Overall I’m a rather content person, but this piece will highlight some things that I’m in the process of slowly fixing.
1. Debt – I’m actually not that bad according to the US national average. But the US national average is atrocious! I have a nice house that I’m thankful for, but it’s much larger than I need. I do not like that I’m 41 y/o and that I owe nearly $200K on a home that I have zero intention to keep for the rest of my life. On top of my mortgage, I have a signature loan and a motorcycle payment. All told, I pay $2500 / month in loan repayments alone. I have managed to get down to one credit card that I keep paid off for emergencies. I plan to sell my home within two years or less, pay off my signature loan in two years, and my motorcycle loan within the next three years or less. I have two vehicles and another motorcycle that I’m prepared to sell to kill off the signature or motorcycle loan faster. Otherwise, I’ll just keep on keeping on and paying down the loans.
2. Stuff – I have too much of it. It never fails, just when I think I’m getting down to where I should be I discover an entire box, bin, drawer, or closet of “stuff” that appears from nowhere! When I retire I feel it will be easier to cut back on my wardrobe even more. No more intrinsic military uniform items or equipment, no more bin after bin of primary, alternate, contingency, emergency (PACE) and/or just-in-case (JIC) kit. Maybe a couple suits and dress shirts, a couple pair or pants, a couple pair of trousers, three or four Robert Graham shirts, and some trademark ChillaxDude “uniform items” (i.e., shorts, Tshirts, socks, workout clothes). Furniture… Only thinks I LOVE will stay, the rest will be sold or donated. Until I can retire and commit to living in a smaller footprint, I’ll simply continue to downsize and reassess.
3. Recreation – I’m not Rick James, and I don’t do what I want to do enough. The things I want to do aren’t entirely out of my reach, yet I allow “things” of getting in the way. I love hunting and fishing… It’s all I wanted to do when I was growing up, but I never go. How messed up is that? I love hiking and practicing primitive / ultra-lite survival skills, but I can count on one hand the times I’ve gone into the woods to “goof off” in the past ten years and I’ve lived in Colorado for over ten years. Jeeping & motorcycling… I’m actually known to be a “Jeep guy” and a “biker guy.” I mean, I own two Jeeps and two motorcycles for that very reason, but the amount of times I wished I was Jeeping or riding far outnumber the times I wish I was at home.
4. Chillax with friends & loved ones – During the past year I’ve actually had two friends die without knowing they were sick, distressed, or otherwise not the awesome folks I knew them to be. It devastated me that I had become so wrapped up in my little life that I neglected my customary bi-weekly phone calls and visits to catch up on things. I don’t mean a comment, “like,” or “share” on their wall either. I’m talking about picking up the phone and letting those you care about that they mean enough to you, that you are taking the time to let them know that whether by phone, Skype, or an actual visit.
Those are just a few things that I’m not proud of in my life that I plan on resolving or at least getting better at. What are some of the things in your life that you would like to or are in the process of resolving?
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