I still find this writing thing to be a trip.
I’m not used to being able to go back and see where I was and what I was doing at a single point in time.
Yet, that’s what this online journal allows. It’s pretty cool in one sense, but also a little intimidating in another.
Don’t fuck up! The process seems to shout at me. Haha.
Because everything is being chronicled now buddy boy. Well, not everything, there I was being a pre-Madonna and overdramatic again – only the small amount that finds itself onto the written page.
(deep sigh)
Ya know, it’s been a little bit of a struggle for me to write lately. I haven’t been ahead of a post for at least a few months now. The weeks seem to whiz by in a blur and all of sudden I’m staring at a blank page on Saturday morning, wondering what the hell I’m going to write about this week.
In one sense having a writing schedule keeps me accountable and forces me to go through the motions, but on the other hand sometimes it can be a pain. I committed to 52 posts this year and that’s what I’ll do, although the amount seems insignificant since I did 104 posts in year 1. Plus, I’m contemplating having no schedule at all in year 3. Hahaha. Scrap everything that has worked up until this point.
But we’ll just have to see what happens, no point in getting ahead of myself. As most of us bloggers have found out, this writing thing comes and goes in bits and waves.
I think this is what tends to be the normal lifecycle of a blogger:
- Year one – tons of excitement and numerous posts.
- Year two – settling down and expanding topics or quitting.
- Year three – if blogger hasn’t quit by now, they do so at the end of the year because website subscription fees come due. Haha.
- Year four – only the true survivors keep powering on. Mad props to you guys.
Did I get it wrong? Is there a different trajectory I am missing? Let me know in the comments below.
I still have no clue what flight path this blog itself will take. I can guarantee a beginning to year 3 and that’s about it. I can’t see beyond the next bend in the river and the currents are always changing.
So it is what it is.
Well, since my thoughts continue to ramble today, I thought I’d wrap this post up with a little check-in. It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on how life has been progressing.
Back in May of last year, I wrote a post called “A Change of Plans,” that highlighted the Q-FI household’s main goals for the upcoming year:
- Buy a house/get more space
- Have the wife leave her toxic job
- Foster
I’m happy to report that we’ve checked the box for #1 and #2 – the house has turned out great so far and it has enabled my wife to leave her job (more to come on this in the future). This might confuse some people – how does buying a house and losing an income stream make sense?
Well, in our unique situation it does. We’re settling in.
The whole impetus behind the move was to buy in a lower cost of living City (relatively here) so that we could give this cycle of breathing and waking a new try on only one income and allow us to foster. I guess technically that means, according to more than half the blogs out there that she is “retired.” Or what’s the term, spouse FI? She can start a website now claiming she retired at (insert your age) and charge people to tell them how she pulled this miracle off.
“I quit my job and someone supports me.” Bingo. Pure FIRE gold right there. Maybe I’ll start a spin-off blog someday or film a documentary and expand on this thrilling story.
But not today my compadres. I care too much about your sanity to suscept you to such torture.
Although I’m not going to lie on the income front, it hurts losing that extra cashflow. The savings has been cut back accordingly, but the lifestyle dividend keeps on growing…. haha.
Getting back to the list, #3 – fostering, is taking a little longer than we had anticipated. I’m still hopeful that this box gets checked by the end of summer. But most of this is outside our control. So we’ll just have to see how life plays out like everyone else.
I should probably update my “about page” at some point. Now that we’re a single income, first time homebuyers and trying to add to our family. But I’m lazy today. I’ll commit to doing that once we actually begin fostering. Hahaha.
All these life adjustments have probably pushed back the FI timeline somewhat. I’m not sure by how much because I’m more a feel-it-out-type guy rather than relying solely on the numbers. It needs to be the right fit and feel for something this nuanced.
Based on paper, could I FIRE now? Sure. Based on the right lifestyle. But not with a confident mind that I’d never have to work again.
I prefer to play it a little more safe than sorry. Especially if there will be other people dependent on me.
In my line of work, M&A, if you’re out of the deal flow for more than a year you might as well never come back. Sure, I’m being histrionic again, but you get my point. In more niche career avenues, if you aren’t making widgets then it can take more time to transition back into a high-paying job than the common wisdom assumes.
In addition, while I continue to spew out random bullshit, I might as well add that for me personally, there is no such thing as a FI number. It’s on my list to write a post on this topic someday, but alas, the world will just have to hold its breath in the meantime. When you do as many cashflow models and valuations as I have over my career, the only thing you understand crystal clear, is that whatever number you do come up with, there is 99% chance it will never happen.
The assumptions you assume, will never be correct. Maybe its errors in a good way, maybe its errors in a bad way? Don’t know what to tell you.
Except, that’s why the only real asset is flexibility itself. Be able to pivot on a dime and anything is possible.
Build your model out from the backend, assuming that everything is wrong instead of that everything is right.
