[mitchntx]

Since about 30, I've been saving, scrimping and hoarding pennies, working 2 jobs, 3 sometimes, all so that I could retire at 55.

Everything ... mortgage, debt, housing amenities, shop, tools ... everything was set up on this idea that I could retire with reasonable comfort and then work as I wanted, when I needed and do what I liked.

The last year has seen that dream slowly dwindle into the reality that I will have to work at this stinking job till I'm a hundred and 55. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

My job is great ... been there since March of 1982. I really like what I do. Unfortunately it comes with it's share of migraine headaches, mostly with the title of Manager attached somewhere.

I was talking with a very good friend yesterday and he made some really good sense. Might as well pull all the money from market accounts and buy a new car. The drop in value couldn't be any worse.

Oh well, just thought I'd rant a while ... kind of feeling sorry for myself. So I want all of you to feel bad, too. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

[johns68]

Sorry, gotta dive into the rant ... both anecdotally and otherwise ...

My parents and in-laws were "depression babies". My father-in-law literally DID have coffee cans full of $100 bills buried in the orchard. His similar investment strategies saved him during Enron (they "only" lost a couple hundred K), and have preserved their estate today (down 10% or so ... incredible, given the current norm). My parents never believed in the market, investing their money in cd's ... "foolish" 10 years ago, but today? Brilliant!

Education ... America's political system is BASED on the common man being educated enough to participate in government intelligently. Research Thomas Jefferson and his concerns about the new republic. That level of education (formal or informal, it doesn't matter) has risen dramatically in the last 300 years. You are not supposed to base your vote on a candidate's skin color! Nor how hot his running mate is! C'mon people, we have a responsibility, and to shoulder it we must UNDERSTAND it! Not just listen to the f*cking media! Am I biased? I don't think so, but I DO spend my days teaching college Math and Statistics ... and open my Stat students eyes to misleading media reporting of statistics every single day! An election year makes my lectures easy ... "read the paper today?, let's analyze the bullsh*t!"

What happens in America still affects the world enormously... your vote affects America ... please learn something about the issues and the candidates' positions ... please vote intelligently ... /rant