Favorite Temeculaguy’s Posts. An Homage.

[scaredyclassic]

i am not qualified to give any retirement advice. however, i was talking to my mom last night, who is in her 80’s, and has been working as a substitute teacher in NYC up until recently. They are not calling her much this year and she is bummed out.

She doesn’t need the money. She has awesome fixed housing costs, rent control. she does spend money on theatre tix and fancy restaurants, but that’s about it, and im pretty sure that doesn’t put a dent in her frugal lifetime savings nature….

she works because she likes the humanity of it all. same as me.

maybe it’s genetic.

I always hope to be in the flow of life, work life, where things happen, and not out of it somewhere.

What i would do if I had no responsibility?

probably something pretty close to what I’m doing. i’d probably worry a bit less.
but maybe id just find other shit to worry about…

[scaredyclassic]

mrmoneymustache is very pro bike. therefore he is a friend of mine.

Consumerism In America: How Your Stuff Is Killing You

maybe the answer is less….

[flyer]

[quote=cvmom][quote=6packscaredy] I owe it all to the book we read in 2001 when we had 20,000 in credit card debt, and 35,000 in total income, and kids…. THE TIGHTWAD GAZETTE[/quote]

Not spending too much on stupid stuff really pays off, doesn’t it. We are so happy with our paid-off house and healthy bank balance. Now we have to get up the nerve to quit working for the man…have done 8-5 job plus family stuff so long, that I am not sure what else I want to do in life. Continuing to work when we don’t really need to seems stupid, though. I read http://www.mrmoneymustache.com religiously, he preaches early retirement, but now that we can, I am finding it surprisingly difficult to make the leap…[/quote]

Interesting perspective CV. Financially, my wife and I could have “made the leap” (retired) in our 40’s, but, as 6pack mentioned, even though we can actually do whatever we want to do, we are also the type of people who are happier having a purpose in life. (After we got the kids set up in life.)

We’ve become involved in many “causes,” as well as more real estate investment, film investment and writing, along with other things we find challenging and rewarding.

Once you find things that really makes you tick, and that you just can’t wait to do everyday, I think “making the leap” will become easy for you.

[scaredyclassic]

There may not actually be any greater purpose to anything we do, and all we can do is maximize the pleasure in our life. I think TG was generally on the side of a good time, but I don’t want to speak for him. I don’t think I have an actual necessary purpose, other than raising children, but I like to connect with humans and get dressed for work and generally have a place and status in society. Maybe I’ll tire of that.

Pleasure is ok. Pretending that what we do has a purpose is ok. But generally I think we just need a compelling reason to get out of bed and keep going whatever it is.

To retire could be very very bad. Or good.

[CA renter]

[quote=6packscaredy]mrmoneymustache is very pro bike. therefore he is a friend of mine.

Consumerism In America: How Your Stuff Is Killing You

maybe the answer is less….[/quote]

Loved that article. The pictures brought tears of joy to my eyes. What beautiful people; you can see genuine joy and happiness in their faces. I agree that you’ll be hard-pressed to find that in the U.S.

So many people in the U.S. spend 10+ hours/day, 5-7 days/week, at work. They often spend an hour or more on their commute back home at night, but stop off at the fast food joint to pick up dinner on the way because nobody has the time or energy to shop and cook good food on a regular basis. Everyone is stressed and frazzled, so they blame each other for their predicament, fight on a regular basis…then, they get divorced, where everyone in the family ends up a loser. It’s not the “American Dream,” it’s the “American Nightmare.”

We are exceptionally lucky because we have a number of phenomenal neighbors who are all open to the idea of staying home and spending more time with our families and friends. We all get together regularly to play, chat, eat, drink [not too much! :)], and have a good time. Because of this, we have little reason (or desire) to go out and spend money. We all keep our kids’ screen time (TV, computer, video games, etc.) to a bare minimum and have them play outside every day like we used to “back in the day.” It has been incredibly rewarding to all of us, and we are grateful for it every single day.

I think corporate/consumer slavery is also behind the recent trend — since ~2000 — of more and more families trying to live on one income. The “two-income trap” is very real: the more families make, the higher prices go, negating any “benefit” from having a second income.

