Author Topic: 2020 FIRE Cohort  (Read 539929 times)

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1100 on: November 07, 2019, 12:38:55 AM »
Please add me to the list for June 1, 2020. 
I was on the 2019 list but, we just moved into our "forever house" this year and have been
spending a lot of money on improvements, while we are still working.   
I figure it's an investment in the future so I'll work a bit longer into 2020.

My thought is to give notice in April and see how it goes.  They may want me around a few months.
In any case I want to be out in time to enjoy the summer.

I will be 64 so, not exactly RE.  My countdown timer shows 212 calendar days!    : )

Welcome to the cohort. Nice that you have found your forever house. I still need to find it.

Just a little question that I have wondered about for a long time. Are you a hobby astronomer, with that user name? I am and hope to get more time in 2020 to spend many hours outside in the middle of the night.


  Yes I am.  I have a few telescopes and have enjoyed the hobby since my childhood.  Have made a few telescopes in the past, including grinding my own mirrors. 

  Star gazing at night is a great way to recover from a bad day at work!

Cool, making your own mirrors. I am not there yet. I just have 2 shop-bought scopes, but have a book about telescope building that I hope to do some day. Because of the home sale, my scopes are currently stored 5 hours driving away from home at our cabin. There the skies are mega-dark, with very often a bit of northern light pollution just above the northern horizon. E.g. I never manage to see M101 at home, but at the cabin it is very clearly visible with a 5" scope.
Even though the hobby itself is relaxing, I find it a bit challenging to spend a night stargazing at home and having to work the next day. And for some reason the skies are often clearest on Sunday night. So I hope that I can pick up the hobby again in January when I have quit working.

tawyer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1101 on: November 07, 2019, 03:40:07 PM »
We hit our inflation-adjusted FI number
@aspiringnomad would you care to elaborate on what you mean by this? And congrats. I think we'll also say something like "sabbatical", too.

Thanks! I originally targeted our number about six years ago, so I made it a slowly moving target by adding in a 3% annual inflation assumption. Inflation turned out to be less during that span, but I never adjusted that assumption. So our NW target with a 4% SWR crept up about $210k by the time we crossed it last week. I realize that inflation is baked into the SWR assumptions going forward, but it seemed appropriate it to do it prior to reaching our target. The solid reddish line in the graph below is our target number, moving up over time to account for inflation (blue is NW, purple is withdrawal rate, and green is the FI gap).

Nice. We have a similar plot but with an annual reassessment of what our expenses will be: they keep decreasing in real terms, which probably won't go on for much longer.

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1102 on: November 12, 2019, 10:20:26 AM »
Welp, since I've told the 2019 cohort that I'm out of that one, it looks like I've moved into this one.  Probably either January or July.  (You're my 3rd cohort, so don't get too attached. lol.  I actually did pull the trigger in 2018, but got talked into staying.)

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1103 on: November 12, 2019, 10:52:29 AM »
Welcome!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1104 on: November 12, 2019, 12:19:50 PM »
01/01/2020     Linea_Norway's official day (@46) (fired in practice from 12/13/2019)
01/01/2020     firebrand's official day (fired in practice a few weeks earlier)
01/01/2020     Nancy
01/2020          Farmgirl (@61)
01/2020          Now-non   
01/06/2020     alienbogey's wife
01/15/2020     Nickel (@55)
01/2020 or 07/2020 SugerMountain
01/31/2020     ATS (@52)
01/31/2020     DisplacedHoosier (@57)
03/01/2020     Katmandew (@54)
02/2020          Freedomin5 (@38)
03/06/2020     CrazyIT   
03/2020          FInding_peace (@38)   
03/2020          rab-bit (@58)   
03/2020          TheContinaltalOp   
03-04/2020     Padonak   
03-04+2/2020 Beeboy (@46)
04/03/2020     Maenad         
04/2020          DreamFIRE   
04/2020          Exit2019   
04/2020          Itchyfeet   
04/2020          Pennycounter   
04-05/2020     aspiringnomad (@37)   
04-12/2020     robtown   
05/2020          Body Surfer   
05/2020          Lady Stash (@45)   
05/01/2020     Much fishing to do   
05/2020          Rcc     
06/05/2020     thelyon19
06/01/2020     Albireo13 (@64)
06/2020          ixtap (date uncertain)   
07/2020          bas5252 (@55)
07/2020          2sk22   
07/01/2020     FireLane (@38)   
07/01/2020     Unique User (@50)   
07-12/2020     MMM123   
08/2020          Bateaux   
10/2020          Rubyvroom   
11/01/2020     Alienbogey   
12/202?          desk_jockey   
12/31/2020     BFGirl   
12/2020          david_shin   
12/2020          MoneyTree (@36)   
12/2020          Nora (@42)   
12/2020          Sand101   
12/2020          TheFIExplorer   
12/2020          ysette9 (@38)   
??/202?          Gumption   
??/2020          EscapeVelocity2020   
??/2020          apurplelife   
??/2020          BlueMR2     
??/2020          catccc   
??/2020          DadzillaGorilla (FI@35, RE@40)   
??/2020          FIREstache (@55)     
??/2020          LadyMaWhiskers   
??/2020          letsdoit   
??/2020          onlykelsey     
??/2020          tooqk4u22     
 
