FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness: survival

Fragilista - Part 2

Contender 1 Black Swan, Dividends, downshifting, early-retirement, Life, survival 08:01

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low cost fuel and no moving parts - a robust heating solution</td></tr>
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Have you ever wondered how some people get rich and are able to grow their wealth?<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2017/01/Financial-Planning.html" target="_blank"><b>part 1</b></a>
 I covered the principles of financial independence and shared a planning tool to work the numbers. I highly recommend you <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2017/01/Financial-Planning.html" target="_blank">check it out here  </a>before reading this post.<br />
<br />
Today it is all about taking <b>"Talk the Talk"</b> about wanting to be financial independent, happy and resilient to reality by<b> "Walking the Walk"</b>.<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I gained an interest in wealth accumulation through a very dynamic friend Chris in 
university. He would read every autobiography of a successful person he 
could get his hands on and say that was going to be him one day. <br />
<br />
My take at the time was to get a good job work 
really hard and work my way up the ranks. Little did I know at the time 
that this actually takes a long time. After a few years I started to read up about rich people like Chris did. My general take at the time that they were not afraid to invest and take risks. So I changed jobs and started investing <u>badly</u>. I had a severe lack of financial knowledge and was letting myself to be guided by speculative investment newsletters.   <br />
<br />
My first breakthrough was coming across the blog "Early Retirement Extreme" which turned on the light bulb of frugality = increased investments and a few blogs on dividend investing. Eventually I joined the dots to<b> frugality = increased investments = increased passive income => financial independence + increased freedom</b>.<br />
<br />
My second breakthrough was understanding the need to build resilience. This was triggered by two topics. First the blog <b>LATOC - Life after the oil crash</b> website (which no longer exists) which highlighted that the world is not infinite so <b>some self sufficiency </b>is a good thing. <br /><br />The second topic was the tech boom and bust followed by the sub prime meltdown and oil price crash which moved our investments all over the place. Importantly we waited it all out teaching us to be long term investors. We are unable \ lack the knowledge to<b> "trade" short term effectively</b>.  </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Finally I started to read about "Black Swans", "Business Cycles" and "Capital Flows". This made me realise that we needed to be serious about resilient living. This allows us to continue to live frugally and use the savings to re-invest in even more income investing assets. This is to help us ensure we can keep the financial independence dream alive indefinitely.</blockquote>
So today this post is all about what we are doing to keep the FI dream alive:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>A look at some potential risks we want to counter (several graphs)</b></li>
<li><b>Our "Walk the Walk" anti-fragile changes we are making to our lives (financial and at home)</b></li>
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<ul>
<li><b>Personal </b>- Family education \ health<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Sustainability </b>\ <b>Antifragility </b>- reducing our reliance on outside help</li>
<li><b>Community </b>- Engage in the local community and with friends</li>
<li><b>Financial </b>- building diverse assets and income <b><u>(Our latest financials)</u></b></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Inter-generational wealth building </b></li>
<li><b>How you can start on the road to antifragility  </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
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<h2>
Why we want to be Resilient</h2>
Over the last 10 years I have read, 
learnt, been lost by and perplexed by economics and life. My lifestyle has been 
cajoled by consumerism, dazzled by technology and awed by my ability to
 travel. Our modern world is great and we want to participate in it.<br />
<br />
We are looking at <u>a substantial period of time without "jobs" and have two kids</u> to raise. We need to make sure our standard of living remains the same or improves by:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst"</i></blockquote>
In hoping for the best: we are waiting for battery storage to make the next step, solar panel efficiency to go to the moon, nuclear fusion, 99% recycling and an iRobot to do all our heavy lifting.<br />
<br />
While we wait for this Utopia we should "hedge our bets" and "plan for the unexpected".  I want to point out we are not Doomers but Realists. Risks may be small but we are well aware black swans can appear. For example having some alternative sources of lighting if a storm takes out the power lines for a few days is appropriate and cheap to implement. <br />
<br />
Other risks are harder to mitigate. Here are a few risks worth considering: <br />
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<ol>
<li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13n1KT5u1-wX-EzErxzDPcsbjKgWIewJ4pWvGTJvS-VSqPiUVREOqJXrEgO5TIsOvZaro3VQUj8zEioWeb5gs2RF4nu8736YzI2corDHb3E3Y9zZ75eDZwtr8c5SlkidB9CYHJrxp0gbX/s1600/2035.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13n1KT5u1-wX-EzErxzDPcsbjKgWIewJ4pWvGTJvS-VSqPiUVREOqJXrEgO5TIsOvZaro3VQUj8zEioWeb5gs2RF4nu8736YzI2corDHb3E3Y9zZ75eDZwtr8c5SlkidB9CYHJrxp0gbX/s320/2035.PNG" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source http://populationpyramid.net/</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXLVUe15n6uW8jbzG6-LZfX3cr_k1tGVWt3b_bcRjk7wIdqAcgqQwZ-TFqHf5U3TuGoITUog1eVrhvTHmU9TrQfqKXfjWKQjvaIPBdoYrTwkHkliPnv7Fqzt3eCIjYCnOUtiIWJ8ybiDH/s1600/2015.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXLVUe15n6uW8jbzG6-LZfX3cr_k1tGVWt3b_bcRjk7wIdqAcgqQwZ-TFqHf5U3TuGoITUog1eVrhvTHmU9TrQfqKXfjWKQjvaIPBdoYrTwkHkliPnv7Fqzt3eCIjYCnOUtiIWJ8ybiDH/s320/2015.PNG" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source http://populationpyramid.net/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Society is now rapidly ageing</b>\ retiring in the west and dependency 
