Hoooooo, weeeeeee!!! I type this from Omaha where I’m at the end of a little road trip. First, I drove from Colorado to Chicago with a pit stop in Wisconsin. I spent the week in the Windy City doing actual work (shudder). On Thursday, I jumped back in the Honda Element and headed west. I stopped here in Omaha where I met Mrs. 1500 to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Other friends attending included Income Surfer, Even Steven and the Penny Planters.
Berkshire Hathaway is Warren Buffett’s little holding company and the shareholder weekend is always a blast. On Saturday, we attended the actual meeting followed by a Mr. Money Mustache meetup.
I made a horrible mistake when I formally committed to the Berkshire 5K by paying the $50 entry fee. No backing out after I parted with the money.
On Sunday, the day of the 5K, I woke up to horrible weather. It was cold and raining. I am a poor athlete to begin with, so I dreaded the 5k and now it would be even worse. It was all downhill from there (except the actual 5K, which was mostly uphill). A couple minutes before we departed, I realized that I didn’t pack my knee brace that holds the IT band syndrome at bay. Shit!
Mrs. PoP, the Fiery Millennial and I trudged down to the starting line. I surveyed the crowd with trepidation while I waited for the torture test race to begin. In the meantime, I took at least 10 hits from the asthma inhaler. I’d sure have a sore knee, but at least I’d be able to breathe. A couple minutes later, we were off.
The race went off OK. The first half was mostly uphill, so I panted like a madman. The good news is that I was faster than these guys:
Near the halfway point, the IT band in my left knee decided it was going to do it’s best to sabotage my efforts. It hurt like hell, but I focused my mind on other things and pushed through the pain. While I finished with a pathetic time of around 34 minutes, at least I never walked. Wait til’ next year. And IT band, why oh why must you do this to me??? I hate you.
In better news, I’m pretty sure that Even Steven and his wife promised me nothing less than a nacatamale buffet next time I meet up with them. Of course, I could have dreamt it or misheard Even, but I don’t think so.
What is a nacatamale you ask? I don’t really know, but it looks delicious and is going straight into my mouth should I ever come across one.
Last week’s question
I’m mostly a paranoid worrier, so all kinds of nutty things are always going through my head. Maybe I should be medicated or drink more beer.
Anyway, the thing that worries me most about my FI dreams is a nasty event like a terrorist attack kicking my portfolio down to a fraction of what it is now. Here is what you had to say:
Wise words from Mr. PIE:
Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Was it worth it?
I love Reader grbkeb’s (real name) comment:
I 100% concur with Warren’s sentiments on this subject. It is also the reason why I think you should achieve FI as soon as humanly possible and live a life that you want on your terms. I’ve built a huge nest egg, and I tell myself that the only way that my conservative life plan can fail is (1) if I develop a drug or gambling habit (2) I fall for a crazy woman who takes me for everything (3) World event on an order of magnitude greater than a 911 or the Financial meltdown of ’08.
…Can you imagine working until 65 years old saved multiple millions of dollars, finally ready buy that sailboat to cruise the Caribbean and boom (no pun intended), the world changes and its all gone…
Chad Carson remind us all that it’s pointless to worry about since you can’t do much about it:
I don’t think there is an investment strategy that adequately addresses this risk.
And I’ll leave off with Reader Chadnudj:
But I also refuse to let fear run my life. I have real fears, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to let the imaginary/distant fears (think: global catastrophe, random crime/violence, complete and total accidents) ruin things.
Bottom line: I need to stop thinking about all of this crazy crap because there is absolutely nothing I can do to mitigate the consequences. Like Reader grbkeb said, the best thing to do is to aggressively pursue FI so you can make the most of your time. Onward!
What are you reading?
I love to read. I’d give up TV in a second. Books, never. I like to read for both pleasure (Stephen King) and to learn. Here is some of what I’ve been reading lately:
- Wait But Why: I just learned about this blog (thanks Nate!) and: It. Is. Awesome. Urban’s posts are smart, rational, thorough and entertaining. I’m slowly making my way through the Elon Musk series which is a must read if you’re a fanboy like I am.
- Seeking Wisdom: I’ve heard a lot about this book, so I finally pulled the trigger. I hope the book helps me use by brain a bit better.
So tell me Reader, what is something good that you’ve read recently?
