Happy New Year!
Chautauqua is one of my favorite things to look forward to each year. It is a life changing event for those who attend, and a constant source of new friendships and continuing time with old friends. Since the first one in Ecuador in 2013 they have brought joy to my heart.
After the covid related hiatus of 2020 and 2021, it was such a pleasure in 2022 to be back in the field with the team and all our guests. We had a wonderful set of weeks in Columbia where we shared stories, had amazing meals, and experienced the culture. Cool place, cool people, cool conversations — The Chautauqua magic!
After returning from the event in September, I have been thinking about what the future holds. At this point the only thing that I have settled on is that there won’t be a Chautauqua 2023. I wanted to share this decision early in the year as I know many people plan their travel to include the event on their schedule.
While it is never easy to admit, the truth is I am now in my 70s and both Jane and I have some health related issues. While in Bogota there was an incident that put us at serious physical risk. We escaped unharmed, but it was a scary and sobering moment and it has given me pause.
I plan to take some time to reflect on the enormous good that has come out of Chautauqua while making notes and discussing with trusted friends ideas for the future. It is possible that this is the end of Chautauqua, but I am hopeful the beginning of a new era for this treasured event will be born during this season of rest.
The folks who have helped me host Chautauqua for the last five years — Alan and Katie Donegan, Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung — have done a great job as evidenced by the tremendous feedback we continue to receive from attendees.
Alan and Katie have told me they plan to develop FI events under their own brand in the future. While I don’t know exactly what these will look like, you may want to keep an eye out for them.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and may 2023 bring you much joy and success!
Cheers!
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A clarification:
In the comments it was brought to my attention that this post could be read as Columbia being dangerous and that was not the problem.
Nothing here should be read as negative about Columbia or Colombians, both of which were great. It is a beautiful place and the people are warm, welcoming and very friendly. I’d go back anytime.
We’ve also traveled extensively in other countries in South and Central America and feel the same way about those. That’s why we have kept going back.
This was a case where I simply trusted the wrong person (non-Colombian) and let that person get us into a dangerous situation.
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A Foreword
My pals Billy & Akaisha Kaderli have just released the 5th Edition of their book The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and I wrote the Foreword!
But don’t let that stop you. Hit the link and check it out.
This is a fun, entertaining and very practical guide to living the adventure from two folks who are actually doing it, and have done so for the last 32 years.
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An interview
Recently Rick Ferri interviewed me on the Bogleheads Podcast.
We had lots of fun — Rick called it “a delightful conversation” –and evidently ruffled some feathers based on Twitter comments.
Give it a listen. I’m afraid to.
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