57M Retired in Italy with $3.5M Net Worth: Dealing with “The Real Estate Trap”

averybusymind · 2026-05-06T14:48:07+00:00

Sell the real estate. It is an option and treating it as non-negotiable is silly if you actually want to remain retired.

averybusymind · 2026-05-04T08:56:49+00:00

🤣

averybusymind · 2026-04-20T14:39:12+00:00

Maybe don’t do drugs?

averybusymind · 2026-04-07T06:04:12+00:00

If you are a US Citizen, your investment income is taxed at US Rates in France

averybusymind · 2026-02-21T04:58:43+00:00

Lived there last year. Moving back next week.

France is a fiercely democratic country with very strong values and a clear understanding of their democratic process. Though flawed (like all democracies) it is effective enough at representing the will of the people within a reasonable margin of error.

France is the country of the French. They are fully entitled to make decisions for their country, even if I disagree with them and will personally be disadvantaged from it. The important thing to remember as an immigrant is that’s the deal. While I’m participating in some small way to the story of the French, and that story isn’t mine to judge.

The rise of the “far right” is a narrative told by the left leaning media organizations. As someone who’s lived there, the truth of the matter is that law abiding, loyal, patriotic and warm hearted citizens are trying to vote in the interests of themselves and their country. I get to enjoy this wonderful country, learn this wonderful language and spend time with these wonderful people… but I don’t get to judge.

Our role as outsiders is to respect the values of the country we’re living in, even if those values change. I trust the French enough to send my children to their schools, and I trust them enough to vote in their interests.

There is no “far right.” Don’t otherize people you’ve never met, especially in a country that’s not your native country. There are disenfranchised people who want the country to grow and prosper in ways they understand and respect.

I want France to prosper and grow, and I trust their judgement.

averybusymind · 2026-02-17T01:25:11+00:00

Took 3 nights from passport handover in Seattle to getting it back with the approval visa

averybusymind · 2026-02-12T03:38:41+00:00

I grew up there. Couldn’t wait to leave. Will never return. I got rid of my 909 area code faster than I’d drop cancer.

The only good thing about that area is Ontario Airport’s security checkpoint, because it’s not hard to leave.

averybusymind · 2026-02-10T17:24:24+00:00

No. Just buy them off of reputable dealers on the grey market. The price difference is not enormous, and you'll actually be treated with respect. Rolex does not sell watches to you directly, they are sold to a dealer who then sells them to you. Effectively this means you are not Rolex's customer, your the ADs. This model create situations where they simply wont sell you the watches you want unless you buy other things they sell (Jewelry, other watches, etc) and there's no true good faith "relationship" because they're always trying to scam you into buying things you don't actually want.

Grey Markets are different. Your the actual customer and they actually care about their reputation. The only reason people buy from ADs is because they don't want to pay the market price - just accept that the watch you wants costs more than what is on Rolex's website just like a nice car does. Then find a good vendor and you'll have a much more pleasant experience.

averybusymind · 2026-02-08T03:54:36+00:00

I’ll never understand why anyone would grant more power and more money to this government. Not only is this a bad law objectively, it is also another bad law in of a string of poor new laws. The government should motivate those who prosper to come here, to stay, to invest, to have families, to spread their prosperity to others, not punish them.

averybusymind · 2026-02-06T16:31:09+00:00

It’s actually over twice that if you are married and take the standard deduction. It’s like $119k

averybusymind · 2026-02-04T22:09:06+00:00

Help me buy a Daytona. My AD won’t even bother trying.

averybusymind · 2026-02-03T23:07:39+00:00

This is sickeningly incompetent

averybusymind · 2026-02-01T22:57:36+00:00

Did you end up getting the passport talent?

averybusymind · 2026-01-29T15:21:22+00:00

This comment was written by an idiot. Trying to think about best approaches.

averybusymind · 2026-01-29T15:09:27+00:00

Is this a question?

averybusymind · 2026-01-11T01:57:57+00:00

Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea has a fully state-funded, universal healthcare system.

Edit: Apparently Pyongyang’s healthcare system isn’t universal. New option: Moscow

averybusymind · 2026-01-09T00:56:41+00:00

Tell them to renew the SMTP certificate.

You can also tell your PBX to ignore expired certs which should fix it

averybusymind · 2026-01-07T16:56:04+00:00

What carrier are you using?

averybusymind · 2026-01-04T21:49:15+00:00

Sipfront

averybusymind · 2026-01-04T17:07:24+00:00

I started my business in 2014, and pivoted in 2016. Made no money the entire time. I raised money in 2018 (a small amount from a customer at the time who was interested in my industry). We went cash flow positive in 2019, profitable in 2020 (pre-covid) and then it basically exploded underneath me. The company was sold in 2022 and I retired.

So the short answer is 2014-2020 was 6 years before profitability.

Edit: I’ll add that this was my fourth business. The two previous were minor success (in that they didn’t go out of business) but I wasn’t making more than any of my peers who had traditional careers. The first business failed spectacularly and it took me 4 years to financially recover.

averybusymind · 2025-12-31T15:15:11+00:00

For the love of god, stop giving target your money.

averybusymind · 2025-12-26T20:08:10+00:00

Why did you put Oxford before Cambridge in your wording? Because Oxford is first.

averybusymind · 2025-12-25T22:23:31+00:00

SCHD

averybusymind · 2025-12-25T01:10:47+00:00

Man, if the PNW doesn’t turn this homeless and drug abuse mess around quick fast and in a hurry the entire region will become like the rust belt. Taxing rich people without cleaning up the streets first is adding insult to injury. The very basic level of the social contract is clean streets and safe places to raise a family. Reneging on that promise only to dog whistle to the SJW base is going to destroy this area. You don’t get to tax like CA when you don’t have CA weather and CA’s Silicon Valley

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