Mustachian?

[Neustache]

So was chatting with my daughter's swim coach and found out he won't be coaching the swim team next year, because he's taking 4 months off to hike the Appalachian Trail.  I'm getting to the age where I really can't gage ages, he's maybe 22?  Maybe younger.  The thing that makes it harder to tell age, and the reason I suspect him of being mustachian...is....he.has.a. STASH.  Like a real life mustache in the age of hipster beards.  I mean, seriously, what kind of swimmer sports a mustache?  Okay, okay, so maybe he's not mustachian, but he definitely is acting like it by taking a 4 month break - hopefully not on credit!  I almost asked him, but didn't want him to think I was nuts and then I'd have to go into it the whole MMM site.  Maybe next lesson.  ;-)

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Hah! I find myself wondering this about people too! I think we need some sort of secret sign or something. There was a gal in my (free) yoga class last week who I was just SURE was mustachian, but it's super awkward--what do you say? "Hello, this might seem odd, but by chance are you a mustachian?"

[Melody]

Ha ha so true!

[Melf]

How about a quick index finger across the upper lip combined with a brief nod of the head?  Too obvious?  LOL

[odput]

Hah! I find myself wondering this about people too! I think we need some sort of secret sign or something. There was a gal in my (free) yoga class last week who I was just SURE was mustachian, but it's super awkward--what do you say? "Hello, this might seem odd, but by chance are you a mustachian?"

I have asked this question on this forum a few different times, and nothing has ever seem to come of it.  To me, the "identifying phrase" needs to be common enough that you can use it in everyday conversation so that non-mustachians aren't totally thrown off by throwing it out there, but specific/uncommon enough that it doesn't get said by accident.

The sun is shining...

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Hah! I find myself wondering this about people too! I think we need some sort of secret sign or something. There was a gal in my (free) yoga class last week who I was just SURE was mustachian, but it's super awkward--what do you say? "Hello, this might seem odd, but by chance are you a mustachian?"

I have asked this question on this forum a few different times, and nothing has ever seem to come of it.  To me, the "identifying phrase" needs to be common enough that you can use it in everyday conversation so that non-mustachians aren't totally thrown off by throwing it out there, but specific/uncommon enough that it doesn't get said by accident.

The sun is shining...

...upon your fair mustache today.

[odput]

Nobody ever gets that reference...its from the movie 'The Shadow' and it is how agents of the Shadow identify themselves to one another.  If an agent hears "the sun is shining" in conversation, they say "but the ice is slippery."  Then both parties know that the other is an agent.  It works because oftentimes, people talk with strangers about the weather.  Its an example of what we need, not a suggestion.  What kind of phrase like that can we use in financial conversations?

[Doomspark]

Work the phrase "close shave" into the conversation.  A reply of "Mmm, yes."  would be a positive.

[Cheddar Stacker]

What about "a friend of mine retired at 30?" Response "was his name Pete?"

In this post MMM referred to bread as "weight gain squares." Sometime later he referenced a reader talking about him as saying "I have a friend who calls bread weight gain squares." Clearly he's not our friend (he's our mentor/idol/cult leader/whatever) but I've actually used this method in conversation with some acquaintances saying things like "a friend of mine taught me to mix rolled oats with my cereal."

[odput]

What about "a friend of mine retired at 30?" Response "was his name Pete? I think I know that guy!"

I added a bit on the end (in blue), but I like it.  Then, just in case you pegged them wrong, they don't look at you like you just told them you're an alien, they would just throw out something like "must be nice" or "lucky bastard" or something.

Also, your other method is pretty clever too

[Cheddar Stacker]

What about "a friend of mine retired at 30?" Response "was his name Pete? I think I know that guy! Does he have a mustache?""

I added a bit on the end (in blue), but I like it.  Then, just in case you pegged them wrong, they don't look at you like you just told them you're an alien, they would just throw out something like "must be nice" or "lucky bastard" or something.

Also, your other method is pretty clever too

Added more in red just to be certain.

[Ambition89]

Mark Spitz had a legendary stache

[Basenji]

Mark Spitz had a legendary stache

There's our code phase.

[EarlyRetirementGuy]

Need a secret handshake.

[Thegoblinchief]

I wonder when I see bikers doing amazing feats of cargo carrying outside of downtown, where there are bike messengers.