To be decided: tipster350

OLY:   
meatgrinder   
Life in balance (end of 2019)
2Birds1Stone (autumn 2019)
Firebrand (second week of December 2019)
   
OMY:   
RedefinedHappiness   
FIREby2021 (Q1 2021)   
   
FIREing later:   
FIPurpose (date to decided)   
ToughMother (date to be decided)
« Last Edit: December 05, 2019, 01:00:27 AM by Linea_Norway »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1105 on: November 12, 2019, 12:23:02 PM »
Welp, since I've told the 2019 cohort that I'm out of that one, it looks like I've moved into this one.  Probably either January or July.  (You're my 3rd cohort, so don't get too attached. lol.  I actually did pull the trigger in 2018, but got talked into staying.)

Welcome!

January is approaching fast. Do you fancy to work half a year extra or not? You obviously have the cash if you already made an attempt to FIRE earlier.

Body Surfer

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1106 on: November 14, 2019, 05:28:55 PM »
You are getting close Linea-wow. I can't imagine me lasting until 5/2020. I am strongly reconsidering Jan 2020 as you are.

SugarMountain

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1107 on: November 14, 2019, 07:45:39 PM »
Welp, since I've told the 2019 cohort that I'm out of that one, it looks like I've moved into this one.  Probably either January or July.  (You're my 3rd cohort, so don't get too attached. lol.  I actually did pull the trigger in 2018, but got talked into staying.)

Welcome!

January is approaching fast. Do you fancy to work half a year extra or not? You obviously have the cash if you already made an attempt to FIRE earlier.

Don't know. Financially there is a decent incentive to keep working, but at some point enough is enough.

exit2019

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1108 on: November 14, 2019, 08:01:31 PM »
I bailed on 2019 because I lost my nerve, mostly around health of my spouse who was in the middle of a very bad issue that could have left them disabled, which got resolved fine, thankfully.  Still very nervous about health and trying to decide whether to COBRA or not, but no way am I not taking the exit ramp in April. 

I work for a large company that is extremely political in a pretty high profile individual contributor role.  This place is full of jackals.  I really cannot wait to get out.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1109 on: November 15, 2019, 04:07:36 AM »
Welp, since I've told the 2019 cohort that I'm out of that one, it looks like I've moved into this one.  Probably either January or July.  (You're my 3rd cohort, so don't get too attached. lol.  I actually did pull the trigger in 2018, but got talked into staying.)

Welcome!

January is approaching fast. Do you fancy to work half a year extra or not? You obviously have the cash if you already made an attempt to FIRE earlier.

Don't know. Financially there is a decent incentive to keep working, but at some point enough is enough.

There is always a financial incentive to keep working, especially in a well paid job. But look at the number of years you have left as a person in hopefully good health. At a certain moment more money isn't worth it any more, being tied up in a job instead of doing your own thing.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1110 on: November 15, 2019, 04:09:04 AM »
I bailed on 2019 because I lost my nerve, mostly around health of my spouse who was in the middle of a very bad issue that could have left them disabled, which got resolved fine, thankfully.  Still very nervous about health and trying to decide whether to COBRA or not, but no way am I not taking the exit ramp in April. 

I work for a large company that is extremely political in a pretty high profile individual contributor role.  This place is full of jackals.  I really cannot wait to get out.

Healthcare is a good reason to reconsider OMY. Good that your spouse got better.

albireo13

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1111 on: November 20, 2019, 06:52:10 AM »
Please add me to the list for June 1, 2020. 
I was on the 2019 list but, we just moved into our "forever house" this year and have been
spending a lot of money on improvements, while we are still working.   
I figure it's an investment in the future so I'll work a bit longer into 2020.

My thought is to give notice in April and see how it goes.  They may want me around a few months.
In any case I want to be out in time to enjoy the summer.

I will be 64 so, not exactly RE.  My countdown timer shows 212 calendar days!    : )

Welcome to the cohort. Nice that you have found your forever house. I still need to find it.

Just a little question that I have wondered about for a long time. Are you a hobby astronomer, with that user name? I am and hope to get more time in 2020 to spend many hours outside in the middle of the night.


  Yes I am.  I have a few telescopes and have enjoyed the hobby since my childhood.  Have made a few telescopes in the past, including grinding my own mirrors. 

