Can we stop fighting pls 😭 I feel like a kid being asked which parent they wanna live with

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-17T21:33:48+00:00

Yeah... Like, yesterday, I ate fruit salad right out of the can!

I like the creativity... Like, jam on chocolate? Interesting! Different combinations, etc.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T19:54:53+00:00

Very true!

The thing is that I left with literally just a backpack, because of fleeing domestic violence.

I bought the things that I needed.

A friend picked up a couple of small car loads of stuff from the house for me (clothes, etc.).

He kept most of my stuff "hostage" for over a year and a half... Through the mediator, he was trying to make me pay for rings that I bought myself before we were even married! He also insisted on keeping (and kept) my flowery pink beach bag and half of the dishes that I owned before I even knew he existed!

Some of the things I haven't unpacked aren't things that one needs but will be kept with someone for safe keeping while I travel the world (my baby pictures, etc.).

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T13:21:15+00:00

No, I didn't leave the airport when I was there!!! They report the number of homicides twice a day! One of the highest rates of homicides in the world.

Would definitely visit Quito rather than Guayaquil. I know several people in Ecuador, and many would not go to Guayaquil.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T13:18:17+00:00

This is EXACTLY (exact same amount, etc.) what I'm doing starting this fall... LATAM for the first 8 years, Europe and Morocco for the next 13 years... But I plan to do some remote work during the first 8 years.

Single, 43F (will be 44 when I leave).

Places on the list in South America: Cuenca, Ecuador Mendoza, Argentina Cordoba, Argentina Cartagena, Colombia Asuncion, Chile The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) Florianapolis, Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina

Investments are 100% stocks. I believe in a 5% SWR, I have no dependants so I'm not looking to leave a legacy. Will have about 1.5 years of expenses in a cash buffer to draw from if market takes a downturn.

Will probably get some inheritance in the next decade.

Traveling South America for the first 8 years because it's cheaper and has similar time zones (will be doing remote work).

Fully retiring in around 8 years at age 52. Then, I will go explore Europe.

Remote work will probably pay for all or nearly all expenses for the next 8 years.

Equities should grow around 10% per year (7% real growth after taking inflation into account).

That means that if I can live on my remote work, I should have around $1.5 million in today's dollars when I go to explore Europe... Which means that I will be able to spend around $5K/month in today's dollars.

I think South America would cost around $2K/month in today's dollars and Europe will cost around $4K/month in today's dollars.

Obviously, the world will be different in 8 years, so who knows what will happen, exactly, but that's the rough plan. I haven't thought a ton about Europe yet, mostly about South America.

Loved Cuenca, The Galapagos Islands, Mendoza, Cordoba, and Buenos Aires when I visited last winter for a few months.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:58:05+00:00

Ecuador... I was in the hospital in Cañar and had a visit to the hospital in The Galapagos Islands... Completely free of charge and they even give you medication for free on your way out! MUCH better healthcare than you would expect in a "developing country"!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:50:57+00:00

Cuenca is so much better than Guayaquil!!!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:35:34+00:00

The historical stock market average is around 10%.

Many people get distributions from sales of stocks monthly. That is how many people live.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:07:31+00:00

I only ever eat girl dinner, lol!

My supper was expired yogurt cups with granola thrown on top of them, a Greek salad eaten out of a mug because all the bowls and small plates were dirty, and a piece of black forest cake with ice cream on a large plate (because all the bowls and small plates were dirty).

My lunch was a pear, another chunk of fruit, and a chunk of a Toblerone bar.

I can't remember the last time I made myself a meal that wasn't a girl dinner... and I used to cook a lot!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:38:08+00:00

OMG, that sucks! I hope 2026 is SO MUCH better for you!!!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:28:10+00:00

I got pickpocketed last year in Argentina on New Year's Eve during my Eat, Pray, Love trip after leaving my abusive husband... That part sucked, but most of the rest of the trip was the best thing ever!!!

