If you read back on the 2009 you’ll see I consider myself a very conservative investor particularly with the account that matters (my long term hold account). I think of my self as not being as smart or successful as most people. I cant afford to make mistakes which I cant recover from so I forego bigger gains for things I perceive having downside protection. Part of that means taking excess profits in my best working years to pay off debts or make long term investments (solar, drought tolerant landscape etc) to minimize my need for money when I cant or dont want to work anymore. My next and probably last big project will be building a really nice guest house out back to live in so I can generate income off my main home which while easily affordable is quite a bit more than I need. Of course that guest house will require a wine cellar too.