Remember that when you leave this Earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given, a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage. -St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My 2006 - 5 year plan

"They always say time changes things,
but you actually have to change them yourself"
-Andy Warhol


Continuing with yesterday's theme -
While sorting papers yesterday, I came across my 5 year plan, written in 2006.

Some of the items I wanted to do, are still on my "TO DO" list. Things I should have finished, but did not.
My notes talked of taking a sabbatical, an extended leave of absence, taking a break from "income tax work" and figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.

The items left unfinished are: 
-Clean out basement and office storage, sell anything that we don't need. (I'm working on it)
-Figure out when we will move and where we are going.
-Expand the photography/art business.
-Lose weight, be more active (I'm working on it).
-A list of home repairs/upgrades (several items have been done recently)


Things I did accomplish:
- Sell our Income Tax business (sold January 14, 2008)  


- Research and buy a vehicle we can keep more than 100,000 miles with a good warranty. In April 2009, we purchased a new 2008 Hyundai Veracruz with a 10 year bumper to bumper warranty. (This vehicle will be sold next month, I thought I would keep it for a very long time........ but things change.)

- We only need one vehicle. Sell the pickup truck (actually I gave it to my daughter) and cancel the lease on the Envoy. (I will only have one vehicle - the Coach)

I wanted to simplify my life, get rid of stuff, work smarter, own only one car and travel more.

The following is an interesting note I wrote at the bottom of my 5 year plan, in 2006, before the world started to crumble.
     "I have a strong feeling that the economy, government, taxes, banking, etc. are in for a big change. If I don't sell the business soon, it may not be salable in the future. I really feel that we need to start making some big changes."


Today:
The mortgage scandal and economic downturn really messed with my financial projections, house values are very low.  I am not going to let that stop me from moving forward. I don't know when the financial world will rebound and I am not going to sit around and wait. I'm going to move forward with my plans and adjust my life and find ways to grow my retirement funds, work at seasonal part-time jobs and see what happens.


No Regrets..... Keep Moving Forward........







8 comments:

  1. We put up our Countdown Clocks at the same time and have the same amount of days left till departure. Cool.

    I'm tired waiting, too. It's time to move forward and see what happens.

    Sending good thoughts your way.

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  2. Your basic goals have remained the same so that means they are the right ones for you. Getting to those goals has changed some but for the better. You did make a really smart move by selling the business in 2008. You could always work for H&R during the filing season. I thought about it, but the thought of doing any more tax work just made me sick to my stomach. But if I get desperate it's still there.

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  3. How fortunate you were to find your 5 year plan and be able to see what you've accomplished.

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  4. Forward, the only way To move. Seems like your plan is coming together.

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  5. You have accomplished some of the important ones and you really are moving forward with the rest. Keep moving forward and we may meet in Tucson next year. Good Luck and Enjoy.

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  6. nice to recap the old five year plan...only place to look now is forward!!

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  7. You are right on track!.. I think you are ahead of the game...

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  8. It must feel good to look back on that old plan and see that you're making progress.

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Hi, I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Drake Tax Software

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