2 questions

[loki]

1. Have you ever divested yourself of all,most, or many of your material possessions?

2. Have you ever made a complete shift in the direction of your life? Career, personal,social, or otherwise?

Tell the story.

182680[/snapback]

#1, simply. no

#2. just applied for a better job, one that could be a carear if i wanted it so...after at least one promotion. trying to be less introverted, more determined to get things done.

so complete shift... not yet at least. prolly have to move out for that to really happen.

hey, i got college bills, and i'm doing ok finacially so far w/o any scholarships, just some help from parents.

[Camino LS6]

Thanks for all of the input to this thread, I guess I should start explaining what made me ask the questions in the first place. I'm still working this out in my mind but here are the bones of it.

Question #1:

I have toyed with the idea of "running light" for years now. Of just getting rid of everything I can possibly part with and being able to just up and go somewhere if the spirit moves me. I am currently tied down to 6 vehicles, a trailer,and an overstuffed house full of junk and a barn full of tools and equiptment. My life simply doesn't fit in small spaces and I have had to be VERY creative in finding a place to live capable of accomodating all of my stuff. The biggest problem is that property values are so insanely high that I have had to find unique places to live which can handle all of the things I need to run my business. Buying property around here is way out of the realm of possibility so I have had to find rentals that offer what I need at reasonable cost. I've been doing this since 1994 and it has gotten old. There are many other motivations for this question but this is a start.

[NOS2006]

First, thanks for coming out on that half of the dilemma, Bob. Second, I understand what you mean.. Today, one of the family's close friends, who just moved to Michigan State University last Wednesday, had her house go up in flames and everything is destroyed (even losing her only cat and one of her dogs to the tragedy). She's not even able to come home (though it may be for the best she stays clear of the sight of it) because she just started classes today and MSU freshmen can't have vehicles on campus. So, she pretty much lost everything she's grew up in. Positive part is that she's at school and she has most of her personal possessions with her and it's flame-free.

So I see what you're saying.. Just slim down everything and you'll be happier. Invest yourself in a couple cars instead of 6.. you'll be more devoted to each than you are to the ones you have now (supply/demand lol). Just slim down on a few things and you'll feel lighter and more efficient, I'm sure of it.

[daves87rs]

I'd agree with NOS on that one. I've seen a few people lose everything....and they all pulled though.

You'd be surprised what you can live without.

Heck, I gave up cable for quite a while so I could afford more to finish school...

It can also give you a chance to go in a new direction....

[Camino LS6]

First, thanks for coming out on that half of the dilemma, Bob. Second, I understand what you mean.. Today, one of the family's close friends, who just moved to Michigan State University last Wednesday, had her house go up in flames and everything is destroyed (even losing her only cat and one of her dogs to the tragedy). She's not even able to come home (though it may be for the best she stays clear of the sight of it) because she just started classes today and MSU freshmen can't have vehicles on campus. So, she pretty much lost everything she's grew up in. Positive part is that she's at school and she has most of her personal possessions with her and it's flame-free.

So I see what you're saying.. Just slim down everything and you'll be happier. Invest yourself in a couple cars instead of 6.. you'll be more devoted to each than you are to the ones you have now (supply/demand lol). Just slim down on a few things and you'll feel lighter and more efficient, I'm sure of it.

186046[/snapback]

Which leads me to Question #2.

I find myself unmotivated to continue doing what I'm doing for a living and less than happy about living where I live. So, without getting too detailed, the problem is that I am selling off the cars (in part) because the business demands so much of my time and money. So, I am asking myself why I'm selling off things I love to preserve/grow something I'm tiring of. A business eats your life and it requires that you be enthusiastic and highly motivated to make it work. I'm finding that I just don't feel that way about it anymore. I am thinking about a wholesale change so that my work supports my life instead of the other way around. I've been in this business in one way or another since 1985, so this is not a casual thing.

[Sixty8panther]

I too have tons & tons & tons of $h!. "Car Junk" for lack

of a better term.

