Comments on: My top 5 tips to becoming an extreme early retirement expert http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html Becoming debt-free is the first step to building a better world. Financial independence is the second. Doing what YOU want is the third. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:07:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Diane http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-21755 Diane Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:22:41 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-21755 Thanks for giving me an excuse not to apologize for my hobby of shoemaking. I've actually got one person begging me to teach a class. Perhaps this hobby will pay off someday. Thanks for giving me an excuse not to apologize for my hobby of shoemaking. I’ve actually got one person begging me to teach a class. Perhaps this hobby will pay off someday.

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-21753 Jacob Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:46:11 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-21753 @jj - I haven't thought much about moving to another country. I already enjoy a greater deal of home ownership than someone who rents a house or has a mortgage regardless of which country it is located it. Nobody can kick me out of my home. If regulators hassle me, I can move my home to another state. I can even move it to rent free locations (for example, national parks). I consider a home that is anchored to a fixed location somewhat of a liability. That said, some feel differently and there's certainly some geoarbitrage going on; others value a house with a foundation where they can live in the same place for 40 years. I just prefer to live in a place where I speak the language fluently and where I somewhat fit in with the local culture and Silicon Valley works for me; also I prefer to move around every few years. @jj – I haven’t thought much about moving to another country. I already enjoy a greater deal of home ownership than someone who rents a house or has a mortgage regardless of which country it is located it. Nobody can kick me out of my home. If regulators hassle me, I can move my home to another state. I can even move it to rent free locations (for example, national parks). I consider a home that is anchored to a fixed location somewhat of a liability. That said, some feel differently and there’s certainly some geoarbitrage going on; others value a house with a foundation where they can live in the same place for 40 years. I just prefer to live in a place where I speak the language fluently and where I somewhat fit in with the local culture and Silicon Valley works for me; also I prefer to move around every few years.

]]> By: jj http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-21752 jj Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:25:31 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-21752 Have you ever thought of moving to a country that is poorer than USA/California. For example poor African/Asian countries you can find housing for $100/month and given you do not rely or need other services that a developed country readily provides (education/healthcare etc). You don't have to live like a "near" homeless inside a car and have a very decent living standard and enjoy life/freedom? Have you ever thought of moving to a country that is poorer than USA/California. For example poor African/Asian countries you can find housing for $100/month and given you do not rely or need other services that a developed country readily provides (education/healthcare etc). You don’t have to live like a “near” homeless inside a car and have a very decent living standard and enjoy life/freedom?

]]> By: Kelly http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-21751 Kelly Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:21:09 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-21751 I know this is an old post, but I'm curious how it worked out with the grant application and new power plant design. I know this is an old post, but I’m curious how it worked out with the grant application and new power plant design.

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4807 Jacob Tue, 12 May 2009 18:20:21 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4807 @Blogging Banks - Thanks for the estimate - it's similar to what I would have guessed it at. I have been thinking about, but admittedly, I just don't want to deal with it at that level. Also, I think if it turned into a source of income, I could easily come to depend on it, and then I would be obligated to keep writing and start thinking in terms of traffic rather than ideas and that would suck, for me. @Chris, George - I admit it makes no sense. I have a Danish driver's license, good until 2045 (the test is bloody hard over there so once you got in, you don't have to do it again), and it works in the rest of the world as long as I'm not a resident, so technically, the only place I can't drive is California. As you know, I hate driving, so I have avoided getting a license thus far (I get rides for long distances, but I don't go anywhere very often). Living in an RV this makes no rational sense at all other than the fact that even if I got the license, I probably wouldn't be driving anyway and thus lose whatever routine I may build up. So DW drives the RV and the propane fill up is like 2 miles away. Without driving, I would get a frame backpack and walk a 30lb external tank over instead, no problem. @Blogging Banks – Thanks for the estimate – it’s similar to what I would have guessed it at. I have been thinking about, but admittedly, I just don’t want to deal with it at that level. Also, I think if it turned into a source of income, I could easily come to depend on it, and then I would be obligated to keep writing and start thinking in terms of traffic rather than ideas and that would suck, for me.

@Chris, George – I admit it makes no sense. I have a Danish driver’s license, good until 2045 (the test is bloody hard over there so once you got in, you don’t have to do it again), and it works in the rest of the world as long as I’m not a resident, so technically, the only place I can’t drive is California. As you know, I hate driving, so I have avoided getting a license thus far (I get rides for long distances, but I don’t go anywhere very often). Living in an RV this makes no rational sense at all other than the fact that even if I got the license, I probably wouldn’t be driving anyway and thus lose whatever routine I may build up. So DW drives the RV and the propane fill up is like 2 miles away. Without driving, I would get a frame backpack and walk a 30lb external tank over instead, no problem.

]]> By: Kevin M http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4805 Kevin M Tue, 12 May 2009 14:59:41 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4805 #3 is great and something I really need to work on. I get too caught up in the day to day operations of life that it's hard to see what's ahead sometimes. I have an idea of where I want to go though, so I guess that's a start. Good luck with the proposal by the way. #3 is great and something I really need to work on. I get too caught up in the day to day operations of life that it’s hard to see what’s ahead sometimes. I have an idea of where I want to go though, so I guess that’s a start.

Good luck with the proposal by the way.

]]> By: George http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4804 George Tue, 12 May 2009 14:50:42 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4804 Chris beat me to the punchline :-) Inquiring minds want to know! Chris beat me to the punchline :-)

Inquiring minds want to know!