ratios are rocketing. <br />
Pension funds are massively underfunded and assume
 large percentage YoY growth. <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Risk: large liquidation of stock and housing by boomers paying for their retirement. Tax rises to pay for services and entitlements that are underfunded by the tax receipts caused by a drop in the workforce to retiree ratio?</b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 163px;"><colgroup><col width="79"></col><col width="84"></col></colgroup><tbody>
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  </li>
<li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="CHART OF THE WEEK: European Debt-to-GDP Ratios | The Economic Voice" class="detail__media__img-highres  js-detail-img  js-detail-img-high" height="177" src="https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.economicvoice.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2FEuropean-Debt-to-GDP-Ratios-Oct-2013.jpg&f=1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="280" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.economicvoice.com/chart-of-the-week-european-debt-to-gdp-ratios/" target="_blank">www.economicvoice.com</a></td></tr>
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<b>Debt </b>has been piled on at 
staggering rates. It is only really backed by the faith that some poor fools will foot the bill (us the tax payers). <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Risk: Debt jubilee, high inflation, currency devaluation, new currency?<br /><br /></b></span></li>
<li>Assumptions on 
<b>property prices are </b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s1600/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s280/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it time for interest rates to rise.....The million $$$$ ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>potentially widely wrong </b>- low interest rates and 
credit have driven prices sky high. They are unaffordable to the young who can not get the
 high paying jobs needed to even get a deposit together. <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Risk: Onerous under water mortgages suppressing property values and rental incomes or a period of high inflation eroding their real value?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s1600/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></b></span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2605/26051202.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Source newscientist.com Click to Enlarge" border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl2eWIlIXf0ZMut4TLkmnHfQa9eSkFhC3zJ-Yba4lLxH7021qaGn-pIEhY9_NhdmDDYN-GvvZ00f9HAJaH8Nob-sDh_noLb7b9OfMbJ0aS_9DANlB6_naFHNZqZuKFj_9DockVdtlArbV/s280/Years+Left.PNG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Newscientist click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>We all 
live on <b>one planet</b> and consume more of its resources each year than can 
be replaced by equivalent alternatives. Liquid fuels, metals, fish, 
lumber and soil. This is just another form of debt we are piling on and 
the bill will become true at some stage. <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Risk: Lack of resources to build out our technological society of the future?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></li>
<li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyPzjir7tFI4CtjEXpgHvssK0dWzkMMLROvwXjGijSdZmEUoAQATm_JDEkC4RY3Eg3JelAEIoCJigjq_uWXnp3abi5iXVRCzn1H7UCM0WHkosfgpRbsU-UeSlkIPg6CdiURKwBitzapY/s1600/Soil.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyPzjir7tFI4CtjEXpgHvssK0dWzkMMLROvwXjGijSdZmEUoAQATm_JDEkC4RY3Eg3JelAEIoCJigjq_uWXnp3abi5iXVRCzn1H7UCM0WHkosfgpRbsU-UeSlkIPg6CdiURKwBitzapY/s280/Soil.PNG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/soil/erosion1.htm">seafriends.org.nz</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is about time food production
 is  re-thought to <b>re-build soils</b> that have been degraded 
by the green revolution. Organic farming (including pest and weed control), low tilling soil and replanting hedgerows and trees are gaining ground around the world.<br /><br />Perhaps the days of the 6000 mile lettuce has 
almost had its day - you can easily grow one in your basement with the 
right setup. <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Risk: large increase in cost of food as more resources are dedicated to its production?</b></span></li>
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</ol>
<h2>
What Resiliance means to us</h2>
My personal take on resilience is <b>OPTIONS</b>. Lots of them. Options to move, different income streams and multiple ways to provide the basics (food, water, shelter and warmth).<br />
<br />
As early retirees we have a likely 40+ years ahead of us. A lot of things can and will happen in those 40+ years. Most of them will be surprises good and bad. OPTIONS will either allow us to take advantage of these changes or ride them out.<br />
<br />
<b>Staying financially independent</b> = fix up our place, be 50% + self sufficient and build excess income streams.<br />
<br />
We need to be able to offset the risks we have listed above (and others) and setup our investments to to take advantage of any opportunities.<br />
<br />
This "work" has taken priority over this blog in the last year. We have been super busy but the benefits have been amazing for us. We are so <b><u>happy</u></b> that we have taken steps to anti-fragile our lifestyle which has relieved some of our anxiety of going it alone.<br />
<br />
First up here are our Anti-fragile / Resilience goals: <br />
<ol>
