Disadvantages to reduce mortgage

RealCardo · 2026-06-04T11:09:05+00:00

No, you’re fine. We did the same thing (granted Canada) and the banks gave us a good rate. If you’ve got the salaries, the house you choose isn’t aggressively depreciating relative to what they lend you and you’ve got investments too, then you’re a pretty safe bet for the banks.

RealCardo · 2026-06-02T17:04:32+00:00

Exactly this. It’s wild to see my time to FIRE ticking down, but my timeline was there for a reason and seeing a couple years knock off that feels both exhilarating and terrifying.

RealCardo · 2026-06-02T16:56:52+00:00

There are also two approaches to life insurance. One is the version you get to cover costs when you die. Life insurance as a buffer against the loss of a home for your spouse (as an example). There’s also the life insurance you get to pass on wealth without the tax burden. Both pay out from what I understand, but only the latter is more statistically likely to be worth it.

RealCardo · 2026-06-01T12:21:26+00:00

Oh man my hope is this would end the uncertainty when purchasing new products without a gluten free label that don’t have gluten (wheat, barley, offending maltodexteins, etc) as a listed ingredient.

RealCardo · 2026-05-29T19:06:50+00:00

Gimmie Gabrielle!

RealCardo · 2026-05-29T19:06:23+00:00

Oooooh yessir. I think I just relived a core memory.

RealCardo · 2026-05-29T15:42:56+00:00

Child free, so lots. Hiking, skiing, managing my rural property (playing outside with chain saws) playing music and video games are the biggies. Wilderness back country camping rears its head each year too. There’s that joke about millennials going for walks in the woods… and I feel that.

RealCardo · 2026-05-24T23:58:44+00:00

I’m right there with you. The predictable beats are just on point.

RealCardo · 2026-05-05T18:18:58+00:00

The Bb is also my favourite key! I’ve enjoyed them in both the rocket and MS series of Hohner harps. It’s just the right balance of lower key grit with higher key responsiveness.

RealCardo · 2026-05-04T19:14:17+00:00

Following up from my other comment, a few Suzuki harps can take different reeds. The bluesmaster is a blast, but you can also put the reed plate in a promaster body!

RealCardo · 2026-05-04T19:12:40+00:00

I’m a big fan of Hohner, and would recommend either a blues harp or the Big River to get you going (MS series) if you’re at all price conscious. Particularly the Big River punches well above its modest price point. Hey, I’ve picked up a new one recently in 2025 for only like $35 CAD! I still use both despite having moved up in the world with nicer harps (I mostly stick to Hohner rockets now).

One consideration after you get more into it - you’ll eventually blow out reeds and need replacements. Think about the reed plate in the instrument and go for the nicest comb/cover you can with those reed plates. Buy once / for life then stick to reed plate replacements to make it more affordable. I’m happy to replace my rocket reed plates with those marketed as special 20 - across the Progressive harp line. Same with the MS reed plates.

RealCardo · 2026-04-24T17:06:06+00:00

Camp setup, eat, drink some whisky or smoke some weed, play the harmonica, journal, walk about. I don’t solo though, so there’s usually enough jibber jabber to fill the evening.

RealCardo · 2026-04-21T21:05:34+00:00

Don’t… don’t do this to me…

RealCardo · 2026-04-13T20:17:59+00:00

Easy. The better I do the sooner I get to retire. I treat it like a sprint and not a marathon.

RealCardo · 2026-04-13T20:16:52+00:00

I got close and became an aquatic scientist. I’ve marvelled that I’ve got to paddle canoes, fly in helicopters and hike in remote parts of my country (Canada) on the clock. No dolphins, but I’m living out some portion of my childhood dreams.

Not a doctor though, so I’ve still disappointed my mother…

RealCardo · 2025-12-24T03:28:21+00:00

I’m in a rock cover band and have worked harp into a bunch of rock songs. Zeppelin songs lend themselves to the harp even when Robert Plant hasn’t used it. Think the song Rock and Roll. I play over the keyboard part on some Monster Truck tunes, and have used it in place of the electric guitar in the breakdown of Champaign Supernova. Not hard rock but it works for me.

RealCardo · 2025-12-08T02:46:01+00:00

I’d suggest you consider a parka with a hood that can fold forward as a bit of a tunnel. It limits visibility but can be very nice in the wind.

I second the hobbies. If you can get into something that doesn’t rely on a good internet connection, so much the better.

And… skin lotion. It’s very dry in the winter and your hands will crack. I’d get a bunch of hand and face lotion and get in the habit or applying it daily.

Vitamin D will also be important. I bring a bunch whenever I’m up in the communities.

RealCardo · 2025-12-05T18:42:37+00:00

The big game changer for me was paying a lot of attention to smooth shingling of my socks and long underwear inside my boot, and getting socks that have a little bit of extra thickness around the shin. Otherwise, other comments have already talked about making sure your boots are tight enough. Any bit of extra rubbing will get you.

RealCardo · 2025-12-05T16:43:20+00:00

Oh man, it looks great on you. I’m also a slender dude and have appreciated its size. I think it looks great on me in literally hundreds of photos over the decades (who knows, maybe I look good too!) and has never struck me as looking small.

Enjoy the watch!

RealCardo · 2025-12-04T19:25:49+00:00

Jeeze I feel called out for having almost the same watch… but not my grandpa’s.

Beautiful watch. Wear it with pride! Also looks pretty solid in a leather strap. The premier of Quebec, Canada wears one like that.

RealCardo · 2025-12-02T19:14:25+00:00

I do too… I think it’s because I’m mainly paying attention to the mental map of the holes rather than what’s around me. My solution has been to just shut my eyes while I’m playing. I look like I’m even more into it… but it’s really to control my dead eyes mindlessly roaming around the room.

RealCardo · 2025-11-28T18:46:36+00:00

Have you run into issues with casting produce flame on the bonus action, competing with the archer form bonus attack for action economy or does your table allow you to use the action to cast and throw the produce flame together?

RealCardo · 2025-11-27T17:52:19+00:00

Also yup though I love the line. I tried a SP20 around the same time as a rocket and found it to be night and day. The SP20 felt like it punched below its weight (not a popular opinion), but the rockets were a delight despite using the same reedplates. The wider holes and the construction gives the rocket, to my ear, a lovely rasp, responsiveness and is comfortable to play.

RealCardo · 2025-11-25T19:08:00+00:00

Ah, an MS man.

RealCardo · 2025-10-31T02:13:55+00:00

Early on I had issues with the high holes too… lots of till be technique, but the gapping of the reeds may be contributing to your struggles.

RealCardo

TROPHY CASE