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We gave up TV, and our evenings at home got much calmer and more relaxed. The last couple books I read were outstanding. They were
1. Son of the Wilderness (John Muir’s biography)
2. The Dhandho Investor (An outstanding value investing book by Mohnish Pabrai)
I think you’ll enjoy both. Next up I need to read that book you picked up from the Berkshire bookstore! Great to see you two. Hope to catch you again soon
-Bryan
Income Surfer recently posted…The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting
I give a second vote for the Dhandho Investor. Great book!
Mr. Tako @ Mr. Tako Escapes recently posted…April 2016 Dividend Income And Expenses
Ha thanks for the laugh. You finished and didn’t walk, that’s an accomplishment right there. And the IT band is nothing to mess with!
Sounds like a fun trip!
The Green Swan recently posted…Net Worth Explosion
I wasn’t a reader a couple of years ago but now have been pushing myself to read 2-3 books a month. I just recently finished A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller which was fantastic. It discussed the idea of using the elements of writing a story to help shape the life you want. I would highly recommend it!
Thias @It Pays Dividends recently posted…A New Financial Life: 3 Tips to Get You Started
Just finished A Farewell to Arms. Although Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea has long been one of my favorites, I put off reading his longer books. It was fantastic, on many levels. The prose is crisp and the imagery devastating, and beautiful. Also, at the end of the book you get to act like Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook and throw the book around in a rage. But damn was it a good book.
Mortimer recently posted…The Hobgoblin of Little Minds
Sounds like a great time! Did you drink and coke or eat any brittle? I just started Carl Richards One Page Financial Plan. I’m watching less and less TV. I’ve got a stack of books I need to finish up.
Brian @DebtDiscipline recently posted…Net Worth Update: April 2016
What brace do you use for your IT band issue?
Books, I read scifi, fantasy and cozies. I am working on 5 on my kindle right now.
Waiting for Nalini Singh’s next release. I am also reading that entire series for the 4th time.
I use a simple one that looks like this: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/aplus/detail-page/B000UVZM0C_1_lg.jpg
It works though, no pain when I remember to wear it!
Very cool that you got to go to the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting! I don’t imagine it will be the same after Buffet is gone.
Mr. Tako @ Mr. Tako Escapes recently posted…April 2016 Dividend Income And Expenses
What have I read lately? Well, I did stumble upon this little blog called 1500days. I think it’s a countdown to the apocalypse or something. Anyways, you should check it out. 😉
I read a couple Bogle books: Enough and The Little Book of Common Sense Investing. Both were excellent, quick reads, and available at my local library.
Cheers!
-PoF
Physician on FIRE recently posted…Investment Fees Will Cost You Millions
I love your friend’s quote! I’m a worrier too but it’s true–it doesn’t get me anywhere. Planning is good, but worrying doesn’t help.
I just read Cubed: A Brief History of the Workplace which was pretty interesting (but it’s a book). It analyzes how and why 60% of Americans ended up in cubes, and most want out.
Looks like a fun event in Omaha. I never worry about the market collapsing because I figure In a total collapse the money is worthless whether it’s in stocks or under my mattress. And if we just have another recession I’ll just wait it out. Smart guys like us, it’s usually not had to find work if we really wanted to make more too.
I haven’t read anything beyond my usual blogs and random articles. That Elon Musk series sounds interesting. He’s the most interesting person in the world to me. I get the feeling history will look back at him like we look back at DaVinci, Tesla or Benjamin Franklin. Not necessarily in the same way but in similar magnitude.
Kyle recently posted…Slave to the System
Good morning, Mr. 1500!
I’m in the middle of a book called Locally Laid, which is apparently about the two most incompetent but extraordinarily hard-working new chicken farmers in the Midwest. I only have a few minutes a day, but the writing is fun and the people (it’s an autobio) are likeable.
Re: the total collapse of western civilization. (How did I miss your last post? Oh, I remember, construction season …)
It looks like you’ve found my secret to dealing with the knowledge that catastrophes happen: embracing powerlessness where it exists and embracing power where possible. In other words, my goal is to relax completely when it comes to those things I can’t change, and try to develop a plan around those I can. So, I relax on planes and have a plan for an active shooter showing up at work.
PS: Be nice to your body. I know: “it started it”. But you only get one.
Anyway, have a great week!
I recently started a life challenge: a thousand thousands. I’m aiming mainly for current achievements. To reach “1000 books read” I’m ransacking my local public library.
The past month has been business books, to help me settle on a side hustle. Passably informative on the whole. Chris Gillebeau’s “The $100 Startup” tops the list so far, with “Drive a Modest Car” by Nolo Press founder Ralph Warner a very close second. The perennial and constantly-reissued “What Color Is Your Parachute” helped me look into a few blind spots. And just about anything on management by Peter Drucker or self-improvement by Napolean Hill are worth missing sleep for.