  Star gazing at night is a great way to recover from a bad day at work!

Cool, making your own mirrors. I am not there yet. I just have 2 shop-bought scopes, but have a book about telescope building that I hope to do some day. Because of the home sale, my scopes are currently stored 5 hours driving away from home at our cabin. There the skies are mega-dark, with very often a bit of northern light pollution just above the northern horizon. E.g. I never manage to see M101 at home, but at the cabin it is very clearly visible with a 5" scope.
Even though the hobby itself is relaxing, I find it a bit challenging to spend a night stargazing at home and having to work the next day. And for some reason the skies are often clearest on Sunday night. So I hope that I can pick up the hobby again in January when I have quit working.

  I agree.  I find it hard sometimes to go out star gazing as I get older.  I find my self too tired most days, especially if I have wine or beer in the evening.
That plus our crummy local weather.
   I recommend solar viewing!   Do it in the daytime … you're not tired and it is warmer.
: )

I also hope to get more involved after I retire.  My job sucks the energy out of me.

Freedomin5

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1112 on: November 20, 2019, 07:04:17 AM »
Seriously. My job is nice, and I enjoy the work, but the office politics sucks. Today, someone made a snarky comment because I’ve learned to say no and have a decent work-life balance while they are feeling completely overwhelmed with the amount of work they have. And no, I can’t take anything off their plate because we have completely different job roles. It didn’t really hurt me, but it’s still irksome.

Once we hit our number, I can tell myself that I can leave anytime I want and I don’t need to put up with snark and envy.

tipster350

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1113 on: November 20, 2019, 09:31:07 AM »
I met with a financial advisor free to me through a work benefit and he offered a compelling case fir being able to FIRE in 2020. I was thinking 2021. I'm giving it serious consideration as the job is getting mire stressful and awful by the day.

BTW the advisor was impressed with my plan and knowledge :) . Made me feel good.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1114 on: November 20, 2019, 10:46:12 AM »
I met with a financial advisor free to me through a work benefit and he offered a compelling case fir being able to FIRE in 2020. I was thinking 2021. I'm giving it serious consideration as the job is getting mire stressful and awful by the day.

BTW the advisor was impressed with my plan and knowledge :) . Made me feel good.

Welcome to this cohort, even as you are not sure yet.
Many people retire later than necessary. It is supposedly quite easy to make some money after FIRE. So why not take the chance if your job is so awful. Stress is very bad for your health and you know that. Good luck whatever you decide.

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1115 on: November 20, 2019, 05:38:23 PM »
Once we hit our number, I can tell myself that I can leave anytime I want and I don’t need to put up with snark and envy.

That is true power.  Once you have the stache, though, it is also way easier to let those annoyances just roll off (because you don’t need to take that crap, and it’s easier to, mentally, not take it). 

Still, I do fantasize about totally flipping out at the slightest thing - just to see others’ reactions.  (“Good morning.”  “Fuck you, Susan, and fuck your morning, too!” /flip a table and set it on fire)

CrazyIT

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1116 on: November 21, 2019, 10:43:18 AM »
Once we hit our number, I can tell myself that I can leave anytime I want and I don’t need to put up with snark and envy.

That is true power.  Once you have the stache, though, it is also way easier to let those annoyances just roll off (because you don’t need to take that crap, and it’s easier to, mentally, not take it). 

Still, I do fantasize about totally flipping out at the slightest thing - just to see others’ reactions.  (“Good morning.”  “Fuck you, Susan, and fuck your morning, too!” /flip a table and set it on fire)

Me too!  had a dream about that last night.  Today is our holiday potluck so I need to behave myself.  The Movie Office Space comes to mind often....two screws and my cube wall is on its way down!

Nancy

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1117 on: November 24, 2019, 07:28:40 PM »
Aiming for 2020 here as well. My plan is to keep my spending level the same (or reduce it with tips gleaned from the MMM community), increase amount I invest every year, enjoy biking/gardening/inexpensive fun time with fam and friends, and hopefully stay alive. Onward!

Hey, friends! I left the forum a few years ago when I started spending less time online. I recreated my account to say that we did it. We'll RE on 1/1/2020 so we can travel. I'll almost certainly work part-time (15 hrs/week) again in the future because I absolutely love what I do. Here's to still being alive!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1118 on: November 24, 2019, 11:54:03 PM »
Aiming for 2020 here as well. My plan is to keep my spending level the same (or reduce it with tips gleaned from the MMM community), increase amount I invest every year, enjoy biking/gardening/inexpensive fun time with fam and friends, and hopefully stay alive. Onward!

Hey, friends! I left the forum a few years ago when I started spending less time online. I recreated my account to say that we did it. We'll RE on 1/1/2020 so we can travel. I'll almost certainly work part-time (15 hrs/week) again in the future because I absolutely love what I do. Here's to still being alive!

