Attachment

I finally got a comment, and it's great to have a topic come to mind because of it. Thanks user!

Please read yesterdays post if you missed it... but I intentionally related the difficulty of my search for a certain type of vehicle... because now that I finally own it I may have decided to sell it, and it brings up my feelings about attachment.

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

Janis Joplin

 

Attachment can range from simple things like family hand downs, to people with serious problems like hoarding.

Have you seen the new show on cable, "Hoarders", I think some of the subtitles are "buried alive" and such descriptive lines about not being able to give up ownership of anything?  It's incredible, but very eye opening on a grand scale of what the inability to give anything up can do to you.

 

Another good example comes from the Bible... those who know me, don't pass out here.. I do believe there are some good moral lessons in the book.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God

Taken literally it obviously seems like just another silly story of the good book. But when you take it in context with when it was written it is simply a great piece of advice.  The "Eye of the needle" was often a very small opening in a wall that protected most large cities in those times. You could simply focus a defense on a small area much more successfully. 
Camels, quite often loaded down with passengers, products, and wares could not get through these small openings without completely unloading all of their "holdings".. often times having to crawl through on their knees. (I know, another interesting tidbit that you can focus on yourself. )

But now lets think about it.  Putting down all your possessions, and squeezing through the eye of the needle.
Isn't that a great metaphor, even for living today?  Sometimes you just can't carry it all to get where you want to be.  And I'll leave you with the final truth... No matter what you believe, what you have now, you cannot take it with you... except maybe one good suit and some small personal family items. :)  

So full circle to the truck.  I have it after a long and enjoyable search.  And it sits in my driveway.  I drive it a couple times a week, and it has even come in handy a few times already.  But am I still doing cartwheels?  Nope.  In fact, now I'm paying property tax and insurance on two vehicles. BOOOO.
And its not perfect.  It needs things, to be gone through, to be brought up to my standards of how I like my vehicles... clean and dependable.

So would I sell it?   Yup!   For the right price, most things I own are for sale.  My doggies excluded.. at any price.

Besides... maybe I want a black one instead.   Just one more "specific"... which may take me two years to find... and who knows, maybe that won't make me eternally happy by then either..

Loose grips hold.... tight grips choke...   Hold on loosely...  .38 Special!

 

 

What to do when you get fired...

Well, I guess I can't get fired, because I QUIT! haha.

But I've had a month where I didn't get too much done. Maybe how you might feel if all of a sudden your income was shut off.

Well if you've lowered your expenses then there's not a lot to worry about. And I believe having these big houses, and big new cars, and these rooms full of items that made you feel better at purchase, but now sit around taking up space...are all about attachment.

Last month I bought a truck. It was a truck for which I've been searching quite long. It has everything I wanted, which was very specific and why the search took so long. I was very gratified to let a few thousand dollars out of my grip! haha (if you only knew). But now that I own it, I find that it's not as exciting as the search, and its not really perfect.. and life is not really that much better for owning it.

So luckily, even though I wanted this truck badly.. I still bought it as my personality led me.. which means I drove a hard bargain and I believe I bought the truck at the right price.

Which means, I think the search is back ON, because said truck is for sale, and I expect to make 700-1000 profit because of how I bought it, and how I will market it.

So even though I spent the month "fired"... I have options. I'm not attached to my possessions, and in fact, I rather enjoy the feeling of want, and pursuit.. and so in a way, that pursuit produced an income, and because my expenses are low, probably 2 months of income, doing something I like, for a couple hours (the buying and selling, not the search).

Anyone want a shortbed chevrolet silverado, in the 90's OBS style? V8 automatic. Pretty hard to find, and I'll make you a great deal.. ;)

New Blog Title

Well, since all 6 of my readers are just reading, I came up with a blog title myself... cmon guys! At least tell me what you think of it.

I think it's more honest. I work. I have "jobs". I just have a lot less than most people, which allows me the time to live more.

