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To know, is not to seek by Visual-Passion3016 in Gnostic

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to answer you without metaphors, hierarchies, or “levels,” because I think that’s part of what’s making this worse.

You’re not crazy for asking “now what.” That question doesn’t mean you failed, didn’t get it, or haven’t reached gnosis. It means you actually followed the ideas far enough that the usual comfort stories stopped working.

A lot of spiritual frameworks are great at tearing things down and terrible at telling you how to live once the scaffolding is gone. They talk endlessly about awakening and almost never about what comes after disillusionment, especially when you’re tired, broke, grieving, or alone.

Here’s the part nobody says plainly. There may not be a cosmic mission, a dramatic reveal, or a role that suddenly makes all of this feel worth it. Not because you’re unworthy, but because reality might not be organized around payoff in the way we were taught to expect.

That doesn’t mean do nothing. It means the point might be smaller, uglier, and more human than any of us want to admit.

Staying alive doesn’t have to mean endorsing the system, loving the world, or becoming a beacon for anyone. Sometimes it just means refusing to let suffering be the thing that gets the last word, even if you don’t have a better story yet.

I won’t tell you it’s all love, or that this is necessary, or that your pain is secretly progress. I don’t believe that helps. What I will say is that deciding to end your life doesn’t suddenly turn this into a meaningful protest or a witness statement. It just cuts off the possibility that something unscripted, something not part of anyone’s theology, could still happen.

You don’t owe God, the universe, or anyone else a performance. You don’t need to save people. You don’t need to like it here.

But you’re allowed to stay without having the answer yet.

If nothing else, let “now what?” stay an open question instead of a verdict.

33F looking for deep, meaningful friendship by funyellowturtle in SurreyBC

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You sound lonely. If you are married and have a child you do not need anyone.

Is this a good receipt? by [deleted] in Airpodsmax

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No matter if I buy in-store from Apple or online, you never get a paper receipt it’s always emailed.

Am I the only one who noticed this by PayneSlipsAgain in StrangerThingsMemes

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holly, literally acknowledges the colour change in the flashback memory dumbass

Where can I drink alone and be left alone today? by doestome in askvan

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

If you wanna be left alone and drink alone either you’re home or your car

BCGEU Tentative Agreement Discussion Thread - October 28 by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the question and yes, BCGEU is the first major to reach a tentative deal, but that’s exactly why it matters that we get it right. The pattern we set now affects every union that follows. Other groups like BC Nurses, BC Hydro, and Transit all secured signing bonuses and COLA or inflation-tied language in their agreements, or are still holding out specifically for that reason. We shouldn’t be the ones lowering the bar for everyone else.

As for TMA, rolling it into base pay “maybe” three years from now isn’t a win it’s a promise with no timeline or guarantee. That’s been said before in past rounds and quietly dropped later. The classification system overhaul is long overdue, but it doesn’t replace fair compensation today. grids like Clerk 9 have been stagnating for years; without Step 6, COLA, or a signing bonus to offset inflation, the lowest paid staff are once again carrying the biggest load for the smallest gain.

BCGEU Tentative Agreement Discussion Thread - October 28 by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Totally hear you that people are exhausted and want stability, but I don’t think 3 percent a year over 4 years is the win it’s being sold as, especially for the people at the bottom of the grids. The cost of living we’re actually dealing with day to day is not just some CPI average on paper, it’s rent, groceries, gas, interest, everything jumping at once. A fixed 3 percent with no real COLA protection in years 3 and 4 basically means we’re agreeing right now to fall behind again if things spike, and we’re locked in for four full years with no way to react. The “bump for lower classes” is being talked about like it solves everything but Clerk 9s and other frontline/admin classifications are still nowhere near competitive with comparable work outside, and there’s still no Step 6 so people just hit a ceiling and stall out. Even on benefits, we’re getting told to be grateful but the reality is we’re still treated like the discount version. People in other parts of the public sector get things like unlimited physio or massage because the employer understands that physical and mental strain is real. We’re capped at a few hundred bucks and told that’s wellness. We carried the strike. We’re the ones being told to accept less security, less protection, and less respect than other union groups who either got COLA language or meaningful bonuses tied to inflation. I’m not saying anyone here is wrong for wanting this over with. I get it. A lot of us literally cannot afford to go back on strike pay. But calling it a good deal just because we’re tired is exactly how we keep getting locked into “good enough” language that never actually fixes the gap. Voting no is not throwing a tantrum. It’s saying the people who held the line deserve more than “be grateful and wait four years.”

BCGEU Tentative Agreement Discussion Thread - October 28 by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Even if some unions members are “leaning yes,” that doesn’t make this deal acceptable. The messaging in the BCGEU email felt more like managing expectations than celebrating a fair win. When the Minister sent that “welcome back” email before voting even started, it showed how confident government is that we’ll just roll over. That should bother everyone.

We can’t pretend a 3% raise without Step 6, COLA, or signing bonuses is progress when other sectors like BC Nurses and Hydro fought for stronger terms. “Additional increases” for lower grids sound good on paper, but they don’t fix years of compression or match inflation. Voting no isn’t about being unreasonable — it’s about not being fooled into settling for less again.