It’s good to see that more and more people are catching on to the anti-consumerism movement. It makes life infinitely better, IMO.

[scaredyclassic]

in terms of consumerism, yesterday morning I acquired a baby antelope skull with horns, a genuine sterling silver women’s navajo new belt buckle and a handmade hula hoop made from thick tubing from some trade show, all for $8.00 at a yard sale down the street.

there are so many physical items in the USA that used stuff is super cheap. I think guys drive around with trucks and take our used stuff from yard sales back down to mexico and turn a profit. not sure how that works exactly, but you can see guys with superoverloaded trucks who are doing this every weekend. not sure what that means it’s almost like they make it, we lease it, they get it back used?

the future is less.

not sure why I have this enormous house.

[CA renter]

Those guys from Mexico also cruise the streets at night looking for stuff that people have put out on the curb for trash pick-up. You can find some pretty good stuff — absolutely free! 🙂

[scaredyclassic]

re; dumpster diving;

portlandia dumpster divers is the funniest thing i may have ever seen…ever…

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=6packscaredy]

50-60 perc off. Call it 55. Buying the house left me kind of broke. But the truly smart move I made was to immediately start saving money right after we bought the house, nOt buying a whole bunch of furniture or other crap, and buying down the balance to a conforming 417k and refinancing at 3.375 percent about a year ago.

The reality is I will probably, if things continue to go well, G-d willing, never sell or leave or heloc so it’s that 2450 payment per month with taxes and insurance for an upper crust house and land that is the really good thing for me and my people.[/quote]

I figure the peak value of your house is about $1.3 million. Congrats. Values will eventually come back and more. I only got 30% off but it’s a different location.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=6packscaredy]re; dumpster diving;

portlandia dumpster divers is the funniest thing i may have ever seen…ever…[/quote]

I don’t know , I didn’t think it was funny. Kinda repulsive.

I bought stuff at the thrift store and on Craigslist. But that’s as far as I wanna go in re-using.

[scaredyclassic]

i guess as an actual dumpster diver, I have a different perspective. maybe it requires a certain allegiance or interest in freeganism to see how well lampooned they are…

[CA renter]

[quote=6packscaredy]re; dumpster diving;

portlandia dumpster divers is the funniest thing i may have ever seen…ever…[/quote]

Nothing like the feeling of finding treasure for free! 🙂

[temeculaguy]

[quote=CA renter] I agree that you’ll be hard-pressed to find that in the U.S.

So many people in the U.S. spend 10+ hours/day, 5-7 days/week, at work. They often spend an hour or more on their commute back home at night, but stop off at the fast food joint to pick up dinner on the way because nobody has the time or energy to shop and cook good food on a regular basis. Everyone is stressed and frazzled, so they blame each other for their predicament, fight on a regular basis…then, they get divorced, where everyone in the family ends up a loser. It’s not the “American Dream,” it’s the “American Nightmare.”

[/quote]

I totally resemble that remark but I think you are drawing unfair conclusions. People are frazzled because they want to be, they fight because they choose to. I met a dentist a few weeks ago who told me he actually loves to work and then he explained why: he makes people happy by fixing their smiles at Tijuana prices but here on this side. he must install 5 implants a day, at about 25% of the price of other dentists. He also talks people out of gimicky and expensive treatments, there’s a line out the door and they come from all over. His wife works with him and they interact all day, doesn’t have kids at home, employs lots of people and helps people all day. He was the only dentist I ever met who looked forward to his day. I was only there to drive my girlfriend home, but the guy charged $700 out of pocket after her ppo insurance and her other dentist quoted 12k. So obviously he and I hit it off and began talking about why some people don’t mind working 5-7 days a week how work feeds their soul a little, and even his job, that many studies and polls claim is a depressing vocation, he thinks he hit the lotto being able to make people love him for something he enjoys.