Then you’ll be ready to go for sure my friend – no matter what the world throws at you. Because we live life in phases, ranges. Not in static points. That string of mornings and evenings should be treated as a cashflow statement, rather than a balance sheet.
No idea what I’m talking about? Good. Enjoy the sunshine today and worry about the rest later.
On one final side note, which is random as hell, I really do enjoy having a mortgage. Hahahaha. Although I’ve only had it a few months, it feels good paying it down. Sure, it’s a hefty number, but you can see the goal.
I’ve always affiliated renting more with accounting. The cycle never changes into perpetuity. There’s month-end, then quarter-end, then year-end, and then it all starts over again. Having a mortgage is more akin to finance. There’s a projection, a valuation, usually a finite objective. We have a goal in mind.
And sure, you can get into the weeds on this that you pay property taxes, so there will always be some form of rent. But why ruin my little segue with the mere details of mortals?
That’s why I’ve always been a finance guy and accounting drove me nuts. Accounting is always looking backwards while finance gazes forward.
Wouldn’t you rather do that too?
Why look back, and bring the past closer to the surface, when instead, we can be staring straight ahead…
And gather the stars in our hands…
While settling in my friends… settling in.
-Q-FI
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How about a mini check-in with me from any reader in the comments below? How are you doing today, this past week, this past month? Are things good, bad, easy, hard or challenging? Always good to hear from you.
Sometimes random posts reveal the answers to our questions.
Forcing the writing doesn’t work. Grinding out a post about nothing just because an arbitrary publishing cadence says you should doesn’t really work either (for me at least, your mileage may vary).
You could try just writing when you’ve got something to say. Takes the pressure off, keeps the quality high (or hastens the day the blog goes dark!).
Glad the new Q-FI household lifestyle is to your liking, long may that continue.
Thanks Indeedably. Slowly we’ve been progressing (or accumulating – it’s all about perspective, right?), and life hasn’t had any catastrophes lately. Now if I could only get rid of my stressful job, everything would be complete… hahaha.
I’ve usually seen two camps on the writing subject. One is like you, you can’t force it. Only write when inspired. And the second, make a schedule and stick to it no matter what. Writing is a craft and should be practiced daily regardless of desire.
For me personally, I’ve never fit into either one and seem to straddle the line. I like having a set schedule, because it gives me a deadline. With so many things on my mind, I’m not sure I’d have kept writing or even started a blog in the first place if I didn’t give myself distinct deadlines. Ideas and topics have never been a problem for me, it’s finding the actual time to write about them that is. Yet at the same time, I can only really write if I have something to say. As you mention, quality can suffer with quantity. I felt this after my first year of writing and decided to cut down to posting only weekly from bi-weekly. At first, it gave me tons more time and I had no clue how I had been able to keep up the two posts a week schedule in year 1. But then like everything in life, we adapt and once again I struggle with so many other facets of interest and a demanding job to balance the current writing schedule.
However, a third writing camp has emerged to my surprise and ignorance. My wife has told me I have no choice, and have to keep writing. Haha. I had never considered this third camp before, being forced to write because of a threatening spouse. I’m not sure she has a say in the matter even though she believes she does, but who knew outside forces could start their own camp of writing requirements? Oh, how the plot thickens…
Albeit, I still have a few months to decide so I’ll see where I’m at in September.
Thanks as always for the input.
Settling in. Good to hear and you’ve achieved some lofty goals this year, so that’s pride-worthy. If it’s any consolation, I’ve been slipping on my writing as well. This last one was written on the day it was published and the prior 2, the days before which is unusual. But that’s usually a sign on a lot going on in life as it seems that case with you.
As for your question, things are amazing here. I never quite know what life is going to be hurling my way and, like any good story, I’m always eager to see what happens next!
Thanks Mr. Fate. It always feels good to check items off your list and know that you’re moving forward.
And great to hear you are doing amazing! Fuck yeah! Sounds like the sky is smiling down on you in that beautiful Pacific Northwest country up there. Haha.
It’s probably just about right, being summer time so you can really enjoy all that wilderness surrounding you. Can’t wait to see what happens next as well!
I like the idea of building out the plan from the back end. We go through that exercise quite a bit in construction, we call it pull planning. One of those “lean” building methods. Helps fill in holes and priorities when you’re looking at what order things need to happen. Critical path items really float to the top this way.
Yeah, I’m with you on having a mortgage and a number to work towards. Rather than the perpetual rent, which is probably akin to an inmate with a life sentence vs a release date lol.
Randomly posting with no routine is something I’ve purposely done, though it gets on my nerves. I’m very much a routine/program guy and a huge procrastinator without deadlines. I do write on the regular, even if it’s not for the blog (I started writing fiction again after taking the last 8 years off). I believe in the habitual practice of the craft. It’s just the time, like you point out. There’s only so much time.
