Boy howdy.
I’m going to have to be sure to look more carefully at the calendar before I put up a post with momentous news.
Thank you for the outpouring of your mostly kind and creative comments on it.
I’m impressed. Not one of you seriously believed I’d cracked the market timing code. Knowing how smart my readers are, I kind of expected this and it was gratifying. (Although I was a little shocked at how quick many of you were to believe I’d sold out and was ready to profiteer on the idea. Oh ye of little faith!)
Meanwhile, the world seems to be infected with folks who believe they have a crystal ball. COVID-19, as I tweeted a while back, seems to have developed an additional symptom:
Clairvoyance
digital artwork by Bruce Rolff
Some of you were wondering if I really was hanging things up around here and expressed various degrees of concern about it. I am touched, so let’s begin there.
- For those of you who said they were…
Shocked, sad, angry, depressed, confused, bummed, nauseous, dismayed, reeling, crestfallen, crushed, mad and/or almost cried and were convinced I’d lost my mind…
…why, thank you! I take that as high praise.
- For those of you who said…
You almost killed me, gave me a heart attack and are in their 80s…
…I take that as high praise as well, and am pleased to say no one died in the making of this post. So far.
- For those of you who called me…
A voice of calm and a legend, while praising my amazing work and sage wisdom…
…what else can I say but, I salute your wisdom and compelling insight.
- For those of you who said…
You enjoyed the post and thanks for making you smile…
…my pleasure. That was my main goal.
- For those of you who called me…
An arse, b**tard, SOB, F*** A-hole sellout, F***** A-hole, just another conman, and who cursed my name…
…I tried to warn you in the post by sharing Bob’s (of Bob’s Backtested Bunker) Twitter assessment of me:
“the fact that a single person would listen to your nonsense is criminal”
You should have listened to Bob. As for me, I know you still love me.
- For those of you who claimed to get it right away…
…we ain’t buying it.
- For those of you who lamented your gullibility, don’t blame your selves. Rather, chalk it up to my tall tale telling skills. We both look better that way.
Oh, and you might want to read this:
- For those of you who offered a percent of your negative net worth for the secret, nice try but…
…I’ve read the post above.
- For those of you who sent me your million dollars, thank you.
Those millions will go far in Argentina.
- For those of you who inserted your own bit of April Foolery into your comment…
…Well played!
I enjoyed your comments every bit as much as I hope you enjoyed my post. But, overall, I took away an overriding sentiment from your words. I think Mr. Thomas expressed it well:
“…the thought creeps into my head that one day you will actually be done. I want to thank you for all of your information over time though. This blog gave me the expectation for moments like these and your information and guidance through this blog gave my family the strength to watch a significant portion of our net worth vaporize and know that it’s all part of how these things work and we are not worried. I would call this a complete success in my book. Thank you for all you’ve provided to the community.”
I expected we’d all have a little fun with this post, and it seems we did. I didn’t expect to be touched so by your comments. But I am.
So, again, thank you.
Yes, Mr. Thomas, one day I will be done. But today is not that day and true market timing remains a mirage.
Sorry to disappoint you, Bob.
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Here are three books I’ve enjoyed while on virus lockdown.
No fooling!
I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, and find great value in both.
Over the years I have had some friends brag that they only read non-fiction, not wasting their time on fiction. This, to me, is short sighted and shows a lack of understanding what good fiction really is.
Basically it is an imaginary tale but, done well, the facts and setting around it are well researched and sound. That information, being wrapped in a memorable story, is more easily and permanently learned.
We have been swapping tales, and learning lessons from them, since the times we sat around the fire at our cave’s entrance eating delicious meals of woolly mammoth stew.
Until recently, I hadn’t come across any FI fiction. But these two from Dave and Chana Mason are just that, and they are both page turningly good.
Non-fiction, of course, still has its place and this is a good one from Leisa Peterson…
In it she explores the psychological and spiritual side of money. I’ve read other books out there that try and fail on this score. It is, like fiction, tough to do well. This book does it very well indeed.
All three of these books taught me new things and gave me new perspectives on things I already know. Maybe they will for you, too.
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