Then I think of myself, I love my job, now that my kids have grown I get more pleasure from work because I’m not missing quite as much at home. I’m lucky because I have a job that is actually fun (no I will not elaborate), I do currently spend 50-60 hours a week at it and I am commuting an hour right now. But it’s not like I’m working in a salt mine or making pencils, my day reads like a novel. But here’s a dentist who works longer than me, drives further and does something most people think would suck, yet he’d probably do it for free.

So don’t make those assumptions, I know stay at home moms who act frazzled, fight all the time and are miserable. Conversely, I work like crazy and am never frazzled, never fight and am generally happy. It’s who you are and how you approach it, not what you do. I’ll admit I work more now because I’m paying for tuition and rent for my kids. If I wasn’t I’d probably just goof off more, but the lakers suck right now, so it’s not like I’m missing much.

[temeculaguy]

[quote=paramount]I thought this was TG’s alter ego (from temecula patch):

That Temecula Guy September 18, 2013 at 08:31 PM
Ashley… “…grinding more than what I wanted…” The validity of your argument ended there. It isn’t appropriate behavior at a school and you know it. Values used to mean something in the U.S., but this feel-good generation of socialists allows this garbage in moderation. Isn’t it time to take a stand yet?[/quote]
That isn’t something I’d ever say, I have never talked about values having meant something in the past, in fact I contend that the good old days weren’t that good. I’m not big on moral values and am never going to encourage people taking a stand against grinding, which I assume was sexual, but I guess if it involved school I wouldn’t encourage it, unless it was one of the moms, then I’m all for it. I promise you I’ve never written on the patch, I barely have time to write here and this is the one place I enjoy writing. That guy sounds like someone I’d probably argue with.

[temeculaguy]

[quote=carlsbadworker][quote=temeculaguy]Cancel your next therapy session, join the nearest 2 wine clubs and begin to enjoy taking the single best thing about where we live.
[/quote]

TG, any particular wine club that you would recommend?[/quote]

That is a hard question to answer unless I have more information, particularly what you are looking for in a club, in a wine and where your tastes lie. Its akin to asking someone what sexual act or position is good. The only answer is they are all good, but everyone likes some things more, its very subjective.

I generally maintain a few memberships at a time and then rotate them around every year or so to keep things fresh (also a good policy for positions). I have out of town guests somewhat regularly and lots of wine novices, so I like Wilson Creek for that purpose, and I am in their champagne only club. $50 every two months for 4 bottles and free tasting for four as often as I like. Our guests go through those faster than they give them so that works and we go tasting at least once a month, if not more. It’s only $12 more than costco for the four bottles total and that’s the price of one tasting. It’s big, crowded, young (some of our guests are the kids that are over 21 and their friends) and for a novice they have lots of sweet and light wines. But I’m not crazy about their reds, it’s a beginners winery, but the younger set loves it. I like Leonesse because the wines are good and it’s more laid back. I liked the collective in Old Town, but now that it has become crush and brew, not so much. Palumbo and Doffo are great wines, but pricey and small. Palomar is eclectic and has some good choices. Curry has a good Syrah and a new location in Old Town that I haven’t checked out, but I’m sure it’s better than their former location. Renzoni makes some great italians, but the tasting room isn’t built yet. There are like three groupings, mega resort facilities with well dressed and pretty crowds (south coast, wilson creek, ponte, monte de oro) which are great for your guests or an event or people watching. Middle of the road, of the beaten path, mom and pops type places that are fun (keyways or anything on the de portola trail) and craft boutique places where the emphasis is on the wine, not the winery.

My suggestion, join one of each, three is about all you can visit and make it home safely. Midweek they have two for one coupons on the temecula winegrowers website. Here’s the best tip, always tip in the beginning and tip big. Tip $10 for two people or $20 for four or more. Tell them you tend to wander off and you do not want to forget (same works for all inclusive resorts). The pourer will be your new best friend and you will likely only be able to visit 2 in a day safely or even one on a weekday because they are much more personable and liberal with the pours on weekdays. They will barely keep track of your tickets and bring out some unlabeled stuff from the back. It’s money well spent, I’ve tipped that much in casinos at the tables on a single hand and they dont bring out the good cards, but at the wineries you get your moneys worth bribing the workers. Now get out there. Drink Life to the Lees -Shakespeare

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