<li>We want to <b>provide a normal middle class up-bringing</b> for our kids and afford them opportunities to grow. This requires us to at least maintain our inflation indexed income and ideally grow it. We need to be able to ride out any large unexpected bills and save for the kids education.</li>
<li><b>Not to be a burden to the state</b> \ provide adequate funding for our lifestyle through low living costs, excess passive income and a small amount of paid work. We will pay our fair share of taxes on time and limit our impact on local amenities (e.g. less waste, support fund raising for the school etc.)</li>
<li><b>Reduce our reliance on external resources </b>- we will source as much of our food, building supplies and fuel locally.</li>
<li><b>Look after our health</b> (again reducing the cost to state) eat our own organic food and fruit, cutting wood, cycling instead of driving etc. </li>
<li><b>Engage with other people</b>, to share resources to help with maintenance issues for example. </li>
</ol>
<h2>
4 action areas</h2>
We have decided to consolidate our actions in to <b>4 main areas</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Personal </b>- Family education \ health<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Sustainability </b>\ <b>Antifragility </b>- reducing our reliance on outside help</li>
<li><b>Community </b>- Engage in the local community and with friends</li>
<li><b>Financial </b>- building diverse assets and income</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Starting with our Personal Gaols</h3>
<b>Adult Education </b>- We continue to read up on wide ranging topics 
(Super-forecasting, Logic, Perma-<br />
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<a href="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dNyxd1LKL._SX260_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dNyxd1LKL._SX260_.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
culture \ Market Gardening, the 1930's, 
Solar Energy to name a few) and most importantly put these into practise. An example 
of this covered in more detail below is our ability to grow our own 
food and generate some of our own energy. This improves our finances and health.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEeJUmovd94-JDI2UQwBml7YKK41iEGolEzxji18lBZj_Z4ghSP8oOyyZOFu9boQqmFjZi5LsMaQ-DURSZIWOUfKhg5BpABKcIGaIKxRRM7fxC87sIE_NrObi3cgtmQROgvbGTJdfcI2d/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEeJUmovd94-JDI2UQwBml7YKK41iEGolEzxji18lBZj_Z4ghSP8oOyyZOFu9boQqmFjZi5LsMaQ-DURSZIWOUfKhg5BpABKcIGaIKxRRM7fxC87sIE_NrObi3cgtmQROgvbGTJdfcI2d/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" width="212" /></a><b>Kids 
education</b> - we continue to encourage the kids to learn through play and 
experience. <br /><br />The TV has long gone. This been a brilliant thing to do as their play is more beneficial helping them to develop personal / communication skills, anger and conflict management. 
The both take judo classes which we hope will help with confidence, control and respect. <br />
<br />
We take them to museums (locally we have a school and a bee\ honey museum, down the road we have the Airbus museum). <br /><br />We 
engage them in day to day activities, cooking, gardening, cleaning, 
painting etc. They are learning 4 languages.... wowser!  I struggle with English let alone French.<br />
<br />
<b>Lifestyle </b>- An added bonus is lifestyle here in the south west of France. It is a
 holiday for us. Our local town has just been added to the Michelin guide. In fact our whole area is a hot tourist area with lots
 of things to do. We have easy access to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts 
as well as the Pyrenees mountains.<br />
<br />
We continue to improve our house and land. We are renovating, planting, repairing and cleaning. We love our flowering pots around our terrace, the picturesque views and starry nights.<br />
<h3>
Sustainability & cost reductions \ savings</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-UWfaUdD4ESx2rHKuxYN7jLFd6lxzinXZDaBRm4HVNZB5qHTtGjcKWy7dkSsP1JPqg0cSRFWaDFlyMAw6sXtdY_5EPOoi6SM2g-AwaPRqfOAfGsP1J5WWJLaO0Gn7XEpMhM_Cz2hidPQ/s1600/P1080133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-UWfaUdD4ESx2rHKuxYN7jLFd6lxzinXZDaBRm4HVNZB5qHTtGjcKWy7dkSsP1JPqg0cSRFWaDFlyMAw6sXtdY_5EPOoi6SM2g-AwaPRqfOAfGsP1J5WWJLaO0Gn7XEpMhM_Cz2hidPQ/s280/P1080133.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our preserves from the garden and batteries for <br />
off grid solar system</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBY4pvs2H3f9bEHJM9r8f9fK7TTI6OiBFI5x3udsydHPkLJTO_B6iW4Sp6nXaKW0E64QhEao0PATvYXRMHiJb4YOrjZpoxv3g-dDw1IYEED8gKpX6_LcDJ7HDQZOhV3VwgL2AySj00ev9/s1600/Solar.PNG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBY4pvs2H3f9bEHJM9r8f9fK7TTI6OiBFI5x3udsydHPkLJTO_B6iW4Sp6nXaKW0E64QhEao0PATvYXRMHiJb4YOrjZpoxv3g-dDw1IYEED8gKpX6_LcDJ7HDQZOhV3VwgL2AySj00ev9/s320/Solar.PNG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eco-worthy.com/">eco-worthy.com</a> wind solar off grid system</td></tr>
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<ul>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>We have built an intricate <b>gravity and solar fed 
irrigation system </b>- reducing our demand for mains water and allowing us to grow lots of lovely veg.</li>
<li>Done as much <b>renovation</b> work as possible by <b>ourselves </b>saving thousands</li>
<li>Replaced lots of damaged roof tiles </li>
<li>We have started to build a 
<b>perma-culture garden, permaculture mounds, a couple of ponds and a poly 
tunnel.  </b></li>
<li>We have invested in <b>manual garden tools.</b></li>
<li>We have invested in <b>preserving equipment</b> and Mrs C has been really busy canning (Bocals)</li>
<li>We have purchased a <b>sun oven</b> to cook and preserve our food </li>
<li>We have planted more f<b>ruit and nut trees</b> </li>
<li>We have started making our <b>own compost</b> without fuel and fertilisers. It has no 
requirement for machinery only hand tools.</li>
<li>We have <b>installed an off grid solar and wind system</b> and are 
currently adding the option to run the whole house off it as required. 
