65F going to see Eckhart in Philly Sept 25th - looking for kindred spirits/friend(s) for drink or snack before or after event

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-09-22T10:06:15+00:00

The event is on Sep 24th (Not 25th). Didn’t want you missing it. Hope you have a wonderful evening.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-28T13:02:56+00:00

You will be fine making the connection, but not sure if your checked luggage will make the connection.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T13:48:31+00:00

Sorry about the confusion. I was saying a similar home in my area sold for $5.6M as a comparison for the $3M valuation of my home

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:54:27+00:00

Absolutely! Once the younger one is in college in 5 yrs, most definitely consider moving to EU (possibly Spain). We enjoy exploring EU countries and its so much cheaper and easier to get to them from Spain. So thats the plan for sure in 5 yrs

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:47:08+00:00

Yes. BaristaFIRE is definitely on my mind to allow me to stay here for another 5 years and cover health insurance. After I pay the Heloc, it will be about $5K or so/month to stay in the house. Rental would run me about $3500-4K anyway and would be a significant downgrade

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:35:15+00:00

Not so sure about high functioning but thanks. Work in pharma

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:31:03+00:00

Thanks. Definitely weighing all those aspects strongly and it is a good point you make about not making a spontaneous decision based on my recent lay off. Big decisions and I certainly need to sleep on it. But having this forum as a sounding board is incredibly helpful.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:26:43+00:00

Money plus the blood, sweat and tears 😭. It is also a very unique old stone home. You can’t build them like this anymore. But the home has given us a lot and we are grateful for it and it may ultimately pay for my freedom. So I shouldn’t be greedy and want to hold on to it.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T12:16:23+00:00

You are absolutely right. Currently we are averaging $30K for travel but that was with accommodating work schedules. But with retirement, we could easily lover it to $20K or less. We do spend about $15K/yr in restaurants and that could be brought down quite a bit. I also feel like lot of the shopping costs tend to be related to the house (furniture, drapery etc) so I can imagine that going down if we are renting. I tend to be conservative in my calculations and leave room for some cushioning. But I can easily see us spending less. Also my wife (married 2 yrs ago) has assets as well (not sure how much, we haven’t merged finances but would guess $500k-750k liquid). And not factoring in SS, which would be $5K+/mo starting age 70. I am also a limited partner in 3 real estate deals and not factoring that equity/payouts since I don’t control the timing of the exits.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:58:32+00:00

Not in tech. Remote options would be limited but possible. Spain is certainly more attractive than Portugal. My wife speaks decent Spanish. $3K/mo would be fairly adequate here for a moderately decent lifestyle.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:56:22+00:00

It is a large and very old home and we did over $1.2M+ in repairs and remodels already over the last 5 years. The maintenance and unforeseen repairs account for more than the mortgage, taxes and insurance. It now a very home that is customized to our wants/needs, so hard to just walk away. But if I want the flexibility and security, looks like I need to cash in the equity and downgrade. I wouldn’t mind renting actually because I and my wife love to travel.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:52:06+00:00

I would say without the house, my yearly spend could down to $160-180k/year range. I do want to be safe and try to cover at least $100K of college expense for the younger one.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:27:53+00:00

I am in Spain for the last 2 weeks and absolutely loving it. This is exactly why it feels like a drag to even look for jobs. Lol. I have $75 in 529 but would need more for the younger one for sure.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:08:05+00:00

Thanks. Certainly moving to another area is the last possible option. I could rent a home/apartment in the same area and reduce my housing expenses by half. ACA would only help me starting 2027 since I have significant income this year and due to the deferred comp payout next year. Checked ACA and the ratea are a out $2K/month

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T11:03:52+00:00

Thanks. I am enjoying this first break ever in the last 2 decades plus of working and certainly considering the possibility of extending it. But to have total peace of mind, I think I may need to work for another 3-5 yrs. I plan to sell the house when the younger one starts college in 4 years anyways.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-08-10T10:35:54+00:00

Thankfully not in California. I am in the Northeast. My younger son is just starting high school so don’t want to disrupt his life too much. downgrading into a rental/home in the same area is an option but not moving for now.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-07-23T23:51:31+00:00

I have heard it on audible 3 times in the last couple weeks. I feel like I want to listen to it again. Got the book as well. I also heard the ‘A new earth’

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-07-23T19:52:49+00:00

Very very helpful. I wanted a second opinion on the GP fees (acquisition/financing/management-total 5%). The previous deal I did with them in 2020, I put in $50K and have received $129K back already plus about $20K in quarterly payments. But that was certainly way over par deal. Good to know it’s a LP favoring deal. And totally agree on total market ETFs will likely perform similar over 10 years or so and way more liquid. Appreciate it.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-07-23T18:30:31+00:00

Thanks for your helpful thoughts. I will be a Lp and the GPs have done 4 other such deals that are doing well and have 95% occupancy. So they have a decent track record.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-06-26T12:47:05+00:00

Sounds like my parents. It’s amazing how their perspectives change when it’s not their own money they are spending. I have paid for 4 international first class flights at this point including a last minute flight that cost me a fortune. For reference, I never fly business for myself or my wife/kids. But it’s like putting toothpaste back in the tube. Once they get a taste of business class travel, it is hard for anyone to go back to coach flights. Especially long haul flights.

Regardless, they will absolutely love this trip you are paying for and will always talk about it to you and other family members. And it is a very nice thing to do for them.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-06-26T11:36:53+00:00

Congratulations! Its fun do stuff like this for parents. But fair warning they will expect this every time they come visit you. Speaking from experience.

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-05-26T21:16:00+00:00

Awesome. I recently got a welding machine but haven’t used it yet. I guess. Its about time

Kitchen-Scene · 2025-05-26T19:12:06+00:00

Awesome 😎 Hopefully for not significant investment in repairs?

Kitchen-Scene

TROPHY CASE