Biggs's Tips for Rich: Expect War, Study Blitz, Mind Markets

[GRG55]

Re: Biggs's Tips for Rich: Expect War, Study Blitz, Mind Markets

This is just an observation.

When you don't have a lot of money, you worry about where future money is going to come from to pay the bills, feed your family, etc. You worry about losing your job, etc. You also daydream that if only you were rich, you wouldn't have to worry about money any more.

Since I've been at iTulip, and read the, IMO, paranoid statements by various posters here about how they've got some farmland in a foreign country, gold stashed away offshore, passports in hand, ready to flee at a moment's notice, I have come to this realization: When you do have a lot of money, you worry that someone will take it all away.

The old saying is true: money doesn't buy you happiness. Or, I think more accurately, money doesn't buy you peace of mind.

All things are relative. Doesn't it surprise you to regularly witness so many accumulating "stuff" in vast quantities, and then aspiring to a bigger house so they have someplace to put all that "stuff" [not to mention the stuff not yet purchased but on the list ]. And then comes the alarm system. So nobody will steal the "stuff". And so forth...

Too much money (and stuff) creates complexity in one's life. Complexity that detracts from the freedom that comes from having "enough money". What is enough, and what is too much? Well that's strictly a personal judgement. But I wonder sometimes how many exercise good judgement in that regard.

[c1ue]

Re: Biggs's Tips for Rich: Expect War, Study Blitz, Mind Markets

Salt is one thing that is extremely difficult to get when you live inland.

For cooking, preserving meat/vegetables, and daily supply you need a significant amount - without McDonald's around to help...

Despite all I say - I do not think the US will descend into anarchy and chaos, if for no other reason than we have way too many soldiers...

I do, however, think that the economic wave we've all been riding for many years has crested.

To steal many quotes and mash them together...

As many people have learned to their chagrin with both the real estate and internet bubbles, a rising tide lifts all boats and makes everyone a great fisherman. The same tide going out shows who was swimming naked.

[Andreuccio]

Re: Biggs's Tips for Rich: Expect War, Study Blitz, Mind Markets

Take anything you see on TV with a grain of salt, Andreuccio!

In this case, TV has led you to important knowledge.

By far the most important knowledge TV has led me to is to not waste much time watching TV.

Muscle cramps and dizziness are the symptoms of inadequate dietary salt.

Uh-oh. I already have muscle cramps and dizziness. :eek:

If the day comes when you can't get it from your local Mart, then natural salt deposits, evaporated sea water, hickory roots, and animal blood are sources -- and would be essential to your survival.

I guess it's time to start stockpiling animal blood, then.

(BTW, thanks for the info. )

[Rajiv]

Re: Biggs's Tips for Rich: Expect War, Study Blitz, Mind Markets

Somewhat appropriate for your point of view is the following article Exit U.S. By Mike Muehleck (a bit further down the page)

One and a half million U.S. households are preparing to move out of the U.S. The vast majority of émigrés are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. And some may not ever return….

This news comes from a Zogby International poll of 115,000 Americans conducted over the past two years. Bob Adams, CEO of New Global Initiatives, commissioned the poll when he realized that no reliable database tracks the movement of Americans out of the country. A recent Barron’s article, written by Bob Adams, breaks down the Zogby/New Global Initiatives data as follows:

· 1.6 million (U.S. households) have already made the decision to leave
· 1.8 million are seriously considering and likely to leave
· 7.7 million are somewhat serious about leaving and may do so
· 3.0 million are seriously considering purchase of non-U.S. property
· 10.0 million are somewhat serious about purchase of non-U.S. property

Adding it all up, some 10% of all U.S. households are looking to leave the country, while another 11% are considering living outside the U.S. at least part time.

"That Can't Be Right"

"Incredulous" is the word that best describes the reaction of people when they hear Adams' conclusions.
.
.
.
While Adams' survey includes destinations all over the world, the survey's findings corroborate Adams' first-hand observations in Panama. Adams says the recent American immigrants to Panama are different from previous ones. Ten years ago, the typical American ex-pat in Panama was likely to be a retiree who had previously been in Panama. Perhaps they had been on a military assignment or with the Canal Zone administration. These folks tended to live in "American only" enclaves for social and security reasons and had fairly little interaction with the local population. These older ex-pats frequently used the words "tropical paradise" to describe why they moved to Panama.

But today's immigrants tend to be a lot younger, professionally employed, and more likely to meld into the international community than earlier transplants. These folks generally say they moved to Panama for adventure, a lower cost of living, or to escape the growing intrusiveness of the American political and legal systems.