Peter Egan once said that one of the the true signs of an

Automotive Enthusiast is a person who owns car parts to

vehicles which he has never owned, does not currently

own and has no plans of buying in the immediate future.

I've got more hubcaps, emblems, license plates & other

random car parts than I can fit in a regular sized garage.

Thank God we found a rental that comes wiht a huge

barn so all my crap can stay.

I recently acquired a rotor (as in wankel) out of a Mazda

RX2 wagon at the infamous "outdoor car museum" & XP

hooked me up with a very cool all aluminum 1/4" thick

copper gasket, piston & rod out of some top fuel dragster

or whatever.

I've also still have a bunch of random car parts off my

now sold '68 Camaro.

[NOS2006]

I've also still have a bunch of random car parts off my

now sold '68 Camaro.

186068[/snapback]

Aww, you kept the steering wheel?

[knightfan26917]

I find myself unmotivated to continue doing what I'm doing for a living and less than happy about living where I live. So, without getting too detailed, the problem is that I am selling off the cars (in part) because the business demands so much of my time and money.

First ... refresh my memory, Camino, what business ARE you in currently?

Second ... the quote above ... holy cow ... fits me to a T, just about. I, too, am very unhappy with my job and, in some cases, my living situation. As I mentioned earlier, a few years ago, I almost sold my MC collection. But, in my case, at the time, it was facing a bunch of medical bills that I didn't see myself being able to pay ... plus a few other things going on at that time. But, in talking to family and friends (even my best friend who says she has no idea why I'm into cars like I am), I discovered that if I got rid of my MCs ... I wouldn't be any happier ... because, for better or worse, they are a lot of what makes me me. Not all of it, of course (my road trips and a few other hobbies define me as well), but a large portion.

*sighs*

I keep looking and waiting for that "big break" that'll turn things around for me ... and I keep hitting brick walls ... both personally and professionally.

[Camino LS6]

I design and build landscapes,Cort.

[Drew Dowdell]

Which leads me to Question #2.

I find myself unmotivated to continue doing what I'm doing for a living and less than happy about living where I live. So, without getting too detailed, the problem is that I am selling off the cars (in part) because the business demands so much of my time and money. So, I am asking myself why I'm selling off things I love to preserve/grow something I'm tiring of. A business eats your life and it requires that you be enthusiastic and highly motivated to make it work. I'm finding that I just don't feel that way about it anymore. I am thinking about a wholesale change so that my work supports my life instead of the other way around. I've been in this business in one way or another since 1985, so this is not a casual thing.

186058[/snapback]

that is kinda where I am. I've been in the I.T. field for 7 years, but being inside board rooms and watching the actions of some of the business leaders out there has caused a severe distrust of corperate america.... especially in regards to how they treat their employees. When the company thinks of you as just a number.... nothing more important than a computer or fax machine....you can't count on the company to keep you around. Conversely, most people feel are so financially tied to their corperate jobs that they stay simply because they have no other choice. This leads to even poorer treatment of employees by the employers.

The job I held for 5 years was particularly bad in this regard. Every year I'd get a pathetic, usually less than cost of living, raise. I would get glowing performance reviews, then was told that a 2.5% increase was the maximum available and above average for the "region". At the same time, I had an expense account that was devoted just to buying personal technology "toys" for the main shareholding family. I was routinely sent out to buy new iPods, laptops, XM Radios, HD Theater systems, Digital Camcorders and such for the "first family". Needless to say, usually just one of these purchases was greater in value than my "all that's available" raise.

It literally would make me sick to my stomach to buy the wife of the Chairman a $2200 laptop <more than my raise>.... and then have her ask, "Where do I plug it in?" or "How do I turn it on?"

It was the laptop incident that led me to the decision that I would not allow these people to rule my life both emotionally and financially.

I started buying apartment buildings. I have fun fixing them up. I work when I want to work. Once the building is finished they don't require much maintenence.

Eventually, when I build up enough buildings, I'll them over to a management company to run and I won't even have to deal with collecting the rent once a month.

