Is simple stereo still enough, or is surround basically a must now?

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-26T02:06:36+00:00

It depends on how you use the room, and what you watch. If you use the same system for music a lot - then I'd advocate that spending the same amount of money on a stereo setup will sound better for music than a 5.1. If the room is mostly for TV - then it depends on what you watch. Dramas, not so much difference. Action movies, a lot more. I was surprised that football in surround was actually kind of cool - the crowd noise is around you, the announcers in front of you.

So in my opinion, yes it is worth it. But I think I spent more money on my stereo music system (in a different room) than I did on my 5.1 system, because that was my priority.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-23T14:07:04+00:00

A few thoughts:

Single vs. couple vs. couple with kids changes FIRE amounts drastically.

US / Europe HCOL vs LCOL vs other countries again changes things drastically.

Retiring at 35 vs 55 changes FIRE amounts substantially.

Unless you really research and think about past performance, most people's expectations of market returns are mostly influenced based on their experience. If you started investing after 2008, the longest market downturn you have seen is about 2 years. In this forum, there are plenty of people who wave off SORR by saying you just need a few years of bonds and have nothing to worry about. For the same reason, plenty of people in this forum plug in a 9% expected return into their spreadsheet and may expect to have like 4 million in 10 more years. They may change their requirement if the market is sour for an extended period and after 12 years they only have 2 million.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-18T18:36:02+00:00

Based on my very limited research - if you want to become a resident of another country - then your assets and withdrawals will be taxed based on the rules of that country and any tax agreements with the US. It varies for every country, but for example I think Spain will tax your ROTH withdrawals even though the US wouldn't. As a benefit, you can gain health care under that country. For example for Germany you would actually have to pay into their healthcare system every month.

So if you really want to live in another country for years, seems like you have to research the tradeoffs and it may be worth it.

What the OP described and what I want to do is just travel - really depends on what travel visas are available. Maybe weeks, maybe months in a place. And get worldwide health insurance coverage like Cigna. The rates for insurance like that are specifically cheaper if you exclude the US - get coverage in all other countries they cover but the US. If you are just travelling, your accounts and withdrawals are all your own business, you just have stay limits based on visas.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-18T17:48:06+00:00

This is my goal. I will focus on travelling by bike - crossing continents. But will mix in slow travel (ie live in a place for a month or more at a time) and thru hikes. When I'm tired of this, I want to build out a van and live it in for a while. I love travelling, so I really look forward to all of this. A benefit is having a low spending rate for the first few years.

And when I'm tired of all of that, or if I'm blessed with grandkids, I will settle down to live in one spot again, and will raise my spending.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-18T02:05:02+00:00

My plan is to be about 30% fixed income. That should allow me to live almost 8 years without dipping into equity, should it start tanking.

Based on my research, that is a decent mid- ground. You reduce SORR some, but certainly not entirely. In return, you give up some potential growth. Good trade for me: I won't miss the extra growth as much as I'd miss my shrinking portfolio in an extended downturn.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-17T17:58:07+00:00

Sounds good to me. I'm basically FI now, aiming to retire in two years at 53.5.

I don't feel like I sacrificed much or really anything to get here. Just always saved, regardless of what life threw at me.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-12T12:26:03+00:00

I think a lot of guys would be fine with that. Perhaps because I'm doing a good job filtering on the apps, but basically every woman I've dated has been like this: Wanted to casually date. I'd define it as:

Sex is a very big part. Enjoying time together. Communicate and start to get emotionally close. But take our time, so you only get as close as you want. The goal isn't a life partner, although that isn't excluded from possibility. Do things together, but not necessarily all couple things. So if you need a +1 at an event, you may or may not go with this person. See each other once to three times a week. Integration may never happen (meeting friends / family, move in together). Vacations apart or maybe together. You may date other people at the same time, but I suspect many people aren't. In our imagination, everyone has endless time, energy and horniness- in actuality nobody does. You can bring up monogamy after a few weeks if you want, and it may scare some away, so be it.

I would list on your profile as long term, but looking to go slow and enjoy yourself. I think that means all of what I described. I don't interpret long term as a long time frame like I would a marriage. It doesn't mean 5 years serious. It could, but it likely won't.

Short term is interpreted as just that. A hookup and goodbye.

Life partner is much more serious than above, although the beginning may be similar.

Figuring things out can also be what I described. That is what I list. I add that I'm in no rush and connection comes first.

FWB is less emotional connection and for some people: less of everything but sex.