Sabbaticalia recently posted…A draft plan towards FI/RE
I just read (well I cheated and got the audio book to listen) “Into the Void” It is a Star Wars Prequel set about 10,000 years or so before the the Episode I movie. It was pretty good. I’m gonna start reading a book about the origins of the Sith next.
I am also reading two books from a Dale Carnegie course I recently took at work: “How to win friends and influence people” and “How to stop worrying and start living”. They sound like cheesy self help books but they are really good so far.
mattattack recently posted…Post 4 Student Loans, How I Loathe Thee
Non-Fiction: Born For This by Chris Guillebeau
Fiction: Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
For month of 3 already, I try to read stuffocation. I want to own less and declutter the house.
We are on a weekend away and I hope to make some decent progress…
amber tree recently posted…Passive income – April 2016
Not really deep (at all!), but “Off to be the Wizard” by Scott Meyers is hilarious, and something that most computer geeks I’ve recommended it to really like as well! The other two in the series are good, but not as good as the first, but the third (not yet finished) is a close second. I’ve also enjoyed reading Outlander, but I can’t see many men enjoying that series (it’s a wild variety of fiction: historical, time travel, military history, etc).
Mom recently posted…I will do my best to be … friendly and helpful … and be a sister to every Girl Scout
Everyone is talking about finance/business/self-improvement books, so I’ll go the opposite way. I’ve been reading up a storm this year — mostly fiction and essay collections — 26 books finished so far in 2016. I wake up a few hours before I have to be at work so I can have coffee and read in the mornings before getting ready, and it’s brought back the voracious reading habits of my youth. I dig it.
My favorites this year have been rereads of all the Harry Potter books and Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, as well as a first read of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Lots of other good books, but those are definitely my top recommendations 🙂
I’m currently reading Bluets, So Sad Today, and Bird by Bird. So far so good on all three.
Funny I just read Bryan (income surfer)’s post on that same conference. Super cool you were able to attend. And that nacatamale looks awesome. I grew up eating guatemalan tamales that looked similar to that.
Ah I miss those tamales!
Alexander @ Cash Flow Diaries recently posted…6 Tips For Buying An Out Of State Rental Property
It is fiction, but I loved “Of Bees and Mist,” which, if you need a financial twist, is about keeping up appearances when your nagging spouse can torture you into submission by commanding bees to annoy you for twenty days straight until you do what your spouse wants.
He needed a F.O. Fund.
In seriousness, if you like magical realism, it was beautiful written and really understood its characters.
Well you did it so congratulations on finishing the 5k. I guess first I have to buy some Berkshire stock before I can join in on that fun.
I am all about zero waste home the blog as I haven’t picked up the actual book yet. So much good stuff. I am also reading a FinCon book. The 1 page financial plan. So far it’s easy reading.
The Roamer recently posted…Big Savings & Happiness, Can you have both?
I read a couple books over the last month. First one was “The Eagle Has Landed”, good book set during WW II about German paratroopers sent to England to kidnap or kill Churchill. Second book was “Whirlwind” by James Clavell. It was a good book loosely based on the transition of Iran from the control of the Shah to the Ayatolla. It was all around a company and the people who worked for them getting caught in Iran during the transition and how they tried to get out.
I am very jealous. You seemed to have lots of fun hanging out in Omaha. That’s one of my bucket list. 🙂
I myself have read two outstanding books over the last couple weeks. One being “The Millionaire Next Door,” which was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I know I am late to the party on this one but I think it is still worth mentioning. The other, “Think and Grow Rich.” A little old fashioned but a great read nonetheless.
I like sci-fi, and I just finished the last in the Chronicles of Elantra series by Michelle Sagara West. I also read Rosemary, the nonfiction book about the Kennedy daughter who was given a lobotomy. It was pretty sad.
Jen@FrugalSteppingStones recently posted…Frugal Step: Budget. May Budget Forecast.
I am very jealous. You seemed to have lots of fun hanging out in Omaha. That’s one of my bucket list.
I’ve been reading “Dark Money” by Jane Meyer, delving deep into the twisted world of Super Pacs and the Koch brothers. A disturbing book which I offset by watching reruns of The Andy Griffith Show.
It’s interesting! I always wanted to be the freedom like you
If the can back to the past I will try more now
I always wanted to be the freedom like you.
Thanks you very much!
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