Once I hit four buildings, I completely replaced my old salary. Any time I want another raise, I buy another building.

[Camino LS6]

that is kinda where I am. I've been in the I.T. field for 7 years, but being inside board rooms and watching the actions of some of the business leaders out there has caused a severe distrust of corperate america.... especially in regards to how they treat their employees. When the company thinks of you as just a number.... nothing more important than a computer or fax machine....you can't count on the company to keep you around.  Conversely, most people feel are so financially tied to their corperate jobs that they stay simply because they have no other choice. This leads to even poorer treatment of employees by the employers.

The job I held for 5 years was particularly bad in this regard. Every year I'd get a pathetic, usually less than cost of living, raise.  I would get glowing performance reviews, then was told that a 2.5% increase was the maximum available and above average for the "region".  At the same time, I had an expense account that was devoted just to buying personal technology "toys" for the main shareholding family. I was routinely sent out to buy new iPods, laptops, XM Radios, HD Theater systems, Digital Camcorders and such for the "first family".  Needless to say, usually just one of these purchases was greater in value than my "all that's available" raise.

It literally would make me sick to my stomach to buy the wife of the Chairman a $2200 laptop <more than my raise>.... and then have her ask, "Where do I plug it in?" or "How do I turn it on?"

It was the laptop incident that led me to the decision that I would not allow these people to rule my life both emotionally and financially.

I started buying apartment buildings. I have fun fixing them up.  I work when I want to work. Once the building is finished they don't require much maintenence.

Eventually, when I build up enough buildings, I'll them over to a management company to run and I won't even have to deal with collecting the rent once a month.

Once I hit four buildings, I completely replaced my old salary.  Any time I want another raise, I buy another building.

186320[/snapback]

I would love to do something like this.

[Drew Dowdell]

I would love to do something like this.

186333[/snapback]

It's 100 time easier than one might think. If you want to PM me sometime, we can chat and I'll give you some pointers on how to get started.

[Camino LS6]

I may take you up on that as I've always planned to get into real estate at some point.

Thanks.

[Drew Dowdell]

I may take you up on that as I've always planned to get into real estate at some point.

Thanks.

186339[/snapback]

whatever you do, DON'T buy any of those "make millions in real estate" courses.

[sciguy_0504]

1) No and I probably never will.

2) It looks like the time is coming for me. I am not a fan of college, my job or my life so I am going to have to do something soon. If I do not get a co-op job for school I will seriously think about leaving Drexel. So far, I do not have a co-op for September to March, my first of three co-op terms, even though I have applied and interviewed for about six of them. Drexel overpromised and under-delivered regarding the ease of finding a co-op through its supposedly huge system, IMO.

[Camino LS6]

whatever you do, DON'T buy any of those "make millions in real estate" courses.

186358[/snapback]

No chance of that.

[trinacriabob]

1.

I'm such a minimalist to begin with that I would say "yes." I like to travel light. I drive a 14 and 1/2 year old car approaching a quarter of a million miles which looks and runs like new. Furnishings are few but nice. Electronics are the bare essentials (TV, DVD, computer, printer/scanner/fax/copier, clock radio, 3 phones in the house, cell phone and digital camera).

2.

Oh yes. I'm doing that right now. I plan to be out of my current occupation by early 2007. Sayonara. It has been a long time coming. It was a tough decision but I am now comfortable with it.

Also, I cleaned house on a lot of friends...one by one. The biggest disappointment has been my Southern California friends from high school and college. I'm down to just a few from a list of 10. I like my Northern California friends a lot better, even though I probably prefer living in So Cal.

[Camino LS6]

Thanks for the input TB.

[daves87rs]

that is kinda where I am. I've been in the I.T. field for 7 years, but being inside board rooms and watching the actions of some of the business leaders out there has caused a severe distrust of corperate america.... especially in regards to how they treat their employees. When the company thinks of you as just a number.... nothing more important than a computer or fax machine....you can't count on the company to keep you around.  Conversely, most people feel are so financially tied to their corperate jobs that they stay simply because they have no other choice. This leads to even poorer treatment of employees by the employers.

