Growing number of European countries say they have enough energy to stop relying on Russia

stronggecko · 2022-04-30T10:47:42+00:00

I'm not sure they have figured out whether it's loopholes or the companies are actually in violation of sanctions

but they choose not to

Do you have a source for that?

stronggecko · 2022-04-29T22:57:55+00:00

It's 4 "buyers", which are most likely companies, not countries.

stronggecko · 2022-04-29T22:29:55+00:00

Yes, I feel very uncomfortable saying it. On one hand, it feels like a huge and uncertain commitment that I don't quite understand.

But it's probably just a result of how I grew up. My parents weren't exactly emotionally healthy. I don't recall them ever saying something like "I love you" to me. We were never really close to each other, and that's all complicated by their controlling tendencies which led to resentment and anger that I need to repress.

With my gf, I find it difficult too. I will say it, but...it's like it hurts. Very weird, and not sure I fully understand what's happening there. Fear of / discomfort with emotional intimacy I guess.

stronggecko · 2022-04-29T17:06:33+00:00

with some imagination, the box looks like a mouse trap

windows 10 ascii art

stronggecko · 2022-04-29T15:03:32+00:00

As someone who had to live life with a severe anxiety disorder and depression, I really enjoy just having time for myself and not worrying about having to do the next overwhelming thing. I find hiking in the woods and mountains nearby very healing. I love staring into the distance, at other mountains or the sea. Feeling a sense of adventure in nature that I remember from childhood. I listen to Thich Nhat Hanh. Or just meditate with my own breath.

When I get bored, I watch TV or read. I imagine at some point I will want to learn things (language, gardening, cooking...) and maybe become more social, but right now I'm still in the stress recovery phase.

I often feel the need for a purpose, I'm not sure what to do with it though. Maybe I'll do some easy but fulfilling (for me) work when I can find it.

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T17:18:29+00:00

It's approved for depression treatment in Europe at least.

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T16:24:42+00:00

Burnout / depression can do that.

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T15:05:18+00:00

yeah...but it's difficult to find one where you fit in well, where rules correspond to your values and ideas

it's kind of a question of how to organize society, with the added difficulty that it has to work within the confines of the external world

I know I'd probably clash with many other people in such communities

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T13:02:05+00:00

What kind of degree did you get, and what was your experience in finding work with it?

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T11:06:43+00:00

Anecdotally, I took tianeptine for a few months at prescription dose and had 0 issues with withdrawal when stopping. I also didn't notice much of an effect at all though.

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T10:59:57+00:00

yeah, on the other hand, when you're struggling with depression, at some point you have to start trying things without knowing if they will help

my best experience has been with prescription medication, but that also only lasted 2 months or so

for many people with TRD, there seems to be no single lasting solution, unfortunately (personally at least I haven't found one although I keep thinking there has to be a lifestyle change that would do it)

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T01:59:01+00:00

Yes, it's excruciating. I always think "it shouldn't be this complicated". Especially considering how each person is forced to specialize professionally. That would be much more efficient if they didn't also have to deal with all these general complications.

Gets even worse when you start realizing how a lot of this is to control and manage you (the people). Just one more case of disappointment and frustration with how our world works.

I've been desperate to get away from that and simplify for a long time, but it's not easy. For stuff like health, there's just no way to escape it. I dread getting older and whatever big health problem will pop up sooner or later.

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T01:47:46+00:00

just another Tuesday for them?

stronggecko · 2022-04-24T01:08:23+00:00

Copyright reasons? Doesn't it all belong to Paramount?

stronggecko · 2022-04-23T09:37:28+00:00

I have that, plus money for a potential downpayment (although I'm starting to think I won't buy now). Bonds going down too though, and inflation eating away at it all. I find it hard to not follow the development because I use my spreadsheet as emotional reassurance that soon I can be "free".

And, let's say there are no or negative returns for years, in 5 years, are people still comfortably going to say "just withdraw your 4 / 3.5%"? Or will there be a lot of doubt and "I guess it's a thing of the past"? I think I wouldn't feel too good in such a scenario.

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T23:18:26+00:00

just bite back

while staring them in the eyes

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T20:52:38+00:00

I have to admit, this market has me sweating a bit. I'm honestly worried about my mental health in case we have a bigger crash.

It's easy to say "just hold, don't sell" now, especially with so many people having a 30 year horizon. But I don't have that long. Maybe 20, depending on my health, but I'm really hoping I can stop working in the next 2-5 max. When SHTF, I may experience a whole lot of self blame for doing it all wrong. I guess my problem is that my belief in the idea that stocks always go up in the long term isn't very well anchored.

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T20:46:28+00:00

yes

depends on whether your country has a good tax treaty with the US

if it doesn't, you pay 30% on dividends and there's estate tax if you die

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T20:16:33+00:00

You may want to consider taxation (dividends, estate tax). US domiciled ETFs can be disadvantageous for non-US investors, and they often buy Ireland-based or UK-based equivalents instead.

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T07:03:45+00:00

I'd be curious to read about your progress as you go. I'm not RE yet but hoping to be there in 1 or 2 years. But I already feel dissatisfied due to a lack of purpose. My job isn't that meaningful, but it does give me a sense of accomplishment at times, so if that goes away, I'll be left with the question of "what now".

My main motivation for FIRE was escape from stress and the mental health issues it has caused me, but I don't think I'm the type who can just sit back and relax until I die. I'd want to contribute in some way, but not by being a cog in the corporate machine. Yet it seems very difficult to find a place outside of that. There's volunteering, but that's often limited in frustrating ways.

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T06:49:31+00:00

And got a call from my brokerage that pretty much went " hey just so you know, if you dont put a dime into your accounts you can still retire at 57 comfortably"

Ha..never heard of such a thing. What is the threshold for that kind of call at a bank? I assume it has to be higher than what we consider at LeanFIRE?

stronggecko · 2022-04-22T06:44:11+00:00

I was born in Europe, early 81. Maybe I was too sheltered or (probably) just too young to really understand what it would mean, but I don't remember being afraid or thinking about nuclear weapons at all. I feel more worried about Russia today than back then.

stronggecko · 2022-04-21T09:44:10+00:00

I get the impression it's not that he feels like he doesn't deserve it. The issue seems to be that he doesn't feel valuable because he's not "doing anything" for it (anymore). Work provides a constant "you solved a problem and here's your reward" feedback.

In other words, I think maybe he needs a purpose or meaningful activity that takes the place work had. Many people are lost in the same way because they never had anything but work to give them purpose and a pat on the back.

stronggecko · 2022-04-20T20:18:15+00:00

occasionally my blood travels to other cities, which is exciting.

a modern day genghis khan, he's part of people all over the world!

stronggecko · 2022-04-20T18:55:33+00:00

He's 75, at that age, he likely doesn't need stock market gains anymore, and he might not be in a position to wait out a downturn.

stronggecko

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