It is a 1.4KW system (1KW solar and 400W Wind) with 4*130AH batteries. <br /><br />This system running at 1/3 of capacity daily = 1.4KW * 1/3 * 24 = 11.2 KWh per day<br />Our average house consumption we believe is around 8.3 KWh per day (350 AH per day @ 24V)<br /><br />The
 only issue is that the battery bank (the 4 batteries give 260AH @ 24V) 
is not large enough for a prolonged period without the system running at
 1/3rd of capacity. 
</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuiftzpCFkMOjt8Sh1Yi6yiiPU7K2R3CRzJr9vpE3WFGG5VLoJua9bCJK0lxbk0VQuwzoD6P3FkfM4n3R2b3lnIeO77L9HsVymF9H5NuWmvk_aP18G2B5ofS6EP1srlJ-Oa2auxQyJMw/s1600/P1080158.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuiftzpCFkMOjt8Sh1Yi6yiiPU7K2R3CRzJr9vpE3WFGG5VLoJua9bCJK0lxbk0VQuwzoD6P3FkfM4n3R2b3lnIeO77L9HsVymF9H5NuWmvk_aP18G2B5ofS6EP1srlJ-Oa2auxQyJMw/s280/P1080158.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Permaculture "mounds"<br />
which have now been planted with fruit bushes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Benefits</b><br />
<ol>
<li>We can <b>save and invest more each month</b> increasing safety nets and future options </li>
<li>We are <b>growing our own organic food </b>- this is exercise, provides healthy meals (Vegan) and saves money</li>
<li>We are able to <b>use resources on our land </b>(we have solar electricity and hot water, a
 gravity fed water source, trees for firewood, fruit and nut trees, and 
we are developing good soil). </li>
<li>Our <b>kids are learning real world skills </b>with us such as solar system installations and calculations, water flow and management.</li>
<li>We are not buying loads of rubbish "entertainment" for <b>the kids - they play outside making their own games.</b> </li>
<li>We can <b>repair things ourselves </b>which is satisfying, saves time, money and stress.</li>
</ol>
We have reduced our <u>necessary </u>living costs (2 adults and 2 children) to ~£900 (1,050 EUR, ~1,170 
USD) per month (property tax, food, utilities, school fees and cars) as of Sept 2016. We can live on much less if needs be.<br />
<br />
From an Antifragile standpoint - we are able to provide for ourselves in an emergency and have reduced our "fixed" living costs. We have learnt additional real world skills that allow us to do things for ourself.<br />
<h3>
Friendships & Community</h3>
We have abnormal living arrangements in a normal community of hard working individuals. The "abnormal" part is that we do not have "normal" work and "normal finances". Talking about financial independence and resilience building seems almost taboo... We try not to talk about unless someone specifically asks.<br />
<br />
Financial independence is a bit like talking about <b>how much you earn</b> (ironically it is fine to talk about how much you spend;) see the following <a href="http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a28515/why-cant-we-talk-about-how-much-we-make/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article.</a> I often wonder why this is the case. Surely it would be beneficial to know if you are being paid fairly? Wouldn't a discussion on money, budgeting and investing be beneficial for people to have? So talking normal finances or investments is not really touched either.<br />
<br />
<br />
Work has become so hectic and all encompassing most people do not have time to have a go at <i><b>sustainable living</b></i>. After all it is a lot of additional "work". Do you have the energy to dig the garden, chop some wood or insulate the house when you get home late and exhausted from work? <br /><br />Promisingly on this topic we are finding that people are more interested in this area and are taking small steps.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Sport</b></i>, <i><b>weather, holidays, kids, homes </b></i>and mainstream <i><b>hobbies </b></i>are all in the easy bucket. A good way to chat over a beer. We live in an outdoor party area so BBQ's are great places to catch up and make friends. <br />
<br />
Ultimately friendships take time and a lot of work. We can definitely do better. We want to have fun and relax with friends so it is important we build rapport by talking about stuff they are interested in.  So KISS (Keep it simple stupid!) really works here :)<br />
<h3>
Financial</h3>
Our financial plan is quite simple - take part in the ownership of productive "cash flow" assets. Have skin in the game. Our trading accounts are invested in individual companies. Our pension choices are limited to funds. We have part ownership of some commercial real estate. <br />
<br />
Thankfully <b>building income is easy</b> and can be done in small increments over time. We do this primarily through share and bond ownership. Lending clubs have also become popular. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately very few people we know actually"invest" perhaps due to the risk warnings written across all financial products. They rely on earned income. Any spare cash is generally not put to work but "saved" as cash or spent.<br />
<br />
Inflation means cash "value" is eroded instead of growing and providing an income through positive interest. Investing in dividend stocks opens the door to capital gains and cash flow. <br /><br />Admittedly you need to hold some cash - it gives you quick access, options to deploy the cash to an opportunity.<br />
<br />
Ownership can be expanded to other assets such as forestry, agricultural land, commercial property, private company investment etc.<br />
<br />
Our financial actions to increase our assets are as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>We have opened tax efficient share savings vehicles in France (PEA - stocks and shares)</li>
<li>We are saving cash in multiple currencies (GBP, EUR)</li>
<li>We continue to re-invest dividends</li>