Now, semi retired? Depends on how serious you take the word "retired". I think you can retire many times. It doesn't have to be a one time event.

So anyways... how was my week? Well, I was fully retired this week. I am wrapping up a few medical issues that hindered my ability to work in my field and expect to be a little busier next week.

And that's what my blog is about. I didn't ask for time off, I didn't have to have a mandatory Dr appointment, and I didn't have to stress out over what my boss or co-workers thought about my inability to work for over a week.

You might say.. I didn't make any money. Yea. You would be mostly correct.. and correct enough that explaining is moot.. I didn't make any money. And I bet I STILL will have more left over at the end of this months expenses than most people. And if you think NOT.. I bet you don't know that a larger percentage of people than you think earn LESS than their monthly expenses, and are living on credit.

So anyways.. I just have to get this darn medical thing cleared up so when I'm semi-retiring, I'm not laid up on my ass!!

For my next posting trend, I think I'm going to touch on how I was FORCED into this minimalist lifestyle I talk about here. It's not really easy to go against the grain... swim upstream.. step outside of the box. And I admit, given a choice I probably wouldn't have done it either.

Life kinda helped me along... and thats where I think I'm going next.

Also, happy to start a discusssion.. anyone? Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?

Thinking of changing the title of my blog...

I hear you.. I do have a JOB. Not every day, not every week, but I make money by having a job, and then the job is over. So actually I have a LOT of jobs.

I guess my intent when I started this job was that I didn't have a full time job. A "9 to 5" job. Something with seniority, or tenure, or really, responsibility.

But I am beginning to concur, my blog title is a little mis-leading.

So, aside for asking for your help with readers and participants... I"m looking for a new title for the blog.

Please, suggestions and comments in the section below.

Some of my thoughts...

Living on Less

Semi Retired Minimalist

Making it with a part time job

I hate having a job (OK, just kidding. sorta)

Live by doing what you love

And you can see MY trend.. but what do you get from what I'm saying?
Please leave your comments. Love for SOMEONE to bust my comment cherry!
Come on, you know you wanna.. there will only be one..

Extended leave of absence...

Sorry for being gone... But it was kind of nice to not have to ask anyone for time off, being on any supervisors crap list, nor worry about how I'm going to make it without a salary for a few weeks.

I developed a skin infection, probably caused by staph, which resulted in a few very painful skin lesions. Basically I've been unable to sit (butt) or walk (knee) for a few weeks, but I seem to have turned the corner and making a recovery. Hopefully the dent in my ass where Staph decided to have a picnic will smooth over for the most part.

Just wanted to say that I hope to be back regular immediately, or soon. I do have a few jobs backed up obviously and need to get em done for this months operating expenses.

Also, have been hoping for some new readers, and I really don't know how to market or network, but would like to maybe have some discussions, or maybe a guest post, or something of that nature.. so if you're one of my few readers, and think you might know someone who'd enjoy this topic, please invite them to stop by, and everyone, please feel free to make a comment, suggestions, or even start a topic. I'd love the participation.

Dave.

Some of my favorite blogs

About living cheaply, read about George and Tioga! I've been reading this blog for years. George has no secrets about how he lives in paradise, leading the vagabond life in his golden years. He discloses ways of living on less, and even discloses his full balance sheet monthly.
http://blog.vagabonders-supreme.net/

Another blog I frequent is by a young man who has retired in his mid 30's. He also gets right down to the numbers and how he accomplished this feat and tells you how you can do the same. No matter your income, the math remains the same. I'm also a fan of how he lives affordably in 232 SF of living space with his wife and small dog. Check Jacob out at..
http://earlyretirementextreme.com/

And just one more for today. Talk about working from anywhere. This young man has figured out the way of the new world. He has lived in more cities in this last year than in his previous entire lifetime. Check out Everett Bogue at..
http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/

Information is power! Charge yourself!