Happy to hear about the fostering. That’s such an honorable thing to do. I found that prior to having kids around the house, I had no idea how selfish I was. It was really a wake-up call of where I spent my time and on what. Not that it’s a bad trade off, it just shifted my perspective and is hella rewarding. Nothing like explaining or introducing something new to someone for the first time ever. Just my unsolicited take on it, I look forward to reading about your perspective shift once you get some kids under the roof.
Hahahaha… I love the life sentence. I hadn’t thought about it that way, but yeah, I see the similarity. Golden.
Dude, awesome you’re writing fiction. I’d love to dabble in that as well. Probably been about the same as me 8-10 years since I gave it a good go. My hats off to you.
Yes, the perspective will definitely shift once kiddos get under the roof. I’ve been mentally preparing, but understand I have no friggin’ clue. I’ve already been adapting to having the wife home from work since she left her job, so why not throw a baby in the mix now? Hahaha. But I think you’re spot on. I’ve been observing all the little things I indulge in now that will probably be going away. How selfish I’ve been, definitely hasn’t fully registered yet.
Here’s hoping you make it past the website fees! Really enjoy your writing and perspective. Settle in!
Yes, settle in… haha. Thanks for the kind words. No plans to stop, but some slowing down might eventually happen. But nothing immediate.
This FI train just keeps on chugging.
i think you nailed a large point when you said there were other people depending on your decisions, q. we are like you in that we don’t have an FI number. i’m sure we could both retire right now and be just fine. like your situation, i’m making the bulk of the income right now but my job isn’t bad or stressful so mrs. smidlap will probably peace out ahead of me.
this blog schedule thing baffles me a little bit. i lose interest from time to time but am into my 4th year. it really did suck when the hosting fees went up. if anything i intend to keep up the missy series just to stick it to the crowd whining about it being foolish it even try and beat the index. f’ em. i think i’ll go write about our rusty fence now.
You should just start day trading full time Freddy… haha. Missy is killing it.
I agree, when our decisions affect others, we tend to be a little more careful and precise. or at least, that’s how I hope people would be.
The blog schedule thing was what a lot of the trendy FI blogs end up doing – at least from what I’ve observed. They start out hot and heavy and then burn out after a year after all the FI topics have been exhausted. Your blog is unique and not burdened by the money machine pressure, as well as fun for you, so I don’t see that happening to you.
As I point out in the post, you have made it as one of the 4th year rock stars! Hahaha.
Glad to see you’re settling in, and still chugging along with the blog. I just entered my fourth year, which is actually quite surprising to me. I almost quit a few times, but something keeps drawing me back. There’s no way I could post weekly (or twice weekly!), but maybe if I get rid of this damn job it would be easier. I appreciate your comment that the assumptions are wrong 99% of the time. In some ways it’s obvious, but I don’t think people really grasp it. The good news, as you stated, is that things could actually end up much better, but no one should put so much faith into one projection or one plan. It always goes to shit!
Hey, what’s up Adam and thanks for cruising by.
Another 4th year rock star here! Hahaha. I guess I kind of got lolled to sleep and didn’t realize how long some bloggers had been writing. Good job on sticking with it.
Bro, get rid of the job and you’ll be at it. At least that’s what I like to tell myself. The trend I see, is a lot of bloggers FI then get busy with other stuff and lose interest. Will that be me? Will that be you? Only one way to find out. Let’s quit these annoying jobs! Hahaha.
Here’s the real kicker – even people in finance don’t grasp it. My boss is still obsessed about estimating the perfect model, and all I do is roll my eyes. Whenever I train an analyst or manager, I go through the exercise of telling them to do a model with all of their best assumptions. Then I tell them that the only thing I can guarantee is that the model we just made, will never happen. Use it as the starting point and now work backwards. It blows their minds. We’re always so certain we can predict the future it’s ridiculous.
Ha – I’m so with you on those cash-flow models…..🤣I do think they have a use – but purely for being ale to play with them and see how things change under scenarios than believing the absolute numbers. Adaptability is king.
Have to admit, I’ve never had a blogging schedule or timetable – and it obviously shows….. It was just too much like being back at work tbh. So I write something when I feel like and don’t when I don’t. It does mean my blog isn’t super successful but tbh, the fact any body reads it is above what I expected when starting out so hey, all good! So I wouldn’t beat yourself up too much however it works out. That said, please keep going as I do love your random wanderings!
I think you’re living proof Michelle that you can do many things and adapting gives you the most options.
It seems not many people keep a writing schedule. I feel like I had read this a lot when starting out, “give your readers a consistent schedule so they know when to expect new content.” Or something like that. I was probably reading all the money advice blogs. But at least the consistent theme here among my fellow writers, is write when you want and feel like it. I’ll probably eventually shift to that as my time takes me elsewhere in the future.
I think Freddy had a post on the topic, if you miss a post or don’t write as much no one really cares. Hahaha. But I will know!
Anyway, I’m with you – “the fact any body reads it is above what I expected when starting out.” Same here and anything in addition to that is gravy.