1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Thursday Anti-Rant: Life Ain’t Bad

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Life has been pretty great lately. I’m too happy to wrap my mind around a whiny post today.

Yep.
Yep.

I’m amazed that I’ve almost reached the $1,000,000 mark. I pinch myself daily.

For my first 25 years of life, money was a huge struggle. We weren’t poor growing up, but we weren’t far from it. Sometimes, life was a bit miserable as my family made poor financial decisions (“We bought a timeshare!!!”).

I turned the tide in my war with money 15 year ago when I graduated college. I finished up college with $60,000 in debt, but going from making $4.25/hour in the college computer lab to a job where I was well compensated as a programmer was amazing. Still, I never thought I’d have anything close to what I do now. It is strange. Deep down inside, I still feel like that struggling college kid eating almost nothing but spaghetti because it was cheap.

But I digress.

Last weekend, I went to the MMM meetup with a group of friends (shout out to L from Longmont and B and L from Loveland). I love being around this type of crowd. I’m an introvert, but I have a hard time shutting up in a group of MMM aficionados. It was wonderful to meet with E from Denver, D and S from Boulder and E from Fort Collins. I look forward to spending time with all of you in the very near future.

Over Labor Day weekend, we went camping near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The weather was perfect, the conversation was good and the beer was cold. Trifecta!

Oblgatory mountain picture
Obligatory mountain picture

IMG_20140831_175711590

Marshmallows! (I have the girls convinced that they grow on trees!)
Marshmallows! I have the girls convinced that they grow on trees.
No matter how old I get, this still makes me giggle. My sense of humor stopped maturing in the 7th grade.
No matter how old I get, this still makes me giggle. My sense of humor stopped maturing in the 7th grade.

Don’t worry Rant Fans, Mrs. 1500 and I are working on something extra whiney for next week!

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Comments

    • Thank you! It is easy to adjust to your place in life and want more. I think the key is realizing when you’re in a good place and being happy with it. No more “more.”

    • Yes, the marshmallows do grow on trees. You have probably driven past the groves, but were asleep. Think cotton plants, but trees instead. I’ve heard that in California, they have “U-Pick” marshmallow farms. Pretty cool if you ask me!

      • As a resident of So Cal I’d like to confirm this is true. It’s the main reason for our housing market bubble but, as you know, worth every penny.

  3. No Thursday rant!!!??? *Gets up and storms off ranting…Jk. Congrats on almost hitting a mill…I also need to remind myself of how blessed and fortunate I am to be living in a country that allows us to prosper sooooooo much. I think that even though I’m still in the struggling stage, by taking a step back every once in a while and enjoying the process and where I am at I can remain content and positive…and remaining content under any circumstances leads to true enjoyment just like the Thoreau quote.
    Old School recently posted…Old School’s (negative) NET WORTH!!! September EditionMy Profile

    • Ha, nice one!!

      “I also need to remind myself of how blessed and fortunate I am to be living in a country that allows us to prosper sooooooo much.”

      Yes, I think about this frequently too. Can you imagine being born in a place like Somalia or Afghanistan? Ugggh. If you’re born in a good first world place, have good parents and a solid work ethic, success is almost guaranteed.

    • SFL, your neck of the woods is pretty good too. Austin is a fabulous place. I want to visit the gulf region as well…

  5. I’m an introvert too, but good conversation with like-minded people leaves me positively giddy. Very cool that you had a chance to go to the MMM get-together! It seems Colorado has a disproportionate share of awesome personal finance people.

    And, wow, you are *thisclose* to being a millionaire! Amazing! I am nowhere near that (yet), but just knowing that other regular people get there is what keeps me going.
    Jen @ Jen Spends recently posted…Who owns your child’s toys?My Profile

    • I know, right? Colorado does have a lot of great people and you and yours should make it out some day. As an incentive, you have free lodging at the 1500 household! Also, a free tour guide in me.

      “I am nowhere near that (yet), but just knowing that other regular people get there is what keeps me going.”

      Thanks! Our high school was decided between to rich and the poor. I was on the latter. Now, I have the money like the former, but still (and always will) act like the latter. Life is good.

    • Ha, it’s already done. Maybe you’ll see it next month, maybe it will be 2 years. Don’t count your dollars before they compound!

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