First trip

So we're preparing for our first trip to Ecuador.  Here's what's happened so far:

• We've received our PacSafe Wallet and DuffelSafe.  Emily is wearing the wallet around her neck/shoulder with her docs, while I'm using the duffel for my docs and "critical" living stuff like shoes, underwear and basic clothes that we would need to get by for a few days.  Check out www.pacsafe.com for further descriptions.
• Emily's backpack will have toilette's that we can replaced if it's stolen.
• We're checking one suitcase with stuff that (hopefully) won't be lost.  We want to make sure that a simple bag will make the trip.  It'll have stuff like unnecessary clothes, Dr Pepper for Mike Sager (a real estate agent that we're meeting with), wine gifts and a butterfly knife that I don't mind losing.
• We're up to date on our shots, although I've had an ongoing cold ever since getting my flu and yellow fever shots.  Haven't been really sick in years; now I'm feeling the effects of the shots.
• Google-mapped the trip from the airport to the hotel in Puerto Lopez: expected time is three hours; we hope to make it in six.
• Boarding passes are printed and set to go.
• Met with our financial adviser last night.  Not expecting to buy any property while we're there, but we're prepared.
• Went to Chase Bank, got cash and figured out the wire transfer procedures if we need money while we're there.
• Figured out clothes.  We're not really sure what to pack; the images that we see show locals in long pants and long sleeve shirts, but that doesn't work for us Gringos.  We're primarily packing shorts, Hawaii shirts and sundresses (for Emily, not me), but we want to be prepared for in-town trips that might be more formal.
• Got set up with the cat-sitter.  Diane is awesome and she will make sure that Cleo isn't lonely.

 Next post - how was the trip?

Mid-40s? Really?

As I posted earlier, the ability to retire at any age means that you must be free of obligations and financially secure.

For me, the most important step in both of these processes was meeting and marrying Emily.  Besides her fantastic personal attributes, we have many things in common:

• We both work in IT and have worked hard to succeed in a competitive industry
• We have many common interests and have both traveled around the country and abroad
• We are both committed to this and are researching the possibilities extensively

Our primary "obligation" (I prefer to call it a work of love) was to make sure that our daughter was on a solid foundation.  She is now married to her wonderful husband Dane, they own their own house and have a great environment for raising Justin and Alexia.  She is a self-made woman, and we couldn't be happier for them.

To be financially secure requires living within your means.  This involves many things:

• Emily and I bought a house with a view on a cul-de-sac that was a complete fixer-upper worth 60% of the neighbor's houses.  We've since brought it up to par (think sweat equity!)
• We buy cars that we drive for ten years
• We're boring in the sense that we rarely eat out or go to shows (except for Sunday mornings to watch Vikings games!)
• We save as much money as we can

With all that, we've been able to set ourselves up for the opportunity to retire early if the right option came along.  What was that option?  Next post...

The Three Phases

(This might seem a little too deep or thoughtful, but it's my way of rationalizing my future.)

Many people have described the three phases of life in many different ways.

An old description defines a man as walking on four legs early in life (infancy), two legs in the middle of his life and three legs at the end (with a cane or walker).  Others have described it as unaware, courting and married (with, hopefully, no fourth phase after that).

A commonly held representation divides the phases into growth and fundamental education, career development and retirement.  In this model, the first phase covers a person's life through age 21 or 22; the second phase occurs until the mid-60s; the final phase extends through the end of one's life.  The amount of personal growth and fulfillment varies from person to person, but in my observation it is the popularly held model.

I'm currently a member of that last description, and I want to break the mold.  I started working professionally at 14 as a programmer and have been in that industry since.  Since I started my second phase early in life, why not start the third phase early as well?  I'm in my mid-40s, and I want to retire.

Retirement is not an exit from the workforce - it is an escape from the mandate to work.  Most people (including me) work every day because of obligations that we have: mortgages, children, bills, etc.  If these obligations didn't exist (and if one is not interested in accumulating more material possessions), then there is no need to continue life in phase two.  Retirement is the phase in life where one can live financially secure and pursue opportunities of interest - the chance to volunteer, develop personal skills, or finally get caught up on reading!  It is the time in life where a person can do what they want, where they can contribute to others or their neighborhood on their own schedule.

How can I retire in my mid-40s?  That's in the next post.

Time to blog...

I created this account years ago, but I never posted anything.  With the recent and imminent events occurring in the lives of Emily and I, it's time to start commenting.  As of today I have zero followers, and I don't expect that number to increase soon...