I grew up staying pretty near house. We took a number of journeys to neighboring states to go to a theme park or to see kinfolk for every week in the summertime. I did get to go to my Grandma in Florida twice, as soon as round age 8 and as soon as round age 13, so I used to be conversant in the idea of business air journey, at the very least. I didn’t actually uncover what it was wish to journey till I received despatched on a “deployment” for 2 weeks to Guam as a junior in school.
Guam was unbelievable. It was like one thing out of a film. I used to be immediately hooked.
After I grew to become an grownup with a profession job making Grownup Cash, I attempted to take a global journey yearly. I went to Australia, England, Panama and Ecuador twice. I really like attending to expertise different cultures and making an attempt new issues (guinea pig, anybody?).
I didn’t notice how a lot touring meant to me earlier than the Nice Panini occurred and I used to be caught at house for two straight years. With each worldwide and home journey restricted, I’ve been stressed and anxious to get again out on the planet. Happily, it appears Covid circumstances are falling sufficient to make me really feel higher about getting again out on the highway. So, with the large caveat that each one these plans are contingent on the place we’re at on the Covid tracker, I’m stoked to announce 3 totally different occasions the place you and I can hang around. Dwell! Nose to nose! Let’s seize a drink and chat!
SIPOFI St. Louis Meetup, November sixth
No, I didn’t have a stroke. SIPOFI is the acronym for the “Singles in Pursuit of Monetary Independence” group on Fb. (or is it meta now? who is aware of what Zuck is as much as today!) You’ll find the group right here. I really like them because it’s nice to get everybody’s viewpoints on relationship within the trendy world, and particularly relationship via the lens of FIRE. It’s witty, irreverent, and tons of enjoyable. Despite the fact that I’m solely single to the IRS, I stick round to share what labored for me and the wonderful memes shared.
Anyhow, the occasion is at Schlafly on November sixth at 4 pm. They’re internet hosting a Full Moon Competition to rejoice the harvest and the occasion is our favourite worth of free.99. Right here’s the official description:
A six-pack of bonfires awaits you every Fall at our Full Moon Competition. Be a part of us as we rejoice the harvest with dwell music and a pig roast that includes hogs from native farmers.Native cooks may also compete to your affection (and abdomen house) within the deliciously-competitive Schlafly Chili Cook dinner-Off. However regardless of the total moon, the celebs of the night time are all the time the kegs of White Lager, Pumpkin Ale, Arduous Apple Cider, Espresso Stout and different seasonal favorites.
I hope to see you there!
EconoMe in Cincinnati, Ohio November Twelfth-Fifteenth
One of many hardest issues in regards to the pandemic has been not with the ability to see all my web mates in individual at numerous occasions/conferences. I handed on FinCon this 12 months as a result of it’s FinCon and it was in Texas. It wasn’t price it or the chance.
Nevertheless, there’s a convention taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio that’s completely price going to. It’s referred to as EconoMe and it’s being produced by my buddy Diania Merriam to unfold the nice phrase about taking cost of your funds. The web site is right here for extra info.
I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN ONE PLACE!!!!! I don’t assume I can categorical how a lot I’ve been affected by being so remoted as an enormous flaming extrovert. Occasions like EconoMe replenish my battery for the remainder of the 12 months.
The schedule seems like we’ll have a good time. Friday night time is the dwell Stacking Benjamins present and perhaps a bonfire hosted by a neighborhood buddy. I’ll be internet hosting the SlowFI breakout session with my blogger buddies Josh Overmyer and We Need Guac on Saturday morning. There’s a breakout session for everybody! Add in a number of speaker periods and a few meals with mates and an after occasion that night time and I’ll be having a blast! I sincerely invite everybody to hitch in on the enjoyable. This is a wonderful time to community with like-minded folks and discover your “tribe”. (Tribe is in quotes as a result of I’m fairly certain we’re not supposed to make use of that anymore however I can’t consider a greater time period off the highest of my head. Anybody?)
And eventually, in case you’re not already , right here’s the official recap of what 2020’s occasion regarded like!
Chautauqua, Ecuador, June 18th-Twenty sixth, 2022
Mark your calendars! The Chautauqua in Ecuador is BACK! Very long time readers will keep in mind I’ve been to the Chautauqua twice — as soon as in 2015 and as soon as in 2017.
I’m very honored to be going again for a 3rd time — however this time I’ve been requested to be a speaker! I’ll be giving a presention on flexibility and flexibility on the trail to monetary independence. My fellow audio system will probably be Karsten aka Huge ERN from EarlyRetirementNow, our beautiful host Cheryl Reed, and the pair behind The Fioneers, Corey and Jessica.
In the event you want a refresher on what a Chautauqua is, I’m blissful to oblige. A Chautauqua is “…an old-time sequence of common talks meant to edify and entertain, enhance the thoughts, and convey tradition and enlightenment to the ears and ideas of the hearer.”
Cheryl takes this definition to new heights. Every year I attended has been superb for various causes. The primary time I went in 2015 I used to be a fresh-faced 24 12 months previous who eagerly soaked up any and all recommendation and information allotted. Our group grew to become very knit after only a week collectively. Having a smaller group lets you kind extremely deep connections over the course of a whole week. I’m nonetheless in contact with many individuals from the primary 12 months, 6 years later. I wrote a recap submit and a classes realized submit on my week in Ecuador for a extra in-depth evaluation.
The second time I went on the Chautauqua was a bit totally different — as a result of I used to be totally different. I used to be now not the brand new child on the block. I’d had the weblog for a number of years and had made mates in the neighborhood. I didn’t fly on my own to fulfill up with strangers. I traveled with mates to fulfill mates for every week. As a substitute of solely getting recommendation, I used to be additionally shelling out recommendation on numerous subjects. I hope to take this to the subsequent degree on the 2022 journey as a speaker! I additionally wrote a recap submit and classes realized submit for my 2017 journey.
Okay. Let’s tackle the elephant within the room.
The Chautauqua isn’t low-cost. It’s an all-inclusive retreat for every week with audio system. Transportation, meals, lodging, and actions are coated for the entire week and that provides up.
It’s 100% price each penny. The ROI for the journey will probably be large. I received life recommendation, relationship recommendation, investing recommendation, actual property recommendation and even some classes on operating a enterprise. I used to be in a position to choose the brains of among the smartest folks within the FIRE group. The connections I made with among the folks have resulted in staying with them for a weekend or them staying with me for a weekend. One of many folks I met on the 2015 Chautauqua flew to assist me transfer out and drive a truck again house. I’m getting a bit emotional proper now considering of how a lot these experiences imply to me.
Please don’t go into debt to attend this occasion. In the event you’re in a great spot along with your funds and wish to journey for every week with superb like-minded folks, I can not suggest the Chautauqua sufficient. It’ll completely change your life, like mine has been modified prior to now and will probably be modified once more in June 2022. For official join particulars, please go to Cheryl’s web site at abovethecloudsecuador.com/fi-chautauqua/.
I hope to see you quickly!!!
Love,
Gwen <3