<li>We are investing in alternative diversified real assets (Sustainability projects, REIT (commercial real estate))</li>
<li>Mrs C's has setup as a small business </li>
<li>We have been saving for the kids who both have savings plans based on the permanent portfolio approach. (25% fixed income, 25% Shares, 25% Cash, 25% Commodities)</li>
<li>We have made our wills</li>
</ul>
Our preference is a take on the permanent portfolio approach.....at the moment we are overweight global stocks and underweight bonds and cash and commodities due to historical reasons and the way our pensions work (limited choice).<br />
<br />
<b>Pensions</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Global Stocks (EQ)<br />
Bonds (BN) - Final Salary Pension Scheme mainly high quality bonds<br />
Commodities  - (GLD)<br />
<br />
These have seen phenomenal gains on a small investment 500%+ since inception due to matching contributions from employers and the power of compounding. Both Mrs C and I joined our schemes as soon as we started work. We cannot access this money for 25 years......<br />
<br />
<b>Income</b><br />
<br />
Dividend growth stocks (EQ)<br />
Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (PR)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfEUgec6bIYbP7_pHSHb8TRXr7-mipGfnwxCZjsUbz4XDcZ9eTG7SEag14CaMNsj98hsb9THNJ2B6mz5h05JXTTF4IG9W_OcoN0T0wq4YMOzAal_exVaEzrcuNWdkJAOna7qAv0l8DOYQ/s1600/Financial+Investment.PNG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfEUgec6bIYbP7_pHSHb8TRXr7-mipGfnwxCZjsUbz4XDcZ9eTG7SEag14CaMNsj98hsb9THNJ2B6mz5h05JXTTF4IG9W_OcoN0T0wq4YMOzAal_exVaEzrcuNWdkJAOna7qAv0l8DOYQ/s280/Financial+Investment.PNG" width="280" /></a>French PEA tax exempt stock and share account after 8 years of holding (EQ)<br />
<br />
<b>Cash</b><br />
<br />
GBP and EUR (small holding as neither currency is great at the moment) (CA)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the <b>EXPENSES </b>front our current budget is 1,709 Euros per month (~£1,450, ~$1,828 - FX is moving all over the place).<br />
<br />
<b>This includes 300 Euros per month for holiday and entertainment, school fees (150 Euros) and after school activities (70 Euros).</b><br />
<br />
Our "bare bones" costs if we had to extreme economise would be 730 Euros per month.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerUqq94Ad5AMX9jfdOe3TKrhn5Za8CayVddaFLrGfzPlSW8TlJVXkZCjrFY9JtSdth_TJPNuveAxjYJibnaV9UL0ZSlWOeJU3Jruwt5Yk2i73ecRInfrW7Uig9uwuRCIXmI3rqhkz86d-/s1600/Expenses.PNG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerUqq94Ad5AMX9jfdOe3TKrhn5Za8CayVddaFLrGfzPlSW8TlJVXkZCjrFY9JtSdth_TJPNuveAxjYJibnaV9UL0ZSlWOeJU3Jruwt5Yk2i73ecRInfrW7Uig9uwuRCIXmI3rqhkz86d-/s280/Expenses.PNG" width="280" /></a></div>
<ul>

</ul>
<u>We
 have ample safety nets, live a comfortable middle class lifestyle and 
do not go without anything. Our activities make us more robust and able 
to be in control of our lives.</u><br />
<h2>
Now Build Your Resilience</h2>
There are major benefits of building resilience and many steps will actually get you to financial independence earlier.<br />
<ol>
<li>You will reduce your living costs (hence save more)</li>
<li>Learn to do things for yourself such as basic plumbing, gardening</li>
<li>Start to adapt to a new way of life - a financially independent way of living</li>
<li>Be <u>risk aware</u> and adapt your plans accordingly</li>
</ol>
Considering these points (and some of the above risks) I believe that building resilience is an absolute must. Again<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hope for the best and plan for the worst" </blockquote>
Considering the needs of resilience building this means early retirement is MUCH more than just investing to replace earned 
income to retreat to the beach.<br />
<br />
You can't leave all your eggs in one or two baskets or leave them to chance. I suggest you
 need to continue to live well within your means. Consider emergency planning (which usually requires more money than you think). Be able to look after ourselves in a 
time of difficulty such as a natural disaster.<br />
<br />
Additionally we need to take opportunities when they come our way (such a a bit of paid work). Use our new found freedom from debt and wage slavery to develop new skills to keep our mental skills sharp and hopefully gain a cash flow from them.<br />
<br />
Some resilience building strategies that come to mind are:<br />
<ol>
<li>Aim for<b> low "fixed" living costs</b> and continue to drive them lower - we have below average bills for utilities, cars and fuel.</li>
<li><b>Some self sufficiency</b> in water, energy and food - make sure you live somewhere where you can provide some of the necessities of life on your own.</li>
<li>Easy to get a <b>job </b>if you need to (CV up to date etc) - can you work from home \ setup an on line business - give it a go and perhaps it could become your job.</li>
<li><b>Diverse income streams -</b> Property, Shares, Work, Interest, Bonds, Capital gain<b>s. </b></li>
<li>Continued monthly <b>saving -</b> 10% per month as a minimum?<b><br /></b></li>
<li>Have a large<b> rainy day fund - </b>6 months + of living costs?<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Speculate </b>to accumulate (have 5% of your savings going for big gains at high risk)</li>
<li>Do stuff you <b>enjoy </b>- if you are not happy perhaps early retirement was not for you?</li>
<li><b>Continual learning</b> - great for spotting opportunities and problems.<br /><br />I believe this is a good balance between opting out and keeping a good foot in the real world. Isolationism we believe is a dangerous approach to take when you need the help of others and want to have normal relationships. Extreme frugality (without excess cash flows) leaves you vulnerable and open to shocks. Lack of resilience could have you back to work to recover a capital \ cash flow shortfall quicker than you think.<br /><br /></li>
