little gonzo jounalism
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
That Hunter S Thompson piece is incredible. Mahalo. And we should really hang out sometime.
Love reading a bit more about one of our favorite bloggers. Thanks!
Done by Forty recently posted…Side Stepping the Hustle
I’ll get the Chivas and Dunhills ready
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Sounds like a plan.
And thanks again for recommending the 4 Hour Body. I doubt I’d be losing weight any more quickly if I were on the Hunter S. Thompson coke and cigarettes diet.
Done by Forty recently posted…Side Stepping the Hustle
“Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar” That one sounds familiar!
Fun and good read as always from the GCC team. Great role-models for anyone considering international early retirement.
Mr. FSF recently posted…Buying vs. Renting – A Series of Case Studies
We’ve been reading the Chinese version, which is cool because it is at my reading level
And when swaddled, GCCjr bears and uncanny resemblance to the main character
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Congrats on the new traveler added to your team! Long term slow travel is definitely one of our long term plans so it’s always great to see someone else making it work when so many people call it “impossible”.
Mrs PoP @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted…No TV’s In Our Castle
Thanks Mrs PoP!
According to some of our recent fan mail, what we are currently doing is definitely impossible. Which is nice to know. For my next feat, I aim to travel faster than the speed of light
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Slow travel is a dream of mine. I think it would be especially fun with kids in tow. GCC is in my hall of fame of PF bloggers.
Danny MoreBucks recently posted…Can a Single Income Family Succeed?
Thanks Danny!
Slow travel took us some time to figure out (still research to be done.) We were originally planning to be in Mexico 6 weeks. 6 months later… It will be a lot of fun to combine education with travel for the little guy
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
I love these interviews. Congrats on the new addition. I love reading your blog and looking forward to hearing about further adventures. Cheers!
Jason recently posted…A Little Gamble, Potential Big Payoff
Thanks Jason
The adventure has just begun
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Since you were in Guatemala did you get a chance to make your way over to Nicaragua?
Even Steven recently posted…Getting Your Mind Right Blogger or Freelance Part II
We were on our way towards Nicaragua, but were diverted back towards the Yucatan to swim with whale sharks (some of my favorite photos)
http://www.gocurrycracker.com/swimming-with-whale-sharks-at-isla-mujeres-mexico/
We will get there eventually
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
Thank you Mr 1500, for the opportunity and the fun times
Your description of the work/vacation balance was a major incentive for us to cut ties with the workplace. Not only the physical requirement of being in one location, but all of the mental energy that is required are two things I definitely do not miss
Slow travel is wonderful. You are going to love it
Jeremy recently posted…The Worst Retirement Ever
I have exactly same dreams and wishes as you do about traveling and be able to finally ease up. I do not mind working if it is more of a seasonal work rather than a rat race every day sometimes weekends and barely get a week vacation a few times in a year. Oh, I wish I started my investing journey at least 10 years earlier, I could be almost there.
Your questions are a good source for stopping a bit and start thinking. For most of them I have answers, some are a straight “no” (like parents teaching us about money, I actually was teaching my parents about money, lol).
Thanks for posting this
Martin
Martin recently posted…$SPX once again fails to break the resistance. Another fall down is likely, read why!
Jeremy, you’re right. I was watching Fox News last night and found out Baltimore is a dangerous place. Sneaker killings should go down however, because the local shoe store was just looted.
Been following Go Curry Cracker for a while now and love reading their stories. Being parents will change your lives. Can’t wait to hear more about traveling around the world with a baby.
Tawcan recently posted…Comment on Tips on dividend investing with Canadian perspective by Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank
Congrats on the baby. I hope the diapers don’t get to you too much. Lack of sleep can wear on you very quickly!
Vawt recently posted…Should I Buy An Investment Property?
What a great post – Thoroughly entertaining. I had a similar upbringing but a little less “white trash” and a little more “mexican cheap” mixed with a side of Texas “Go-Big-Or-Go-Home” Mentality, depending on the purchase of course. Congrats on the little one and we look forward to reading about your new adventures with a mini traveler in tow!
Great post, great blogs from both you guys and girls, am enjoying myself reading and learning. Thanks for sharing!
In otherarticles they were talking about 170.000$ combined income, this is an amount the avetage high skilled educatedworken doesn’t have. I only gotto 35000$, between 20 and 33, double it when you are a couple , then only you have 70000$. These guys have 100000 ayear extra, of course they can save 1.5M $ in 13years.