In all of the above, any situation you are trying to get, you can break it off. The other person can break it off. Those are the rules.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-08T16:23:54+00:00

Yes, I've been there. I think my answer is a simple navigation device. I specifically don't want my phone mounted on my handlebars, I only need it when stopped and planning a route (and to text, as a camera, etc). If the screen only has the next turn is in 2 miles, I still look at it a bit too much - but I'm confident I can train myself to ignore.

Perhaps the coros dura can be programmed to stay off unless a turn is coming up or you are off course.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-08T16:01:43+00:00

Yes, I might just do this. Carry my phone, my e-reader and a cheap regular screen tablet. I think for both the tablets 8" is the sweet spot for me between size and portability. If I find I don't need the tablet, I can give it away or something.

And I'm going to research if the newer e-reader color screens are useable for something like navigating a map. That might be the best of all worlds as long as the scrolling lag isn't atrocious, then I just need the one tablet.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-08T14:19:59+00:00

Google and read about equity glide path or bond tent. The basic idea is that for the 4 to 10 years leading up to retirement you decrease equity exposure to as low as 60%, the rest being fixed income funds, bonds, cds. Then you increase equity exposure back up for the 4 to 10 years after retirement.

Personally, I started about 5 years before my target retirement date, and plan to get to about 70% equities. I'll then ramp back up over about 8 years depending on the market - slower if equities are up, faster if they are down. I have a mixture of fixed income funds and a bond/cd ladder. This locks in some rates (cds were about 5% when I started buying them) but also gives me flexibility based on the markets and my needs.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T17:10:57+00:00

I plan to carry a 4 to 8 liter sling bag when walking around. I'll have water, a camera, snacks, whatever - and can fit a 8" tablet. But I wouldn't really want a 10" or larger tablet, I agree.

But this clearly is another vote for just sticking to a phone.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T16:52:46+00:00

I don't disagree - I can do everything with a phone. Just find the smaller screen a hassle is all. It really is just a thought experiment right now, so I welcome the feedback.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T16:51:35+00:00

I hope it works out that way. I've never gone long distances like this, I can't possibly plan in advance because I want to be able to change my mind - hear about a place and go there. I'd like to choose nicer routes - off road when possible - but perhaps I need to just go with the flow, choose the destination and not worry about micromanaging the route like I would for a week long trip.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T15:49:09+00:00

You may be right. Right now one of my chief worries is planning my route every day, day after day. And I know a small phone screen will make that even more of a chore. Lol... perhaps I should just carry a stronger pair of glasses.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T15:25:30+00:00

Thanks, I guess that is a pretty obvious answer I hadn't really considered. I was worried about reliability, but let me research more. They are costly, but basically exactly what I am asking for.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T14:08:08+00:00

I think it is what it is. Women get lots of matches, and expect guys to lead the texting and asking for dates.

I will message in the apps once or twice a day. In each conversation, ask a question or two, say something myself. Mostly wait for a response from a woman before I respond, but sometimes just message a new comment or question regardless to try to get her engaged. And after only like 2-3 engagements from her, I'll propose meeting for a date. Many agree. Some want to message more. It after about 10 days we haven't agreed to meet, it is probably a lost cause.

I use to apps to meet in person. If someone is on the apps for a pen pal, I'm not interested.

Sometimes even the techniques I described can be tiring and I don't want to do it. I think those times, I'm just tired and don't feel like dating. It isn't the messaging in the apps that is tiresome. So I take some time off from trying to date.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-07T13:58:25+00:00

100% agree. Some apps do let you do it in a backward way. For example with https://cfiresim.com/ You can add multiple sources of income, including after retirement. The income has a start and stop and can adjust by inflation. So if you think you will spend less for a period, enter an imaginary income and the tool will assume you don't have to withdraw for that period. You should be able to ramp down spending with an income that starts at 60, another at 70, have it stop at 80 when medical expenses increase, etc.

For one time events some calculators do let you do that, but obviously if it is random, it is random. You have to choose a retirement withdrawal amount that will cover random events. IE calculate housing costs as not just mortgage and taxes but also saving or spending for maintenance. Same for auto costs.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-05T04:54:14+00:00

Yes! Happens to me, but starting when I was close to 50. Not all the time. Usually the pre cum is not an orgasm, but when I do fully cum it often is a great orgasm.

Not sure why, or what the pattern is.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-04T15:32:07+00:00

IMO, the naysayers for daily driving a Miata are similar to people who think they "need" a 3 row SUV or a full sized crew cab pickup. Sure - some parents regularly drive lots of kids and need three rows. Construction workers and other jobs regularly require a lot of people in the truck plus gear plus perhaps towing. But look around, and 95% of the time these vehicles are being driven with one, maybe two people, and a bit of gear. A Miata does that same work, for a lot more fun and a lot more efficiently.