:-) Same day as my official last day (per contract). Welcome to the cohort.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1119 on: November 27, 2019, 12:47:49 AM »
I just had a little chat with a coworker. She said she admired my decision to take a year off (I didn't tell them I will FIRE). She noticed that everyone else just automatically decides to work fulltime. Therefore I was tough to prioritize differently and think about myself.
It was nice to hear from someone who prioritizes fancy cars herself that she could see my perspective as well.

Nancy

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1120 on: November 27, 2019, 06:26:29 AM »
I've heard similar sentiments, Linea. People usually say we're brave or alternative for leaving our "adult jobs/lives." Having been a part of the FIRE community since 2012, I forget that it's not mainstream and some people have never heard of nor considered the possibility of living in a way that suits them. I've been lucky.

CrazyIT

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1121 on: November 27, 2019, 07:49:59 AM »
100 days left!  Let my boss know yesterday so they can plan my exit strategy.  That was a little awkward of a meeting.

Man word travels fast at my company.   

Bonus:  I work for an employee owned company where we all hold some stock.  Just found out the stock price went up 37% this year.  That helps FIRE too!

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1122 on: November 27, 2019, 12:33:07 PM »
It is getting to be a short time for you 2020'ers to see the light and join the 2019 cohort.

However, if you leave before the holidays, and never go back, a retroactive addition to the 2019 cohort will be accepted.

Sincerely
Markbike528CBX, of the 2019 cohort

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1123 on: November 27, 2019, 03:28:04 PM »
It is getting to be a short time for you 2020'ers to see the light and join the 2019 cohort.

However, if you leave before the holidays, and never go back, a retroactive addition to the 2019 cohort will be accepted.

Sincerely
Markbike528CBX, of the 2019 cohort
My maternity leave runs through the beginning of January so at a minimum I want to collect all of those benefits. :) I admit that when my part time work proposal was denied there was part of me that wanted to tell them to stuff it and quit then on the spot.

But the calmer and more rational part of me knows it makes sense to hold out through April as my husband will be on his paternity leave then. I can continue to work full time so long as I have him home.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1124 on: November 28, 2019, 12:31:41 AM »
It is getting to be a short time for you 2020'ers to see the light and join the 2019 cohort.

However, if you leave before the holidays, and never go back, a retroactive addition to the 2019 cohort will be accepted.

Sincerely
Markbike528CBX, of the 2019 cohort

As you know, I am already in both cohorts with 12th of Dec as my last actual working day and 1rst of Jan as my first official day as unemployed.

FIREby2021

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1125 on: December 01, 2019, 12:15:34 PM »
Hey 2020 peeps!

November Highlights:

- Bleep-bloop-bleep, methodical progress continues toward our goal.  Company stock performance continues to be a drag relative to the broader market; some good old-fashioned stress testing on the portfolio as we collect dividends along the way.  We chose to spend some toward a future cost this month (FIRE home remodel).

- Work was pretty good this month, and I was able to turn an international business trip into a fun adventure.  December should go by pretty quickly with vacation time and the holiday slowness.  My new boss is turning out to be pretty good ... I will need decide when/how to lay out my 2020 plan/need for remote work again.

- As of today, our NW progress covers: paid-off FIRE home, funded FIRE lump sums (giving, renovation budget, new car, etc.) and a WR of 4.24% based on our target annual spend (living expenses, taxes, home maintenance, travel, healthcare, etc.).

- Countdown: Assuming monthly progress remains on par with our historic averages, we should reach our WR goal of 3.75% by Q4-2020, but who knows what lies ahead!  My whiteboard countdown tracker now shows 15 months left before our most-likely FIRE target timing of Q1-2021.

EOY 2015 = 53.8%
EOY 2016 = 67.8%
EOY 2017 = 75.5%
EOY 2018 = 81.6%


// FI target defined as 3.75% WR, mortgage-free + lump sums funded //

END OF MONTH PROGRESS:
JAN 2019  84.5%
FEB 2019  86.9%
MAR 2019 88.4%
APR 2019 89.0%
MAY 2019 86.1%
JUN 2019 89.3%
JUL 2019 89.6%
AUG 2019 88.6%
SEP 2019 90.3%
OCT 2019 91.2%
NOV 2019 92.0%

Have a great December ... Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

FIREby2021

Nickel

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1126 on: December 02, 2019, 07:24:40 PM »
Please add me to the list.  Last day: 1/15/2020. 

I have enjoyed reading the stories here.  They encourage and inspire.  Cheers to you all.

Practiced law for 29 years.  Always stressful, sometimes exhilarating.  Over time, it became a grind. 