</ol>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcq3rK-SXzTK3tkEf934ky_nFcDG_QxxydMicB-G6_wYKVqkAgfWHl_EJuaiA0XaujZlqUje85Jd3BjcVnhgIskDzzirtQABzK7YAAHCSLj3KzZWO8kHVKTgEH28A7T1MC63fCCx5YBv9/s1600/disqus.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcq3rK-SXzTK3tkEf934ky_nFcDG_QxxydMicB-G6_wYKVqkAgfWHl_EJuaiA0XaujZlqUje85Jd3BjcVnhgIskDzzirtQABzK7YAAHCSLj3KzZWO8kHVKTgEH28A7T1MC63fCCx5YBv9/s1600/disqus.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commenting using Disqus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>** I have installed a new commenting tool for this website DISQUS which makes it easier to add comments depending on what type of account you want or just leave an Anonymous comment if you would like any more information or add useful information.</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
</ol>
<br />
Peace, prosperity and happiness<br />
<br />
<b>CoNTeNDeR</b><br />
<br />
<b>Welcome New Readers!</b> Please take a look around.<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Click here</a><b> </b>to find out more about <b>THE.TriBe</b> and the blog is or perhaps browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank"><u>all posts list</u></a>, Please feel free to play with the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">planning tools and checklists</a>. If you liked this post can you please spare a few seconds to share it?

Fragilista - Part 2

Low cost fuel and no moving parts - a robust heating solution Have you ever wondered how some people get rich and are able to grow thei...

Fighting Fear - Part 2

Contender 0 Black Swan, community, Critical Thinking, fear, financial independence, Freedom, health, stress, survival 14:51

<br>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s1600/FeaR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s1600/FeaR.jpg"></a>THE.PasT</b>: <i>"</i><i><b>FeaR</b></i><i>! I gave <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> a few cure balls in THE.PasT for you. I told him what to do and where to do it. Since then he has gone off the rails a bit. He is not with the system. His choice to stop working - how dare he! </i><br>
<br>
<i><i>He needs a bit of re-educating don't you think? I need to re-introduce him to </i><b>THE.FuTuRe</b>. He has lots of ideas on how to mess things up, surprise and misdirect this misfit.</i><br>
<br>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>THE.FeaR</b>: <i>"He sure can't cross <b>THE.FuTuRe</b>. It is about time <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> realised this and feels <b>THE.FeaR</b>. He needs reminding of what is on the road in front of him. I will rough him up a bit, I like doing that, I am just the man for the job! "</i></div>
<br>
<br>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>This is the follow up post post to</b><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2013/10/feeling-fear-part-1.html"><b> </b>Feeling Fear - Part 1</a><b> which covered FeaR's rampage in THE.CoNTeNDeRs past. Now it is is all about THE.CoNTeNDeRS top 3 FEAR's in THE.FuTuRe and 
what the TRiBe is doing about them on our road to <i>financial independence</i>
 and hopefully a contented life.</b></div>
<br>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fear 1 - fear of lack of purpose </b></span><br>
<br>
What is the point in gaining very early retirement? Just look at Jacob from ERE (Early Retirement Extreme) he went back to work for a challenge, not because he needed the money. Our TRiBE want to be useful to society not just sit in the sun in the French countryside - how sad.<br>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z1VU67aAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX385_SY500_CR,0,0,385,500_SH20_OU02_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z1VU67aAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX385_SY500_CR,0,0,385,500_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="153"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Praise-Slow-Worldwide-Movement-Challenging/dp/0752864149/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381995073&sr=1-1&keywords=in+praise+of+slow" target="_blank">Go Slow</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First off sometimes some idleness /
a sabbatical / being bored / having time for reflection and to think is a REALLY GOOD THING.<br>
<br>
We are still de-toxing from the city, its noise, bright lights, pollution and overall speed of everyday life. Time is a great healer and in the last four weeks we needed the time to slow down. </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
We only used to get 5 weeks
holiday a year. Typically this would be split into one two week
holiday preferably abroad followed by two one week holidays somewhere in
the UK. Our spare five days were taken as odd days off. NONE of these
holidays was long enough to completely recuperate / switch off / relax. Is that the point on only allowing five weeks holiday a year?<br>
<br>
What really speaks volumes is that in the UK if you are ill whilst on holiday you can
actually claim the time back from work. Perhaps it has become so common
for people to get ill in the first week off as the body
tries to let down the stress defences the government had to do do something about it?</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
In the CoNTeNDeRs opinion we
should all have the ability to have 3 months + off each and every
year. Time to reflect, think, re-charge our batteries and de-stress ourselves.<br>
<br>
Will this ever be allowed - all that time to actually think deeply about want is going on around us. It is 
well documented how the mainstream media and education system is dumbing
