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Lowered Expectations

August 3rd, 2006 at 07:02 pm

The MAD TV recurring segment cracks me up every time.

I feel more peaceful, oddly, knowing that if I have problems achieving those goals I'm supposed to have achieved, then there are millions of people in my boat. It's not a little liferaft, it's the Queen Mary.

Considering the nation's saving rate, I think anyone who earns the median income or lower and manages to increase her net worth year after year, home equity excluded, is doing a great job.

Anyone who sacrifices a dear toy or hobby or reduction of luxury expense (mine is eating out) for the ability to afford more later or live better should be congratulated and applauded.

I've noticed I haven't given myself any victories. I need to give myself a chance at winning. Get the resume overhauled -- circulate it. Sell the books and CDs and things. I try too much in one day, or one week.

I attended a seminar on Rainwater Catchment. From a

Text is 1998 article and Link is http://depts.washington.edu/uweek/archives/1998.07.JUL_23/_article7.html
1998 article: "Considering the cost of water in King County may double in the next decade, a UW experiment in catching and reusing rainwater could be a harbinger of good things to come."

It's the candyass, anxious self dreaming up lurid scenarios of getting gouged for necessities (energy, healthcare) that scavenges for ways to either prevent or offset rising energy costs or ways to invest cash to survive those rising costs.

Sixty-six months ago I switched from oil to natural gas: $6400 outlay (including a gas line installation) -- I think now we've seen it pay for itself. We thought seven-eight years at first, but thanks to rising oil prices... (yes, I know natural gas is going up too, but we have a more efficient heating system)

This would involve getting into debt, like the electricity wiring to enable telecommuting, but we have to think about the possibilities:
* is it worthwhile to make an energy change that pays off 10 to 15 years from now? (one could roll the costs of a rainwater catchment system into the selling price of the house)
* how to space the home improvements for minimum pocketbook pain
* how large and sophisticated a system to get

We thought we were so smart getting a Fisher & Paykel energy efficient washer, and a Niagara low-flow flapperless toilet. Then I learned what the Germans have.

I can say, though, that we're saving $35/month in water bills. So the toilet paid for itself in four months, and the washer takes 20 months for it to pay for itself.

We've been thinking about rainbarrels, and indeed the Lord and Master might be buying some before he takes off tomorrow for his weekend. But after last night, I'm thinking larger scale.

Found my mom's 1 oz. gold Canadian coin (turned into a brooch). Now I can honestly say I own gold.

There should be some good kinds of debt other than education and mortgage: is home improvement one of them.

And it's okay to scale down expectations of being able to pay for everything all at once with cash. What matter are investment and prevention. I can't be perfect, but it doesn't get me anywhere to dream that Americans are perfect.

Because if Americans are perfectly attempting to save for retirement and rainy days and education and investing for energy reduction and healthcare prevention, and yet there's the stagnant wages and the negative savings rate, that can only mean the country is going down the toilet. Stay the course indeed.

So I'll imperfectly manage to increase my net worth. That might be the only realistic option open to me right now. Anything above that might be woolgathering.

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