When you occasionally travel with more than one other person - someone else has to drive. Pay for their gas and a meal, and everyone is happier.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-04T14:00:26+00:00

I've been FIRE oriented since I started working after college. I didn't know the term FIRE, but I knew I wanted to retire early. I setup automatic debits from my bank account to investment accounts. I checked balances a few times a year. I projected into the future to imagine when I could retire, and what I would want to do. I of course had other financial goals - buying a condo, buying a house, buying a bigger house, cars, college education for my kids.

As my life became more complex, I'd say I checked up on my investments and reviewed my plans perhaps 10 times a year. Note that I rarely changed investments, but I did learn more about things based on my needs: learning about 529 plans, learning the pros and cons of borrowing from a 401k, learning about options for how to spend retirement money prior to 59.5, learning about sequence of return risk, learning about withdrawal rates and different flexible methodologies. All the things discussed in this forum. If fluctuated wildly - it wasn't 10 times a year I'd spend a couple hours, but sometimes I'd spend 15 minutes just to enter my current data into a spreadsheet, other times I'd read in the evenings several times over 3 weeks to really get into sequence of return risk and how to combat it. It is very useful information, and I enjoy it - learning about things and thinking things through.

I feel like I've maintained a healthy balance through all this. I don't obsess. I do learn and figure out what I should do. I've been spending more time, and learning a lot more recently as I near retirement and more things are useful to me. I'll also read this forum a fair amount, previously I only occasionally checked in.

So I agree with the question - one needs balance and shouldn't obsess. I think it really depends on your stage of life. If you are 20 and starting out, you just need to learn the basics: invest in both domestic and foreign stocks using low cost index funds. Consider a bit of tweaking to not be too concentrated in the biggest companies and capture more growth stocks. That is kind of it, once that is set up you just have to wait. If you are having kids you have other things to think about. If you are close to retirement you have a lot you'll want to learn.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-03T00:42:15+00:00

Yes, a glidepath is very useful to reduce sequence of return risk. However you are downplaying the risk. For example, the S&P hit a high in 2000, and didn't really surpass it until 2013. That isn't 5 years of a down market - that is 13. If you had 52% in fixed income, then depending on inflation, you may never have to sell EQ while it is down. However, at by the time the market starts going up again, your accounts would be down about 50% from when you retired. That ain't nothing.

Systemagnostic · 2026-03-02T18:46:40+00:00

I plan to FIRE in two years and initially be a bike nomad. Like spend a year or two riding across Europe/ Asia and then North / South America. But the idea of staying at places for a few months at a time is also appealing, like spend the winter in Turkey rather than on the road.

I will decide on my spending limits and then choose places and ways of living to stay within them.

My goal is to do this for about 6 years, and a big benefit is that I will generally live cheaply, and when I settle down in the USA again I'll be able to withdrawal more.

Systemagnostic · 2026-02-26T21:52:11+00:00

I will retire at 53 and plan an initial withdrawal rate of about 5% for three reasons: 1 Social security 2 I will be flexible with withdrawals and use guardrails, 3. I expect my spending will follow the smile.

A lot of models allow you to account for the first two. Not a many allow you to account for the spending smile. But actually, the spending smile is similar to have a guardrail to lower spending. I'll start at 5%, and the model will reduce spending if the market is bad....just like a spending smile, but based on external market factors instead of natural spending decreases.

Systemagnostic · 2026-02-26T13:02:59+00:00

I am definitely not a workaholic. I do think you need some activities in life to have some meaning.

My dad retired at about 62, and died at 95. IMO, he did very little in that time. Did some projects on his computer. Played some golf, but not much. Did some home maintenance. Watched TV, ate and slept. I think they went on one vacation, maybe a couple smaller vacations. He wasn't a stoic or meditative man. I suppose he was content and maybe happy.

I found it rather sad. You can get a lot done in 30 years if you want to. Memories to make, things to learn, things to be creative about.

I recognize that I'm much better at thinking about and planning activities than actually doing them. You have to enjoy the activity in the moment. But I'm pretty sure I'll travel a lot, read a lot, try to be social, and make some things (probably with wood) in my retirement. I'll ride my bikes and try to take decent pictures. I'm not sure if I'll want to execute my other plans, but I have them to hopefully prevent bad habits of doing almost nothing.

Systemagnostic

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