 us down. Forbid us free time to think and read as adults in case we don't get with the system right? Would literacy 
rates jump and the system change because the public at large would demand it?<br>
<br>
Fortunately for the TRiBe we have time no what are we going to do with it.  Here are some current activities:<br>
<ul>
<li>Thinking and reading time is still be very important for us</li>
<li>This blog and the tools associated with it can be very time consuming and very enjoyable. </li>
<li>The children are getting lots of attention. We are able to be idle outside walking and playing with them in the garden, fields, hedgerows and local play dates and groups.</li>
<li>We are making lots of new friends. Such a diverse group all working hard to get ahead in their own little ways. The number of people with practical skills around us has multiplied ten fold. although they have similar problems with making ends meet they seem un-stressed and have time to talk. Going <i>slow</i>.</li>
<li>We are looking for somewhere to call home. Something ours to do with as we wish. We are finding that the housing market here is expensive as the area is highly desirable due to the local picturesque town and its facilities. </li>
</ul>
<b>FeaR</b>: "<i>Ah but <b>CoNTeNDeR </b>you will soon be bored! What a waste of your training, your conditioning, you are a corporate greyhound - fast, nimble and loyal. Don't waste it! If you stay out of the workforce too long and you will be toast. Won't it be a shame <b>R.I.P CoNTeNDeR </b>that guy who really didn't do much.</i>"<br>
<br>
<b>CoNTeNDeR</b>: "<i>What a lack of imagination old bloke! Yes we have skills to be put to use but on other pursuits. Corporate skills are transferable don't you know. Look at this blog would it ever have existed if it it was not for my work?"  </i><br>
<br>
So should this <b>FeaR </b>- a lack of purpose put us off? We have been given the gift of time to find our real passion, our contribution to society, we must not waste it. It may take some time to land on our feet but we believe it will happen.<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div data-canvas-width="517.7965686054229" data-font-name="g_font_90_0" dir="ltr" style="left: 156px; top: 836px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.13598, 1);">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little - death that <br>brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass <br>over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the <br>inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. <br>Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>THE.FeaR wins this round with a clip around the ear - what are you doing CoNTeNDeR </b></b><br>
<b>FeaR 1 TRiBe 0</b> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><b>Fear 2 - fear of lack of income / high</b> inflation destroying our savings</b></span> </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br>
<span class="style">“The outcome (of all of this) will be more
 debt, more printed money, and more misery for the masses.  Remember 
that US debt was $10 trillion in 2008 when the crisis began and now it’s
 $17 trillion.  And the Fed’s balance sheet was $900 billion in 2008 -- 
it’s now at $3.6 trillion....</span><span class="style_2" style="line-height: 22px;">On top of that, 
personal credit (in the form of) car loans and student loans is growing 
exponentially.  Every year now the US debt is going up by at least $1 
trillion.  In addition to that the Fed is expanding its balance sheet by
 another $1 trillion each year.  This means that the US government is 
currently printing $2 trillion per year. " - </span><a href="http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2013/10/9_Governments_Will_Start_Panicking_As_Chaos_%26_Crisis_Accelerates.html" target="_blank">Egon von Greyerz - KWN Oct 2013</a><br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/gallery/random-information/1trillion.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/gallery/random-information/1trillion.png" width="280"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://atomictoasters.com/2012/04/trillion/" target="_blank">AtomicToasters</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Incredible debt numbers are being talked about almost daily. Whether it be company, personal or government the numbers are hard to comprehend as the above graphic tries to portray.<br>
<br>
What is debt? Just paper promises, electrons on a computer. The problem is that governments and central banks are very good at creating it (currency) and paying for it by typing some numbers into a computer. The result is more inflation in everyday goods. Here is a video on the process from Mike Maloney:<br>
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In the past money used to be tied to a hard asset such as a tradeable commodity. What we do know is that paper money has been <a href="http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/hanke-krus-hyperinflation-table-may-2013.pdf" target="_blank">destroyed several times in the past</a> due to the abuse of the ruling class.<br>
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In the current era debt has generally been serviced and living standards have risen but <a href="http://srsroccoreport.com/guest-post-bad-advice-why-the-future-will-be-like-the-past/guest-post-bad-advice-why-the-future-will-be-like-the-past/" target="_blank">what if THE.FuTuRe is not like THE.PAST</a> what if the can cannot be kicked any further any longer? What may hold its real value in <b>THE.FuTuRe</b>?<br>
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Fighting Fear - Part 2

THE.PasT : " FeaR ! I gave THE.CoNTeNDeR a few cure balls in THE.PasT for you. I told him what to do and where to do it. Since then h...