Age 55.  Spouse & 3 kids.  Paid off house and about $2M in 401K.  Rule of 55 allows for withdrawal without penalty.  Asset allocation is now 55/45.  It was 100/0 until about 5 years ago.  Easier to be brave when you're still earning.

Have not seen many retirees here who had almost all their money tied up in tax deferred accounts (and a house).  We plan to withdraw about $65K/year. Income and property taxes will consume at least $15K of that total.  Social security will supplement at some point.

Spouse is still working a seasonal job in a tourist shop for fun money (~$10K/year).  She has winters off, and only summer is close to full time.  That leaves plenty of time for other activities.

I intend to relax, get healthier and travel.  Got my passport again for the first time since living in Europe at age 21.  Also plan to tackle old house projects, work on family-shared rural property (where I grew up with six siblings), and spend time with/help out our kids, friends and parents. 

Age 55 may not be early by MMM standards, but I'll take it.  My process was partly inspired by this song and the realization that I was not managing an acceptable work/life balance:

Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFLysouG86I



Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1127 on: December 03, 2019, 01:08:49 AM »
Please add me to the list.  Last day: 1/15/2020. 

I have enjoyed reading the stories here.  They encourage and inspire.  Cheers to you all.

Practiced law for 29 years.  Always stressful, sometimes exhilarating.  Over time, it became a grind. 

Age 55.  Spouse & 3 kids.  Paid off house and about $2M in 401K.  Rule of 55 allows for withdrawal without penalty.  Asset allocation is now 55/45.  It was 100/0 until about 5 years ago.  Easier to be brave when you're still earning.

Have not seen many retirees here who had almost all their money tied up in tax deferred accounts (and a house).  We plan to withdraw about $65K/year. Income and property taxes will consume at least $15K of that total.  Social security will supplement at some point.

Spouse is still working a seasonal job in a tourist shop for fun money (~$10K/year).  She has winters off, and only summer is close to full time.  That leaves plenty of time for other activities.

I intend to relax, get healthier and travel.  Got my passport again for the first time since living in Europe at age 21.  Also plan to tackle old house projects, work on family-shared rural property (where I grew up with six siblings), and spend time with/help out our kids, friends and parents. 

Age 55 may not be early by MMM standards, but I'll take it.  My process was partly inspired by this song and the realization that I was not managing an acceptable work/life balance:

Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFLysouG86I

Welcome.
Especially when you get a bit older, it is not worth wasting your life working for money that you don't need, if you would rather do something else with your time.
Of course this is also true when you are younger, but then it is often not so easy to be able to afford to retire. In my case, my younger years were the building up phase.

2sk22

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1128 on: December 03, 2019, 02:27:45 AM »
Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish


Welcome @Nickel - since you quoted a great song, let me contribute one of my favorites :-)

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Time by Pink Floyd

AO1FireTo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1129 on: December 03, 2019, 07:25:54 AM »




Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish


Welcome @Nickel - since you quoted a great song, let me contribute one of my favorites :-)

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Time by Pink Floyd

Wow songs that inspire you to be FI and retire early could be it's own thread.  Here's mine...

I've long since retired and my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I'd like to see you if you don't mind
He said, I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when"
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then

Harry Chapin

CrazyIT

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1130 on: December 03, 2019, 08:39:02 AM »
Please add me to the list.  Last day: 1/15/2020. 

I have enjoyed reading the stories here.  They encourage and inspire.  Cheers to you all.

Practiced law for 29 years.  Always stressful, sometimes exhilarating.  Over time, it became a grind. 

Age 55.  Spouse & 3 kids.  Paid off house and about $2M in 401K.  Rule of 55 allows for withdrawal without penalty.  Asset allocation is now 55/45.  It was 100/0 until about 5 years ago.  Easier to be brave when you're still earning.

Have not seen many retirees here who had almost all their money tied up in tax deferred accounts (and a house).  We plan to withdraw about $65K/year. Income and property taxes will consume at least $15K of that total.  Social security will supplement at some point.

Spouse is still working a seasonal job in a tourist shop for fun money (~$10K/year).  She has winters off, and only summer is close to full time.  That leaves plenty of time for other activities.

I intend to relax, get healthier and travel.  Got my passport again for the first time since living in Europe at age 21.  Also plan to tackle old house projects, work on family-shared rural property (where I grew up with six siblings), and spend time with/help out our kids, friends and parents. 

Age 55 may not be early by MMM standards, but I'll take it.  My process was partly inspired by this song and the realization that I was not managing an acceptable work/life balance:

Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFLysouG86I

Welcome Nickel!

Yeah I'm 55 and the youngest of 6 kids.  I'll be the first to retire in my family.   No one else is even talking about it.  This is a great community for support.  Thanks for joining.  Your retirement plans sound nice!

More money than time....
94 days to go....not that I'm counting or anything.