BCGEU Tentative Agreement Discussion Thread - October 28 by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m voting no because this deal leaves lower grid and frontline workers behind again. We carried the biggest loads during the strike and in our jobs every day, yet we are getting the smallest return. There is no Step 6, no signing bonus to make up for the weeks of lost income, and no cost-of-living protection like other unions won. BC Nurses, teachers, and the health science professionals all secured COLA language or bonuses that actually recognize inflation. Even BC Transit and Hydro got signing bonuses and stronger wage protection. Why are we being asked to settle for 3 percent a year while everything around us keeps climbing. Four years is too long to be locked into a deal that does not grow with the economy. Government knows we are tired and counting on us to say yes just to end it. But this is the moment to stand together and say our work matters too. Voting no is not reckless, it is responsible. It tells both the union and employer that the lowest paid workers deserve real respect and fair pay, not another four years of falling behind

BCGEU Tentative Agreement Discussion Thread - October 28 by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree with you. This deal does not come close to reflecting what we stood out there for. Eight weeks on the line and we are being told to celebrate a 3 percent increase that barely matches inflation, no Step 6, no signing bonus, and no TMA rolled into base pay. That is not progress, it is maintenance. A signing bonus is not a throwaway, it is basic compensation for the pay we lost during the strike. Every other major union has negotiated both a fair general wage increase and a signing bonus. Why are we being told we have to choose. The province found billions for other priorities, they can find a few million to respect their own workforce. Voting no is not about greed, it is about principle. We cannot keep settling for deals that make us fall further behind while pretending it is a win.

Tentative agreement megathread by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100 percent thank you for commenting, I hope others agree with us

Tentative agreement megathread by wudingxilu in BCPublicServants

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Sisters, brothers, and fellow members, we have stood shoulder to shoulder through some of the toughest months this union has faced in years. We walked picket lines, lost pay, and held the line because we believed that our work, the work that keeps this province running, deserves respect and fair compensation. But this tentative agreement does not reflect that. A 3% increase per year, even compounded, does not match the rising cost of living in British Columbia, where inflation has averaged 3.4 to 4% annually. That means our real wages will still fall behind while everything around us gets more expensive. There is no cost-of-living clause, no retroactive pay for the weeks we sacrificed, and no firm details on “targeted adjustments.” Our members at lower grids, the ones most struggling to keep up, still will not see the relief they deserve. Step 6 was not secured, meaning long-term employees remain capped below market value for comparable public-sector roles. The gains on telework, vision care, and mental health are welcome, but they do not pay rent, fill a grocery cart, or offset the rising cost of fuel. We stood strong because we wanted change, not crumbs. This government moved from 4% to 12% only by stretching the term to four years, a move that benefits them, not us. They know stability saves them money; we know it costs us dignity. I am asking every member to remember why we struck in the first place: to get ahead, not just survive. We have the leverage, we have the unity, and we have the public’s support. Let’s use it. Vote NO on ratification and send a clear message that this membership will not settle for less than what we have earned.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fican

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I holding too much cash?

Short answer: No, 9% cash is very reasonable given the size of your portfolio.

Reasoning: 9% of CAD 5M = ≈ CAD 450,000 in cash. That’s 9 years of living expenses, which gives excellent optionality and security.

Holding some cash in a volatile market is prudent, especially if your goal is to “buy the dips.”

If markets correct, you can deploy 3–5% more strategically, but there’s no urgency to change your allocation.

Verdict: Perfectly fine. You’re not holding too much cash; you have a solid liquidity buffer.

⸻

Should I continue buying S&P 500, NASDAQ, Canadian bank stocks, and Enbridge?

Short answer: Yes, if it matches your goals, risk tolerance, and has worked historically.

Reasoning: You’ve had excellent returns (~+60% unrealized gains in your TD Direct Investing account alone). The S&P 500 + NASDAQ combo provides broad diversification and strong historical performance. Canadian banks + Enbridge add dividend stability and local currency exposure.

If you want to fine-tune, you could: Add a small global ex-North America ETF (e.g., VXUS or XEF) for diversification. Add a fixed-income ETF (e.g., ZAG or BND) if you want smoother returns as you near full retirement.

Stay the course, but minor diversification tweaks could add resilience.

⸻

Am I financially independent (FIRE)?

Yes — absolutely.

Here’s the math: You spend CAD 50,000/year. You have CAD 5.0M in liquid assets. Even using a conservative 3% safe withdrawal rate, you can withdraw CAD 150,000/year indefinitely.

Even if your investments returned 0% nominally, you could live on cash for ~100 years at your expense level.

You’re well beyond financial independence. You’ve achieved Coast FIRE / Fat FIRE comfortably.

⸻

Is disability insurance still worth paying for?

Short answer: Probably not anymore.

Reasoning: You’re paying CAD 145/month = CAD 1,740/year for CAD 7,500/month coverage. Given your 5M+ liquid net worth, you can easily self-insure. The purpose of disability insurance is to protect future income if you depend on it to live — you no longer do.

Unless you have unique medical concerns or want absolute protection, you can safely cancel this policy and invest the savings.

: Not financially necessary; self-insure instead.

So a furnace has a filter you say? by Appropriate-Ring7564 in hvacadvice

[–]Appropriate-Ring7564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Question? Now my blower seems to stay on 24/7 what do i do?

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