Feeling Fear - Part 1

Contender 0 Black Swan, community, Critical Thinking, fear, financial independence, Freedom, health, stress, survival 08:16

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<b>THE.FuTuRe</b>: <i>"Hey
</i><i><b>FeaR</b></i><i>! Get over here we need to talk. Contender
is getting ahead of himself he needs to feel THE.FeaR! Spar with him
for a few rounds – probe his weaknesses. Get under his skin and
into his psyche"</i>
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<b>THE.FeaR</b>: <i>"Anything
for an old buddy of mine. Doubt – I'm your guy, Hesitation – got
it covered, Hope – destroyed, Confidence – history bring it on!"</i></div>
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<b>In this post we are going to have a look at how FeaR has impacted THE.CoNTeNDeR in THE.PAST, what has been done about him and what he has learnt.</b> <b> </b><br>
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<b>As for THE.FuTuRe? What are</b> <b>the top 3 FeaR's the TRiBe has for financial independence and  downshifting and hopefully leading a contented life and what are we doing about them now - all to come in part two.</b><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE.CoNTeNDeR's Introduction to FeaR</span></div>
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I penned a post in April called <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2013/04/10-happiness-guidelines.html">10 Happiness Guidelines</a> in the post I covered the premise of learn from <b>THE.PaST</b> enjoying
<b>THE.NOW</b> but planning for <b>THE.FuTuRe</b>. All three have been followed by <b>THE.FeaR</b> starting at a young age.</div>
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Being Welsh I come from a
Protestant work ethic background. You must sow the seeds of success today (advertised as hard work
until 65...) and then you can reap the rewards (retirement / scrap heap) in the future. Make sure you save enough though and to get a state pension you must work for at least 25 years.<br>
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In the
west we have given ample bread (government funded backstops) and circuses
(TV and media) to keep
us happy, entertained, docile, conformist and obedient. </div>
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All is sweet as long as we go with the system right? Don't think about any real world problems out there work hard for your pension and watch TV!<br>
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Was this FeaR talking? Work hard or else. Shut up learn to get with the system. We have everything in hand. So CoNTeDeR got on with the system and buckled down for the long haul...OR ELSE! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Feeling <b>THE.FeaR</b> - not so nice </span></div>
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<b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> is a little older and a tiny bit wiser and now realises that one cannot live in <b>FeaR</b> of
<b>THE.FuTuRe.</b> He will always be there.<br>
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In the past <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> hunkered down and <b>let FeaR </b>into his life. Mainly driven by too much News and Newspapers! This had some very bad consequences physical stress and mentally holding <b>CoNTeNDeR </b>back :</div>
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<b>Stress</b> - <b>FeaR</b>'s were allowed to sit there festering. In particular - 'I must buy a house or I will be left behind, I must work really hard or I will never get a promotion, I must look good and buy designer labels or I will never find a wife'.<br>
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This a nagging voice in the background contributed to unhappiness that was being remedied by a high consumption lifestyle of partying and holidays. Admittedly this is not all bad...why was I dong it though. Everyone around me was as well. It must be normal. Keep with the system. Keep with the system.<br>
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The partying kept me docile in a semi happy / drunken state preventing me from really getting on with life - fighting the <b>FeaR</b>'s the main problem was work.<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://filmnerds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/superman3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="161" src="http://filmnerds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/superman3.jpg" width="280"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://filmnerds.com/2012/01/13/the-great-scenes-clark-kent-vs-superman-from-superman-iii/" target="_blank">Click here for source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Overwork, under appreciation, no rapid career progress caused insomnia, weight gain. THE.CoNTeNDeR was one of these people:<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">“There are thousands 
and thousands of people out there leading lives of quiet, screaming desperation, 
where they work long, hard hours at jobs they hate to enable them to buy things 
they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.”</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 12px/16px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: -4px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0.3em 0px 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: -4px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">— 
Nigel Marsh</i></blockquote>
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The cure to this? Tackling the problem straight on. Accepting that the situation was my own doing. Knowing that I could do something about it. Building up the guts to do something about it. Working out a plan to get out of the wage slavery, be financially free, be different.<br>
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<b>Please
 Read on for more impacts of feeling THE.FeaR in THE.PaST </b></div>
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Feeling Fear - Part 1

THE.FuTuRe : "Hey FeaR ! Get over here we need to talk. Contender is getting ahead of himself he needs to feel THE.FeaR! Spar with hi...