Yet another obligatory 2023 Review Post! Bleh!!!Sigh. I'll try to make it fun.Investments!We had a very good year. Our net worth started at $3,342,821 and ended at $4,792,750 for a 43% gain or $1,449,929. Yowsers! That's our biggest year ever:Tech did very well and our biggest holding, Tesla, killed it. The stock had a stellar 2023, starting at $118 and … [Read more...] about 2023 In Review: Surpassing Max Q
Early Retirement
Happiness Series Part 2: Five Big-Ass Spending Experiments
This is Part 2 of a 3 part post. If you missed part 1 last week, check it out here.Can money buy happiness?It's a great question! And it's complicated...Investing Versus SpendingInvesting isn't always easy, but the recipe is basic:For those in America:Spending is a far more complex task. After basic needs are met, there a billion different … [Read more...] about Happiness Series Part 2: Five Big-Ass Spending Experiments
7 Thoughts On Happiness: Part 1
I've been thinking a lot about happiness lately. I suppose it's the natural evolution of FIREy life:Of course, we all should be working on happiness all along, but sometimes we get thrown off course with the busyness of life. You can only take so much.Happiness is a topic I've been obsessed with for a while. When I retired waaaaay back in April of 2017, I … [Read more...] about 7 Thoughts On Happiness: Part 1
Camp FI: Southern California (Mired In FIRE)
Quick note: I've been thinking a lot about happiness lately. I'm at a good place in life, the best I've been in decades, so have a lot to say on the matter. On Monday, tune in for Part 1 of a 3 part series on happiness...Getting Mired In FIREWhen I discovered FI way back in October of 2012, I thought that it would go like this:FI would be an important phase of my … [Read more...] about Camp FI: Southern California (Mired In FIRE)
Butterflies Can’t Swim
Life has been pretty busy, so today you get a quick post about swimming insects and a remodeling update.Butterflies Can't SwimI was working outside a couple of days ago when I heard Younger Daughter (YD) yelling;THERE'S A BUTTERFLY IN THE POOL!!!!One of YD's favorite pastimes is rescuing wayward insects from drowning. Here's a bee recovering with sugar water … [Read more...] about Butterflies Can’t Swim