1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Sappy Happy Lazy Picture Edition

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I’m taking the week off from the blog (Translation: I’m on vacation and too lazy to write posts). Instead, I’ll update you on my life with some some nice pictures.

The girl’s playhouse is almost done!

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Next year, I’ll do the zipline and Komodo dragon/piranha pit:

The playhouse will go down something like this
The playhouse will go down something like this

The real house is almost done too!

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We have been working on this thing for 39 months and it’s sooooo close now. Full update soon.

 

Salida!

For Labor Day weekend, we went to a town called Salida up in the mountains.

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Dawn
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Arkansas River
The best hood ornament ever!
The best hood ornament ever

Nature never ceases to amaze me. I saw this little dude in the middle of the sidewalk. I was super excited to see Mr. Mantis. He was not so excited to see me though; after this picture he did a defensive maneuver (Mantis Fu) and then retreated to a bush:

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In the mountains

Cha Cha Cha Changes!

The last four months of 2016 will bring about welcome and needed changes:

  • Our home remodel will be done. This has been a drag on our life for over 3 years and we’re sick of it. We plan to have all work wrapped up in October.
  • About $300,000 of my portfolio is about to change. I’m converting my solo-401(k) and some of my rollover IRAs into a self-directed solo-401(k). This is an immense topic, so I’ll save the details for another time.
  • I’m going to further reduce my work schedule. This will change our lives more than anything. Two kids + home remodel + two jobs + writing == no time. I’m incredibly fortunate and grateful that the managers at my job let me do this. My weekends will be longer than my workweek, freeing me up considerably. More details soon. My life is a fairy tale.

Finally, I saw the graffito below at the Salida skatepark. Never stop dreaming.

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Comments

  1. I bet the new work scheduled will be such a help! Mr. Mt offered to go part time about a year before he quite but they didn’t love the idea. We also are in constant projects between the 3 houses. And the writing… I feel your pain.

    • Three houses! Whoah!

      I love the idea of going part-time. I think it will be a nice transition to no-time!

  4. Enjoy your week off!
    I’m interested in the solo 401k, and will keep my eyes out for the post. 🙂
    Hooray for longer weekends!

    • I have a solo-401(k) now. My new one is a self-directed, solo 401(k). It is a pain in the ass to setup, but man oh man, very powerful!

  5. Lots of good things happening for you guys. We’re tackling some home remodels soon (pending Mrs. DB40’s decision on whether a tile saw will be too distracting to her dissertation writing).

    Congrats on the new work arrangement, and for having the right attitude about the whole thing: gratitude. Cheers!

  7. Nice pics! I often think you are so lucky to live near such beautiful scenery but then the rolling hills of southern England aren’t so bad either when you actually bother to get out and have a look at them. People often miss what is right in front of their eyes!

    Nice work on sorting out the reduced work schedule. Welcome to the club 😉 although I am certain you will still be susceptible to the “not enough time” syndrome as I have been. Roll on full FI!

  9. Good for you – enjoy that well-earned vacation!

    I love the idea of going part time, working 2 or 3 days a week, once our portfolios are in good order. It was never something I’d consider but that truism that once you have kids (and a thousand projects) work starts to take a lower priority sure did become true for us.

    Also “Something Completely Different” caught my eye. *tips hat to the Flying Circus*
    Revanche @ A Gai Shan Life recently posted…Net Worth & Life Report: August 2016My Profile

    • Yeah, it is very difficult to work 8 hours per day when you have so much going on. Rehabbing this place was a mistake, but it’s almost done. I hope life gets back to normal after that.

    • Oh wow, you have no idea! No kids and I could have been done in 6 months. Oh well, live and learn…

  15. That playhouse is amazing & I can’t wait to see the full post of your home remodel!! Going part-time sounds great and it’s awesome that your manager is cool with that arrangement. Enjoy your vacation!

  17. Been following your blog for a little while and just saw today’s CNBC article! Bravo, guys! Such an inspiration!

  18. Man, I’m envious of that playhouse! Nice work! And the real house also looks great. 🙂

    We’re remodeling our kitchen and home ourselves; we actually close on it tomorrow! Eek! Luckily my father in law is a carpenter/homebuilder, so we’re in good hands. But renovations are definitely scary/frustrating. Glad to hear you’re reaching the finish line soon!