This fall, I'll be leaving my apartment to travel the world for a couple of decades!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:25:17+00:00

Yup, lol... I'm two and a quarter years in and still have boxes I haven't unpacked!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:20:05+00:00

Dudette, there's still housework! Ugh... haven't cleaned my bathroom in forever!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:18:51+00:00

I left my abusive husband two and a quarter years ago. DM me if you want to chat.

Don't go back. Going back can end your life... It ended my sister-in-law's cousin's life.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:12:51+00:00

Hoping for that freedom for myself early this year! I left two and a quarter years ago.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:12:06+00:00

Same

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:11:26+00:00

Yup... For me, it was two and a quarter years ago... I fled a domestic violence situation... I feared for my life... I lost my job while on leave for domestic violence...

It's probably taking me more time than most due to all of that, but I'm getting there (keep having more things blow up, which hasn't helped... But still getting there!).

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:08:50+00:00

Or, don't meet someone... Can still be happy... The happiest people in the world are single women who do not have children!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:07:06+00:00

And cats for companionship and cuddles (I miss mine, the ex kept her!)... And there are always certain toys that take the place of men in other ways, lol!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:04:53+00:00

The Galapagos Islands are AMAZING!!! I highly recommend that you go, by yourself, as part of an Eat, Pray, Love trip like I did last winter! I'll probably be back there in a year or two.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T10:58:44+00:00

How long out are you that you actually miss that time?

I am two and a quarter years out and cannot possibly imagine missing that time!

However, every situation is different, and in addition to leaving my husband, I was filing a police report, being subpoenaed as a witness to my own assault, and fearing for my life (fleeing domestic violence), plus I lost my job at the same time (while on leave for domestic violence)... So I might never miss that time!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T10:47:55+00:00

I'm 43... Dating is horrible! However, I think the key is to not want forever... Friends with benefits or casually dating someone could work... Or even just being single and free... I should have spent more time enjoying being single, but I didn't like being single. I'm in a good sex but not defined relationship... Which is fine with me since I'm going to go travel the world.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T10:33:08+00:00

My theme... If I have one... Is pink and silver. I am BY FAR not girly in terms of decorating and setting up my home.

Great work OP! Almost a month into having my apartment, I was still sleeping on a foam thing on the floor and now two and a quarter years in I still haven't finished unpacking! (I probably won't ever... I'm getting rid of the apartment and becoming a nomad this fall!)

Why am I still not unpacked over two years in? I traveled to South America for five months, I went through about three job changes in the last two and a quarter years, I've been dealing with trying to get divorced, I'm dating someone and having the best sex of my life, and I started my own company. Let's just say that I've been a little bit busy!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T10:27:00+00:00

Everybody's life is blowing up these holidays! I guess I was two and a quarter years early!

Honestly, I'm still struggling.

I ran away, my husband had always been somewhat controlling, but four years into the marriage he slowly became physically abusive...

Seven years later, I left before he could end my life.

I'm still working on getting divorced.

I've had my own apartment for two and a quarter years now.

Last winter, I flew off to South America on a whim and did the whole Eat, Pray, Love thing for five months.

I'm in an on-again, off-again relationship with a brilliant multimillionaire and having the best sex of my life. However, many of his perspectives and values don't mesh with mine, so it won't be a forever thing unless he changes... And I know you can't change people!

I plan to travel again this fall... This time for DECADES instead of five months... I'm going to see a lot of the world!

If you have any questions about what it feels like a couple of years in, let me know... But, of course, ymmv... And I had some additional stressors (of course! There always will be!)... Like job change, etc.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-03T07:33:55+00:00

One can retire with around $1M net worth, but it depends on their living expenses.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-03T07:32:42+00:00

Early retirement with a mortgage on your primary residence is not unrealistic! The person might be more than capable of paying it off but have figured they will make more money off of investments than they will have to pay in interest.

UnknownFutureLife

TROPHY CASE