]]> By: Chris http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4803 Chris Tue, 12 May 2009 13:16:31 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4803 What, you don't have a drivers license? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but you live in an RV no? I seem to remember a post where you said you drove somewhere to get propane tanks or whatever. ;) What, you don’t have a drivers license? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you live in an RV no? I seem to remember a post where you said you drove somewhere to get propane tanks or whatever. ;)

]]> By: SaveBuyLive http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4802 SaveBuyLive Tue, 12 May 2009 12:34:41 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4802 Points 1, 3 and 4 resonate the best with me. You bring up some good points. Particularly about how standard run of the mill personal finance is not going to get you to financial freedom. This has been one of the most crushing discoveries in my own personal finance journey. That even if I do everything right I'm going to be stuck with an uninspiring 9-5 job for decades to come. Of course, I could luck out and wind up with an awesome job, but my life usually doesn't seem to work that way. I'll admit to being a dork who reads textbooks for fun so maybe you could list some of the better books that you've read on operations management that you've alluded to in point 3. I am convinced that I need to do something different and out of my comfort zone. At this point I don't really know what that something is, but I'm searching for it. Points 1, 3 and 4 resonate the best with me.

You bring up some good points. Particularly about how standard run of the mill personal finance is not going to get you to financial freedom. This has been one of the most crushing discoveries in my own personal finance journey. That even if I do everything right I’m going to be stuck with an uninspiring 9-5 job for decades to come. Of course, I could luck out and wind up with an awesome job, but my life usually doesn’t seem to work that way.

I’ll admit to being a dork who reads textbooks for fun so maybe you could list some of the better books that you’ve read on operations management that you’ve alluded to in point 3.

I am convinced that I need to do something different and out of my comfort zone. At this point I don’t really know what that something is, but I’m searching for it.

]]> By: Steven Austin http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4801 Steven Austin Tue, 12 May 2009 11:19:52 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4801 on strategy....Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching; and John Boyd A Discourse On Winning And Losing on strategy….Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching; and John Boyd A Discourse On Winning And Losing

]]> By: Blogging Banks http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4800 Blogging Banks Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:14 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4800 I am just wondeing, if your blog is your hobby as well, are you making any money off it? I don't see any ads.. Although I could tell you that could be making at least 200-300 /month from your blog ( which is half of your projected expenses for one year, right? I am just wondeing, if your blog is your hobby as well, are you making any money off it? I don’t see any ads.. Although I could tell you that could be making at least 200-300 /month from your blog ( which is half of your projected expenses for one year, right?

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4799 Jacob Tue, 12 May 2009 02:17:34 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4799 @Jan - Not really, I just discovered the field recently. Try D. T. Johns and H.A. Harding. @Jan – Not really, I just discovered the field recently. Try D. T. Johns and H.A. Harding.

]]> By: Jan http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4798 Jan Tue, 12 May 2009 02:12:18 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4798 > I think you will be way better off with a few > textbooks on operations management. Pay > particular attention to kaizen, just-in-time > inventory management), the fifth discipline > (the systems approach), and total quality > management. Any particular book(s) you'd recommend for a complete novice? > I think you will be way better off with a few
> textbooks on operations management. Pay
> particular attention to kaizen, just-in-time
> inventory management), the fifth discipline
> (the systems approach), and total quality
> management.

Any particular book(s) you’d recommend for a complete novice?

]]> By: Seth Miller http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4797 Seth Miller Tue, 12 May 2009 01:41:36 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4797 Oh I should have been more clear. I only make breads, not cakes or sweets, but I should look in to contests for breads. Oh I should have been more clear. I only make breads, not cakes or sweets, but I should look in to contests for breads.

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4796 Jacob Tue, 12 May 2009 00:55:51 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4796 @Seth - List coming right up. How about trying to enter some baking competitions? Catering weeding cakes? @Philip - Small world! I haven't read that one, but the Principles of Ecology is the best book on ecology I have ever read. @Seth – List coming right up. How about trying to enter some baking competitions? Catering weeding cakes?

@Philip – Small world! I haven’t read that one, but the Principles of Ecology is the best book on ecology I have ever read.

]]> By: Philip Brewer http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4795 Philip Brewer Tue, 12 May 2009 00:44:00 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4795 Cool! The Richard Brewer who wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0030965756?ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0030965756" rel="nofollow"><i>The Science of Ecology</i></a> is my father. The rest of the list is good too. Cool!

The Richard Brewer who wrote The Science of Ecology is my father.

The rest of the list is good too.

]]> By: Seth Miller http://earlyretirementextreme.com/my-top-5-tips-to-becoming-an-extreme-early-retirement-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-4793 Seth Miller Mon, 11 May 2009 23:29:21 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1563#comment-4793 I was going to complain about the lack of posts, but it sounds like you've been putting your time to good use (not that I would expect much else). I'm more curious about these possible hobbies. I'm having a hard time coming up with a very long list so it may be an area to expand on (though I know you dislike lists). I currently bake a fair amount of our bread but that is really the only thing I've got, and I'm not sure about making money off that in the long term, though I've become pretty impressed with my bagels lately. I was going to complain about the lack of posts, but it sounds like you’ve been putting your time to good use (not that I would expect much else).
I’m more curious about these possible hobbies. I’m having a hard time coming up with a very long list so it may be an area to expand on (though I know you dislike lists).
I currently bake a fair amount of our bread but that is really the only thing I’ve got, and I’m not sure about making money off that in the long term, though I’ve become pretty impressed with my bagels lately.

]]>