How many have a retirement fund setup? How many think you need one?

[dacust]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I doubt you have sat in a gas line for 3 hours for the privilege of buying your limit of 10 gallons...

Dang, that brings back memories.

Try driving a van all over Houston for work and spending almost half the day waiting in line for gas instead of making money. That'll get your hackles up...

Although we made the best of it. One time I was down around Alta Loma and the line stretched around three sides of the block. I was in front of a house and the owner gave me permission to sit under a tree in his yard. I pulled some office chairs out of my van and with about 3-4 other motorists (or parkists, as it was) we took turns walking to the store for beer. Had a three hour party (the homeowner got his for free). But the service station was only open for an hour. They shut down before I got to the head of the line. Since I didn't have enough gas to make it back to North Houston, I slept in the van that night waiting for them to open in the morning.

I'm not saying I had to walk uphill (both ways) in the snow to school. Some things were worse back then. Some things are worse now. Overall I'd rather have lived back then, before terrorism, aids, etc. It seems like the world is going downhill. But now, I have a friend I go to lunch with. She's black. I'm white. Back in the old days, they wouldn't have served us, or there would have been people making nasty comments. Now nobody bats an eye. Some things improve, some things deteriorate. It's my job to do the best with what is dealt to me and the results of choices I make, not pine for a past I can't have or a fantasy future that's impossible. But of the two, I CAN do something about the future. Not much, maybe, but something.

EDIT: After re-reading that, no, I'd rather live now.

-dan

[anotherT34C]

I disagree with Dan regarding physics being a bad choice of ed for a charter operator. People who haven't done it don't realize it, but a physics BS gives you a higher level of math than an economist PhD, as well as a solid grounding in electrical, mechanical, and computer (these days) engineering. It's not all about baseball trajectories.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by dacust

Dang, that brings back memories.

Not good ones...

Originally Posted by dacust

I'm not saying I had to walk uphill (both ways) in the snow to school. Some things were worse back then. Some things are worse now. Overall I'd rather have lived back then, before terrorism, aids, etc.

<snip>


EDIT: After re-reading that, no, I'd rather live now.

I am a very much "for today" kind of guy. I certainly shouldn't go off on anyone and certainly don't hold myself up as a shining example.

But having an external locus of control isn't going to assist anyone in achieving their dreams. I have dozens of success story examples. America is absolutely the land of opportunity where anything is possible.

Just don't think anyone owes it to you, or that anyone is out to get you. It just "is" and overcoming adversity is who we are and what we are about.


BTW - I'd rather live now. Gas lines sucked...

[johneri1]

I second that emotion--last month I underwent a shoulder replacement (they tell me I'll set off metal detectors now) hense my absence from this board. I have always said there are no guarantees in life, if you want something, you'd better get after it. After not being able to keyboard for a month let alone get on my boat, living every moment is more important than ever to me. And, now is the only moment we truly have. I'm headed for my boat just as soon as I can drive; I'm not ever missing another chance. . . .

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by johneri1

. . . last month I underwent a shoulder replacement (they tell me I'll set off metal detectors now) hense my absence from this board.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Eric. Welcome back.

TaoJones

[johneri1]

Thank you very much; I'm feeling stronger everyday.

[seafox]

These are simple socioeconomic facts bore out of hard data. If I'm "whining" because I didn't get the same breaks other generations did, which allowed them to cruise, own real estate (2 homes often!), travel, etc... then I'm sorry. I simply feel it would be nice to have the same opportunities the generations before me had. I know I won't, but I'd like to.

Hey Sean, there is still a chance for you.
A Baby Boomer will die every 49.5 seconds in the USA this year

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by seafox

Hey Sean, there is still a chance for you.
A Baby Boomer will die every 49.5 seconds in the USA this year

dang - Won't his friends get tired of going to his funeral...

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

dang - Won't his friends get tired of going to his funeral...

Dan the Man - made me laugh out loud again! I love it when the literal meaning of the written words creates an unintended joke. Good eye, Dan.