RedefinedHappiness

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1131 on: December 03, 2019, 08:47:55 AM »
Congratulations Nickel.  Now that you will soon be in a lower tax bracket, is there an advantage to converting some of that tax deferred money to a Roth?  I'm thinking about an article I once read fr Mad Fientist re: Roth conversion ladder. 

Nickel

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1132 on: December 03, 2019, 11:22:36 AM »
Yes.  It makes sense to convert money to Roth over time.  We will convert the max we can each year before going off the ACA cliff (~$65K).  After age 59 1/2, Roth money would make for a perfect emergency fund.

One of the better times to do a larger Roth conversion is probably after the market has had a major correction.  Wish I had done it in 2009.  Yes, it would be a kind of market timing, but it seems like a different kind.

Now that I'm done, there is a different focus on potential tax strategies, including Roth, HSA, ACA, 529, potentially moving to Vancouver (no state income tax), etc.  Because my spouse still has some W-2 income, we may put some it into an IRA to avoid exceeding the ACA income limits while converting some other money to Roth.

Go Curry Cracker has some of the best tax avoidance strategies.  Part of our challenge is how to get enough $ out of the 401K before age 70.5 to avoid excessive mandatory withdrawals.  Federal income tax rates may never be a low as they are now.

Nickel

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1133 on: December 03, 2019, 12:05:44 PM »




Time why you punish me
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams

Time why you walk away
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying

Hootie and the Blowfish


Welcome @Nickel - since you quoted a great song, let me contribute one of my favorites :-)

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Time by Pink Floyd

Wow songs that inspire you to be FI and retire early could be it's own thread.  Here's mine...

I've long since retired and my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I'd like to see you if you don't mind
He said, I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when"
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then

Harry Chapin

2sk22 and princeradar:  Perfect lyrics.  Retirement inspired songs would be a good thread. 

Linea_Norway:  Thanks for sharing your own journey elsewhere in the forum.  If I had not found MMM and FIRE, I probably would have worked another 10 years and regretted it.  Growing up in financially modest families, my spouse and I never developed a taste for luxuries.  We wasted money on some silly stuff, but nothing ridiculous.  Eventually, we accepted one of the greatest gifts the universe could give: "the knowledge of knowing we've got enough."

https://medium.com/@bobsutton/kurt-vonnegut-joe-heller-and-a-thanksgiving-message-8a31ca397888

Joe Heller

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!”
— Kurt Vonnegut
The New Yorker, May 16th, 2005


ATS

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1134 on: December 03, 2019, 02:42:55 PM »
My FIRE song contribution is Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel - which I choose to interpret as having the courage to letting go of the boring and safe status quo to risk reaching for something better


Solsbury Hill

Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night

He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice

I did not believe the information
I just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

To keepin' silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut

So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
'Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut

I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home."

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free

Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes,but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me

Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."

Nickel

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1135 on: December 03, 2019, 04:33:21 PM »
My FIRE song contribution is Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel - which I choose to interpret as having the courage to letting go of the boring and safe status quo to risk reaching for something better


Solsbury Hill

Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night

He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice

I did not believe the information
I just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

To keepin' silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut

So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
'Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut

I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home."

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free

Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes,but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me

Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."

Spot on.  Pete's decision to leave Genesis. 

I binge-listened to Solsbury Hill about 6-7 months ago, with an appreciation for it that I never had as a kid.  Great song.

 

FireLane

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1136 on: December 03, 2019, 06:46:15 PM »
FIRE songs! This is a great topic, I'm making a playlist for the day I quit.

I have a contribution. My 3-year-old doesn't have a lot of exposure to Disney, but he likes the original Pete's Dragon movie with Helen Reddy. This song from the movie makes an excellent FIRE anthem:

Quote
It's a Brazzle Dazzle day,
So throw off the past and everything in it,
That's the Brazzle Dazzle way,
Enjoying your time, from minute to minute,
Running through the sand without your shoes on,
Making sure that you don't keep your blues on,
Finding a boat we can cruise on

It's a Brazzle Dazzle day,
When you think of love and never of sorrow,
That's the Brazzle Dazzle way,
To do your work now and take off tomorrow,
Flying through the air, you don't need wings on,
Climb right up and feel the thrill it brings on,
Flock with the wind as it sings on.

Ride higher and higher and glide above the clouds,
Free! No one to catch us or slow us,
Even the birds are below us!

It's a Brazzle Dazzle day,
A lifetime of joy in just a few hours,
All our Brazzle Dazzle years have just begun,
We'll follow the sun and replay,
This Brazzle Dazzle day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMULczmw6Vc

AO1FireTo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1137 on: December 03, 2019, 07:22:28 PM »
FYI I started a new topic "What's your FIRE Song"  It deserves it's own thread...