The job I held for 5 years was particularly bad in this regard. Every year I'd get a pathetic, usually less than cost of living, raise.  I would get glowing performance reviews, then was told that a 2.5% increase was the maximum available and above average for the "region".  At the same time, I had an expense account that was devoted just to buying personal technology "toys" for the main shareholding family. I was routinely sent out to buy new iPods, laptops, XM Radios, HD Theater systems, Digital Camcorders and such for the "first family".  Needless to say, usually just one of these purchases was greater in value than my "all that's available" raise.

It literally would make me sick to my stomach to buy the wife of the Chairman a $2200 laptop <more than my raise>.... and then have her ask, "Where do I plug it in?" or "How do I turn it on?"

It was the laptop incident that led me to the decision that I would not allow these people to rule my life both emotionally and financially.

I started buying apartment buildings. I have fun fixing them up.  I work when I want to work. Once the building is finished they don't require much maintenence.

Eventually, when I build up enough buildings, I'll them over to a management company to run and I won't even have to deal with collecting the rent once a month.

Once I hit four buildings, I completely replaced my old salary.  Any time I want another raise, I buy another building.

186320[/snapback]

I was thinking somewhere along those lines too.....

[capriceman]

not to steal your thread or anything. but has any one ever felt lke in the next couple of weeks somthing huge is going to happen and you are at the center of it. I guess it doesnt help from what i did in the past. and i got a letter that someone knows what i did and who i am.

But why let a feeling mess you up. right? why stop life? guess ill leave that thought on the back burner for now.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I design and build landscapes,Cort.

186306[/snapback]

Umm... care to give a member a really BIG discount before you leave the field??? Just kidding - the SKY took away any available funds for home improvement projects (trust me, the wife reminds me of that fact daily). Good luck with the changes you want to make Bob, and thanks for cluing us in (finally!). Most people don't like change; as long as it's not "change for the sake of change", I'm generally all for it. You never know what will come of it, but why stay bored with routine if you desire something new? Please keep us updated on your progress.

Capriceman, wow... I must say you've definitely got my attention.. inquiring minds want to know! j/k

About possessions... a few posts back I admitted to my problem - buying too many toys, collecting car magazines & brochures, and wasting money on needless items (namely car stuff). Recently I've begun to think about what would happen if a fire took away all of my possessions? I'd get no money from the insurance company, and it's not like my life would end without the stuff. So I'm making some progress on coming to terms with the fact I need to liquidate a good majority of my toy collection and need to recycle car brochures & magazines not really necessary to my life. Since work (school) is starting up again, I'll need to schedule some nights and weekends to accomplish my new goal. Sorry, thought I'd post an update.

[Camino LS6]

Umm... care to give a member a really BIG discount before you leave the field???        Just kidding - the SKY took away any available funds for home improvement projects (trust me, the wife reminds me of that fact daily).  Good luck with the changes you want to make Bob, and thanks for cluing us in (finally!).  Most people don't like change; as long as it's not "change for the sake of change", I'm generally all for it.  You never know what will come of it, but why stay bored with routine if you desire something new?  Please keep us updated on your progress.

Capriceman, wow... I must say you've definitely got my attention.. inquiring minds want to know! j/k

About possessions... a few posts back I admitted to my problem - buying too many toys, collecting car magazines & brochures, and wasting money on needless items (namely car stuff).  Recently I've begun to think about what would happen if a fire took away all of my possessions?  I'd get no money from the insurance company, and it's not like my life would end without the stuff.  So I'm making some progress on coming to terms with the fact I need to liquidate a good majority of my toy collection and need to recycle car brochures & magazines not really necessary to my life.  Since work (school) is starting up again, I'll need to schedule some nights and weekends to accomplish my new goal.  Sorry, thought I'd post an update. 

188998[/snapback]

No need to apologize.

I could give you free advice on the landscape thing if you need it.

And, I'll let you guys know if any changes really come to pass.