PS. I am looking for blog post ideas. Do you have any specific questions? Would you like me to talk about how I deal with certain aspects of a semi retired/employed lifestyle? Please email me or drop me a comment below. Have an idea for a guest post? I'd love to talk with you about it.

A Benefit of being unemployed

Have you ever heard the quote

"nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so

I know thats not exact, and also that there are several versions, but I think it means to make the best of your situation.

There was a time when I could never have imagined not working for someone, reporting to work on a regular schedule, getting that check every Friday, and maybe getting a few benefits like insurance or some paid days off.

Now, honestly, I'm quite unemployable, and if you were in my position you might well be the same, or you might well be going crazy wondering how you were going to survive. It's different for everyone and everyone has a different threshold for risk.

But I did say BENEFIT, and here is what I'm thinking lately. I'm getting kind of tired of where I live. And since I don't have a "job", and of course I live minimally without an over abundance of property... property that can often end up owning you.. I really just think I'd like to pick up and move somewhere else. I'm nearing my 45th birthday next month and but for some brief vacations I've lived in my city and surrounding area my entire life. I really don't know if I mean another suburb of Kansas City, or if I mean an entirely different state. A new climate, a new culture, and a new start might be just what I need, but then again I have family in the KC area, and though with my semi employed status I could return often, this is the one sticking point I'm not sure about. So I may be looking into the country areas surrounding my current city... something within an hour to 90 minutes. The trouble with being out of the metropolitan areas would be getting enough work to keep the budget floating, but that is balanced by the much cheaper cost of living.. so this will need to be thought about.
But still... can you think about that right now, knowing you have to be at work tomorrow at 8am. And the next day, and the next.. for say the next 20 years.. or until they don't need you anymore?
I think these options are one of the best benefits of being unemployed.. or semi employed, however you like to look at it.

I wonder how hard it would be to be semi employed in Miami... or San Diego? Anyone?

How to make money by not spending money

The best way to get a raise is to spend less!

Lifestyle. Thats a pretty broad word. I don't intend to cover my entire life in one blog post, but I wanted to talk about how I live.

I've mentioned in a post that I live in a duplex, and I rent out the other side which covers 70% of my house payment. I also have a roommate that pays the remainder or my house payment which leaves me with utilities, cable, internet access and my cell phone. As I've said before, my entire monthly budget is WELL under $500.00.

Some things I do to further trim my budget.

I buy work shirts, tshirts, and sometimes even very nice dress shirts at my local Goodwill and Salvation Army Thrift Stores. You'd be surprised in our throw away society what can be found in your local thrift store.

I've been cutting my own hair for over 15 years. I know it seems like such a small thing, and maybe some of you ladies will draw the line on this one.. but for me, its very simple, very easy, and I've never had one comment good or bad about my cuts.

I RARELY eat out. Before you begin your whine about how convenient this is, let me say that I eat very well, and I still have treats.. and I have no problem maintaining my weight of 175 at ALL times. I am 6 feet tall.

I have mentioned that I have no credit cards, and no car payments. I realize you may not be there now, but you can get there if you want to bad enough. I was forced there by circumstances like divorce, job loss, and some job disability. Those are very motivating factors, but you don't need that kind of motivation to reach the same goal.

One of my next moves which I'll write about in my next blog is finding a low priced home, fixer upper, must-sell or some similar situation involving a great price on a home. Why you say, when I'm living so cheaply? Well, I can get an additional FULL rent on the unit I'm living in, and if I buy properly this will help pay my mortgage on my new property, and increase my equity building efforts by paying off another asset.

I'll go over the numbers I'll be trying to attain in my next post. Come back, I'd love your comments on my ideas. Still waiting for my first!

Remember, I'm not a financial planner, and not telling you how to make fast money, or get rich quick on the internet. Just telling you how I live on what I have, which I believe is very minimal compared to todays standards.

Another Funday Monday!.. but might work a little tomorrow...