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1138 on: December 04, 2019, 12:58:46 AM »
I currently can't recall a FIRE song, but I regularly see Norwegian TV programs that fit so well with my FIRE mindset.

First a couple (around 40 I think) who sold everything they owned. Bought a rental apartment and a small camper van. They rent out their rental and live fulltime in their camper van. They drive around through the country and do some occasional jobs here and there to be able to sleep in a house sometimes. They were having a great time. They owned almost nothing anymore and were happier than they had ever been before. If they would ever decide to work again, it wouldn't be in the same way they did earlier.

The other program was about a 50-ish year old woman who was fed up by paying most of her income on renting an apartment in the capitol. She bought a little mountain cabin a few hours driving from Oslo and lives there without running water. She has to carry her things in a sledge from the car to the cabin, pulling maybe a kilometer or so. She is happy as a child when she is there. Sitting in the morning sun on her cabin doorstep. Working a little bit online on her laptop. Running outside, chopping wood for the stove.

These are all people who have chosen not to keep working their high paid jobs, but chose to live the simple life with low spend, but with the best experiences. That is my goal in FIRE too, living a low spend, low environmental footprint life with low stress, but good experiences.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2019, 12:14:01 AM by Linea_Norway »

AO1FireTo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1139 on: December 04, 2019, 06:28:32 AM »

I currently can't recall a FIRE song, but I regularly see Norwegian TV programs that fit so well my FIRE mindset.

First a couple (around 40 I think) who sold everything they owned. Bought a rental apartment and a small camper van. They rent out their rental and live fulltime in their camper van. They drive around through the country and do some occasional jobs here and there to be able to sleep in a house sometimes. They were having a great time. They owned almost nothing anymore and were happier than they had ever been before. If they would ever decide to work again, it wouldn't be in the same way they did earlier.

The other program was about a 50-ish year old woman who was fed up by paying most of her income on renting an apartment in the capitol. She bought a little mountain cabin a few hours driving from Oslo and lives there without running water. She has to carry her things in a sledge from the car to the cabin, pulling maybe a kilometer or so. She is happy as a child when she is there. Sitting in the morning sun on her cabin doorstep. Working a little bit online on her laptop. Running outside, chopping wood for the stove.

There are all people who have chosen not to keep working their high paid jobs, but chose to live the simple life with low spend, but with the best experiences. They is my goal in FIRE too, living a low spend, low environmental footprint life with low stress, but good experiences.

Wow these are great examples of changing your life and priorities and not really caring what other people think.  At the end of the day, you start to become slaves to your things and your job.  If you can find the videos and post the link it would be great.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1140 on: December 04, 2019, 12:30:14 PM »

I currently can't recall a FIRE song, but I regularly see Norwegian TV programs that fit so well my FIRE mindset.

First a couple (around 40 I think) who sold everything they owned. Bought a rental apartment and a small camper van. They rent out their rental and live fulltime in their camper van. They drive around through the country and do some occasional jobs here and there to be able to sleep in a house sometimes. They were having a great time. They owned almost nothing anymore and were happier than they had ever been before. If they would ever decide to work again, it wouldn't be in the same way they did earlier.

The other program was about a 50-ish year old woman who was fed up by paying most of her income on renting an apartment in the capitol. She bought a little mountain cabin a few hours driving from Oslo and lives there without running water. She has to carry her things in a sledge from the car to the cabin, pulling maybe a kilometer or so. She is happy as a child when she is there. Sitting in the morning sun on her cabin doorstep. Working a little bit online on her laptop. Running outside, chopping wood for the stove.

There are all people who have chosen not to keep working their high paid jobs, but chose to live the simple life with low spend, but with the best experiences. They is my goal in FIRE too, living a low spend, low environmental footprint life with low stress, but good experiences.

Wow these are great examples of changing your life and priorities and not really caring what other people think.  At the end of the day, you start to become slaves to your things and your job.  If you can find the videos and post the link it would be great.

I doubt whether you are allowed to watch it, as you don't pay the national TV license.

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/norge-rundt/2019/DVNR04004819/avspiller
The one called "uten fast bopel", which means "without fixed address", which you can use to register yourself in the national address register. The program has short meetings with the couple and lots of other stuff in between.

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/der-ingen-skulle-tru-at-nokon-kunne-bu/2019/DVSF65100219/avspiller
The program called Blefjell.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2019, 12:32:43 PM by Linea_Norway »

AO1FireTo

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1141 on: December 04, 2019, 01:37:02 PM »

I currently can't recall a FIRE song, but I regularly see Norwegian TV programs that fit so well my FIRE mindset.

First a couple (around 40 I think) who sold everything they owned. Bought a rental apartment and a small camper van. They rent out their rental and live fulltime in their camper van. They drive around through the country and do some occasional jobs here and there to be able to sleep in a house sometimes. They were having a great time. They owned almost nothing anymore and were happier than they had ever been before. If they would ever decide to work again, it wouldn't be in the same way they did earlier.