TaoJones

[Charlie]

Sulli:

I'm a member of the lucky sperm club. I was born in 1963. One or the last year of baby boomers depending on who you talk to. I managed to buy a house but I concentrated on Real Estate. I had two rentals before I bought a house. I managed to do this b/c I obsessed on building and Real Estate to the detriment of other parts of my life. Not every boomer bought a house or two or has a boat. I gave up some things in my life and took advantage of some inefficiencies that I recognized in the market.


The time frame that people have been able to support on one income has been very limited. Say after WWII till 1970 or so. Before WWII was the depression and before that was the roaring 20's. There are opportuities to make money always. Some times are easier than others but there is always oppurtunity. During the dot com bubble they were creating multiple millionaires on a daily basis in the Bay Area. If you look at things from a historical and global perspective we are probably nearing the end of the time when being a white male is the key to making lots of money. Most newly minted millionaires in the last few years came from China and India according to an article I read in the WSJournal. IF you had lived in the Dark Ages being European wasn't such a great deal. The Arab countries were miles ahead of the Europeans in Mathematics and Astronomy Letters etc. Times change. If you want to make the money to go cruising you need to decide how you are going to do it and stick with that plan. You will need to have focus. Focus on what is needed to make money. Understand money the way you currently understand boats. Discover how to leverage your money so that money works for you instead of you working for money. Ask people who have money how the got it. Some will be happy to share their stories with you others won't. You won't know until you ask. REad books on how to make moeny. Some of them aren't worth a darn except for one sentence in an entire book. (I had this happen to me but that one sentence helped me make $10k) You have some of the skills determination, intelligence, perserverance, enthusiasm, just educate yourself on money read books on economics. But understand them don't just read them. Good luck Sean.

[exfishnz]

Originally Posted by Charlie

There are opportuities to make money always. Some times are easier than others but there is always oppurtunity.

I agree. In a down-town, companies (well, everyone) are trying to find ways to reduce their costs. Any products or services you offer (in their industry) that does this will get their attention.

During the dot com bubble they were creating multiple millionaires on a daily basis in the Bay Area.

Most of that was speculation on BS business models & VC's doing by overvaluing their stock then cashing in.

You have some of the skills determination, intelligence, perserverance, enthusiasm

An entrepreneurial spirit is great. You just gotta be able to roll with the punches every now & again & pick yourself up off the ground & move forward.

just educate yourself on money read books on economics. But understand them don't just read them. Good luck Sean.

There are some good books & then there's some really useless books. There's also authors just wanting to get rich off books, hmmm... I guess buyer beware

[exfishnz]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Regarding the economy? We had gas lines, stagflation, we had to pay to support every little dictactorship in the world in the interest of fighting communism. We had to pay for vietnam and we funded star wars, simply to spend the soviet union out of existence.

Guess that 's a bit ironic nowaday's

I think I read last month that's there's more billionaires in Moscow than New York, & with their oil reserves & significant amount of nuclear powered ice breakers, perhaps we should all buy Gazprom stocks

Did you know that the Russians will be the first to have a navigable waterway through the Arctic ocean (before the Canadians) in about 7-10 years. Now that would be some trip (even if not allowed by sail but going as a paid passenger on the cargo vessels). This was even confirmed by year-round US military satellite data over the Arctic showing that its melting faster on the Russian side than on the Canadian side.

[ess105]

Originally Posted by seafox

Hey Sean, there is still a chance for you.
A Baby Boomer will die every 49.5 seconds in the USA this year

Are you suggesting Sean get into the funeral business?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by ess105

Are you suggesting Sean get into the funeral business?

Bravo! I just spit coffee all over my computer -

[David_Old_Jersey]

Been an interesting thread to follow, even though US centric.

One thing that I suspect is pretty universal is that 80% of folk who do well in life financially have put a lot of work / thought / effort / sacrifices (proportions vary ) over many years into having "done well".........and others do not always fully appreciate the previous 20 / 30 years it took to get their.........


Me? I spent 20 years of making p#ss poor decisions both financially and personally. Usually involving lots of partying and vacation time (sounds almost civilised ). It's why I don't have a Ferrari.....and how I met me late Missus. and 25 years of having lived badly is why we clicked. and yer can't put a money figure on that

But I still wish I had a Ferrari - just don't regret never having put in the work for one

But their is always next year..........