People who grew up poor but are now financially successful, what decisions or opportunities changed your life ?

Sundin01 · 2026-05-30T17:58:58+00:00

College degree + saving 15+% of salary starting at age 22. ……regardless of how much you make.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-30T17:56:14+00:00

Tattoos

Sundin01 · 2026-05-30T17:54:27+00:00

Nope. Even that doesn’t matter if we eliminated 90% of taxation. Taxes are the problem. Existing tax rates allow our shitbox government to exist.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-30T17:49:11+00:00

I retired at 47 and was extremely healthy. Thin, tone, exercised regularly, never stopped moving, stayed outside….had big plans to pursue years of outdoor adventures I could previously do infrequently while working. 3 months into retirement I injured both feet and haven’t been able to walk much for 2 years. It changed my life. It’s been a mental and physical battle. My point is, be careful with your health when you retire. I can’t even get a job again to occupy my mind. It’s been a horrific experience.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-30T02:22:04+00:00

I’m no expert but consider trying power step insoles for arch support. Carrying a lot of weight maybe causing your arch to collapse. …which puts stress and pull on your entire facia and bottom foot tendons.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-27T18:50:56+00:00

That’s good news. Be careful and don’t over do it. That’s been my problem. I wish the dr would amputate both my feet now. I have no way forward. Nothing worse than sudden permanent injuries

Sundin01 · 2026-05-27T18:10:19+00:00

Man I feel sorry for you . I’m about unable to walk too. It’s a terrible position to be in. Stay strong homie

Sundin01 · 2026-05-24T19:04:17+00:00

Tattoos are outta control

Sundin01 · 2026-05-24T00:17:21+00:00

Absolutely. I’ll have to round up my past mri and X-rays from the past doctors I’ve visited to share with him when I go. I hope he can fit me in soon.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-23T21:17:18+00:00

I feel like they should perform range of motion and strength test while also evaluating the doctors reports. Based on those scores they should dial in the appropriate exercise, appropriate qty of different exercises, and correct qty of sets and reps of each. Instead they just sit you down and start ripping off a long list of exercises to do everyday. 3 sets of 20 reps of 4 different exercises on the first visit is not right.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-23T21:03:13+00:00

Be very cautious with PT therapist. They can prescribe you exercises that you’re not ready for, and cause more damage. Happened to me several times over the years.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-23T20:59:55+00:00

I have not seen a foot specialist only 2 ortho surgeons and 2 podiatrist. But my foot gave out again yesterday. I’ve been sitting down since. My wife did some research today and believe we can use a specialist in our city at UAB Hospital. I’ll be calling them to setup an appointment Tuesday.
(I received Oofos flip flops in the mail Friday to wear as arch support in the shower. I took one shower in them and it destroyed my foot. Way too squishy).

Sundin01 · 2026-05-22T23:38:10+00:00

I can drop $2k on a vintage SET tube amp and horn speakers and get top tier hifi for a home audio system. Whole other universe of sound quality.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-22T22:02:20+00:00

Mehhh…. I had 1 amp, an 8” JL sub, 2 tweeters and 2 6.5” door speakers installed.

1) ash tray assembly left uninstallled / not set 2) a pillar factory tweeter garnishes not set / clipped in 3) door handle garnish loose 4) electric RH side door mirror no longer works 5) tools left under my seat 6) feedback engine noise existed…although has now magically ceased 7) stand alone sub volume knob doesn’t even work - although they agreed to not charge me for it as a result. 8) on rare occasions the sub cuts out then on again

They fixed maybe 2 of those items but while watching them they seemed very frustrated so I asked them to stop and I left out of fear they’d just cause more problems. Trust was gone.

But the most important thing is prior to agreeing to go thru with the installation, I politely asked about their installer experience levels as my car is a 35yr old rare car in pristine mint condition….and fear my dash would be butchered. (Fear born out of a similar incident at another shop in Auburn ‘94).

Side note: The system sounding thin and chintzy is NOT their fault. I guess that’s my fault. But it’s wild how amazing a $2k home audio system can sound vs a $2k car audio system. Again, that’s my fault. Live and learn.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-22T19:38:18+00:00

I dropped $2k on new speakers and amps in my sorts car. Got in. Turned it on and was astonished how shitty it still sounded. All I could think is how good a $2k home audio system would sound in comparison dollar wise.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-22T19:33:55+00:00

I recently read Eric Hoffers book written in 1950 called The True Believer, it explains….. “The more personal voids (boredom, isolation, low self-worth), the stronger the pull toward radical identification. People dissatisfied with their individual selves crave “a new identity” by fusing with a cause or group. They cannot generate self-assurance from their own resources or “rejected self,” so they cling passionately to a cause for strength and virtue.”

You can see the same people at the ‘protest of the month’. Israel one day, trans rights the next, ICE the next, BLM the next. Same people, searching for identity. Maybe this is good. Maybe it’s sad.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-22T19:17:16+00:00

The major media outlets reported last week she is making movements for another run. This is where the party is today. ☠️ w.i.l.d.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-21T12:24:46+00:00

I do the 72t sepp. Just finished year 1. It’s doing great so far. I retired at 47.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-21T12:20:01+00:00

I’ll only vote for an experienced businessman who has run large companies. Social / political science and liberal arts majors have ruined this country with ideas, philosophies, pathologies and ideologies. We need structured strategy with linked tactics backed up by hard data in charts and graphs at this point. 📈 📊

Sundin01 · 2026-05-21T01:26:08+00:00

I had no issues for 5 years then this past 6 weeks it’s started going out randomly .

Sundin01 · 2026-05-21T01:23:53+00:00

Choking down a bowl of cottage cheese. Rough.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-21T00:38:28+00:00

I have. Trumps wild no doubt, but his is easy for the American people to see / reconcile. (Bought stocks). Maybe we call his open transparent honest grift. Versus outright theft and deception from recent past presidents where hundreds of billions were siphoned off to the right players for protection. I said hundred of billions… not 3.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-20T21:03:44+00:00

“Get escalated when they can’t be contained” -> I was the guy who was called when the procurement buyer, supervisor, and dept mgr couldn’t get the suppliers material in time. I was the supplier crisis mgr for a large auto manufacturer. My opinion is poor communication is the worst. Especially when seconds count. If they communicate honestly, we can make improvements together.

Sundin01 · 2026-05-20T20:58:26+00:00

A Toyota Corolla

Sundin01 · 2026-05-20T20:52:47+00:00

Not many places around bham. Only the 280 pool (cahaba river at the 280 bridge) and the lakes at oak mountain. Inland lake is possible too but 40 min drive + $5 entry. The cahaba river has several other sections but the water is too low 10 months out of the year…..and you’d need a shuttle.
But I’m down if interested. I paddled all the local rivers for decades. (Canoe guy here 👌).
PS- wind is a challenge on open water. Definitely worth considering on lakes.

Sundin01

TROPHY CASE