The other program was about a 50-ish year old woman who was fed up by paying most of her income on renting an apartment in the capitol. She bought a little mountain cabin a few hours driving from Oslo and lives there without running water. She has to carry her things in a sledge from the car to the cabin, pulling maybe a kilometer or so. She is happy as a child when she is there. Sitting in the morning sun on her cabin doorstep. Working a little bit online on her laptop. Running outside, chopping wood for the stove.

There are all people who have chosen not to keep working their high paid jobs, but chose to live the simple life with low spend, but with the best experiences. They is my goal in FIRE too, living a low spend, low environmental footprint life with low stress, but good experiences.

Wow these are great examples of changing your life and priorities and not really caring what other people think.  At the end of the day, you start to become slaves to your things and your job.  If you can find the videos and post the link it would be great.

I doubt whether you are allowed to watch it, as you don't pay the national TV license.

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/norge-rundt/2019/DVNR04004819/avspiller
The one called "uten fast bopel", which means "without fixed address", which you can use to register yourself in the national address register. The program has short meetings with the couple and lots of other stuff in between.

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/der-ingen-skulle-tru-at-nokon-kunne-bu/2019/DVSF65100219/avspiller
The program called Blefjell.


Works great from here in Canada :)

Now I just have to learn Norwegian!!!!!!!!!!!

thelyon19

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1142 on: December 05, 2019, 12:55:06 AM »
Have been hesistant to put this in writing, but I think we're going to do it. Retire from the J-O-Bs. Not sure it will be forever, but as of right now, we are counting down to June 5, 2020. Dude.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1143 on: December 05, 2019, 01:02:54 AM »
Have been hesistant to put this in writing, but I think we're going to do it. Retire from the J-O-Bs. Not sure it will be forever, but as of right now, we are counting down to June 5, 2020. Dude.

Welcome to the cohort. And congrats on making the plan to quit jobs. Planning to quit a job feels liberating.

You are totally allowed to change your plans or to do some more money making activities in the future.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2019, 01:39:48 PM by Linea_Norway »

Nancy

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1144 on: December 05, 2019, 07:22:29 AM »

You are totally allowed to change your plans or to do some more money making activities in the future.

I totally agree! Mostly because change is constant, and I've never gotten the knack of predicting the future. I find it better to keep an open and flexible mind.

itchyfeet

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1145 on: December 05, 2019, 09:28:22 AM »
If anyone is getting cold feet I recommend checking in and reading a few recent “1 year post FIRE” posts on the FIRE 2018 thread.

Encouraging and motivating stuff.

ysette9

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1146 on: December 06, 2019, 03:53:30 PM »
My return to work date after this maternity leave is my 38th birthday: 8 Jan 2020. I am increasingly less enamored with the idea of working. I don’t really want to be a SAHP either, but I have pretty much no enthusiasm for the idea of returning to my old job. Thank goodness it doesn’t have to be for the next 20 years or I would really be in a pickle.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1147 on: December 07, 2019, 12:33:34 AM »
My return to work date after this maternity leave is my 38th birthday: 8 Jan 2020. I am increasingly less enamored with the idea of working. I don’t really want to be a SAHP either, but I have pretty much no enthusiasm for the idea of returning to my old job. Thank goodness it doesn’t have to be for the next 20 years or I would really be in a pickle.

You will only be 30. Many of us others have had to deal with this job thing a lot longer.

But in my case too. If I would ever need to go back to work because our FIRE plan was too optimistic, I wouldn't want to work in an equally stressful job.

MarcherLady

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1148 on: December 07, 2019, 03:15:26 AM »
Hi all, nice to meet you. I think (pending the state of the stock market after the UK General Election next week) that I am handing in my notice just after Christmas. 

Hub stopped work just over a year ago when he got redundancy from the company we both work/worked at. I had been planning to quit in July 2020, but have decided I'm probably pulling the trigger and will be FIREd by late Jan.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2020 FIRE Cohort
« Reply #1149 on: December 07, 2019, 07:05:23 AM »
Hi all, nice to meet you. I think (pending the state of the stock market after the UK General Election next week) that I am handing in my notice just after Christmas. 

Hub stopped work just over a year ago when he got redundancy from the company we both work/worked at. I had been planning to quit in July 2020, but have decided I'm probably pulling the trigger and will be FIREd by late Jan.

Congrats at moving it forward. I think that a stock market dip won't have a long lasting effect.

Oh, I updated the list and couldn't find you there, reading on a smallish phone and without reading glasses. Added you to late Jan.
Welcome to the cohort.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2019, 07:09:55 AM by Linea_Norway »

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!