IV. Investing:

1. Blunder & Recovery: in My Stock Market    

     In 1999's "Dot.com" “" stock market bubble I lost 1/2+ million $. ,LITERAL:  arrogant, ignorant & foolish!

My Recovery of those Losses:
    A. Property Development: Upgraded & tripled my rental unit's size & income..

A. big blunder

Giant investing mistake. After selling my house & Snake River property next to Grand Teton National Park, for $1.25 dollars, I invested in more rental units and the stock market.

Unfortunately, I knew little about stocks, but was “very full of myself” because I had made so much on sale of my house. I believed I had the Midas Touch. ("Fools rush in where ....")

I bought tech stocks because everyone was in love with the huge, exploding range of innovative, new technologies. Unfortunately, many companies were worthless, sometimes merely a concept, rushed quickly onto the stock exchange so fools like me would throw our money at them.

When the dot.com dot.com  Bubble finally crashed, my stocks lost ½ - ¾ of a million dollars in VALUE. In a panic I sold all my stocks, THEREBY locking in an EVEN greater loss because some tech stocks (Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, eBay, Cisco etc.) Google would ultimately survive & prosper over the next 2 decades, but even had I this insight, I didn't know how to distinguish between the best and the worst Stocks I owned. That was my great level of ignorance. 

Anecdote: My look in the mirror: About 2-3 years later After my blundering 1999 1/2 million $ stock market loss“, I LITERALLY looked in the mirror and I said to myself, "Scott, you are looking at one of the most ignorant, arrogant, foolish investors you have ever known."And then, ... I started laughing. It was so true.

While I had certainly been shaken & frightened to the core,  a GIANT NEW QUESTION NOW LOOMED,  

How do I recoup my great loss? 

Real Estate loss recovery:   

Short Version: A. Property Development: Expanded a rental property unit's number, size & rental income thru continuous 10-12 hrs/day, 6 days /wk for 9 mon over 4 yrs.

Longer Version: 

Fortunately, I had bought an old rental property with part of my log house sale's proceeds; a triplex & duplex, each of which was composed of 2 very old houses cobbeled together.                                
        Typical 'old Jackson Hole, WY.

Anecdote: a hidden opportunity: at some point, it occurred to me that I might expand or develop that property's two buildings to increase rental units #s, space and income, however. my interpretation of Town of Jackson's zoning restrictions on my property seemed to prohibit that.                PIK of Jones Property

Nevertheless, I gained a meeting with the planning department, and my opening words were, "My interpretation of my property's zoning restrictions is that I cannot develop this property any further. I would like you to confirm that property zoning restrictions prohibit my further development."

(Notice: probably 99% of all such discussions are the property owner's lawyer trying to manipulate the Planning Department into approving a quwestionable construction proposal. I , in stark contrast,  was seeking confirmation that I could not develop my property.)

"After a 1/2 hour examination of my property specs & applicable zoning laws, he looked at me & said, "Scott you're wrong. Our restrictions did not anticipate your property. You do have the potential to develop it further." I thanked him profusely and was ecstatic. 

conceptual design and planning for what would become a 3 to 4 year project dominating the end of my 50s and the beginning of my 60s. 10-12 hr days for 5 months.

I immediately contemplating potential ezpansion design<

My prime goal was to add  2nd story to a 40' x 80' building which ordinarily would require tearing the roof of, building the new second floor and then installing a brand new roof.

After some contemplation, it seems ridiculous financially ridiculous to tear off a roof and then put one back on. So I conspired with a house mover to disconnect the existing building from its foundation elevated and stabilize it 9 feet in the air while I built my first floor underneath the second floor and then carefully lowered the second floor and it's existing roof onto the upgraded foundation saving the cost of a brand new roof. The planning department and engineers approved to sign and it was done and completed within the following spring summer and fall.

The second year I gained planning department approval to move a smaller building onto a brand new foundation when the planning department actually initially preferred that I tear down the building the saving that square footage.

Finally, in the third year, I precisely calculated the available square footage for construction that remained designed the building with a modular home construction firm. It was it was installed in one day. Increasing the square footage another 35%.

Over 22 years it has provide incressing rental income. Within the last 2 years 3 very large multistory apartment buiodngs have been directed on either side of me substantially increasing the value of my property for redevelopment.

necessary blueprints required for engineering approval ultimate Building Departmenmt approval.

That winter 

B. Stock Market:  Really? Again? 😀:

Having recouped my dot.com loss with the re- development of my rental units,  I had resumed my usual domestic, Roadtrek RV van domestic travels and limited foreign travels, when,  of course, the 2008 Black Swan "Global Financial Crisis or Great Recession" landed with an unforseen plop scaring all investors most of us able to comprehend its implications.

Fortunately, because my loan loan payments were relatively low compared to my rental units income, I summarily dropped all of my rents several hundred dollars each in order to keep my tenants. Occasionally, I stepped in and financially for gave or supported tenants in particular dire circumstances. 

Slowly n 2008-2009 greater financial confidence begn to emerge from the Great Recession and I said to myself, (I talk to myself a lot.), “Scott, you cannot be so stupid that you cannot learn how to profit in the stock market.”   I vowed to wisely learn how. 

So, relying on Jim Cramer’s, Mad Money, I committed to religiously listening to his daily podcasts & reading his book, " Getting Back to Even."   Over time I realized I was becoming familiar enouigh with his Rules of Investing, stock market terms, duplicity (TV talking heads & guests) , prudence etc. that I could actually understand what he was saying ocassionally before he said it. 

I had what fundamental goal, "preserve my principal". My basic emerging strategy was to focus on the key Cramer duscussed stocks that he continued to endorse and that seemd to reflect his confidence in their ongoing performance. 

Since the tech.com era I have been in enthralled with tech believing that like the telephone the automobile in the airplane and then the computer, etc. check revolutionizes economies, and move mankind forward. I still believe that.

My first fledgling small investment was in Apple, which Cramer admonished hole don't trade. I bought more over the years and have sold none.Apple alone recouped multioes of my dot.com crash loss.

2025 Perspective: while at 85 I may not let live to see it, it's my belief that tech Stocks particularly those in the realms of Kathy Woods, blah blah blah blah blah blah will dramatically grow over the next 5 to 10 years.

Travel: Foreign & Domestic: n my 1999 ‘blunder’.     Thank you Jim.

II. Health.

Most of my adult life I stayed physically fit with exercise (tennis, jogging (?), hiking, skiing), and a good diet.

Hypocrisy is MY art form expressed with too much Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream and  my early 50s diabetes II diagnosis ending Hagen-Daz & poisonous sugar while religiously taking diabetes drugs.

Even into my 60s, I would make demanding hikes, and mountain bike rides, as well as performing most of the construction trades on my rental properties re-development & maintenance.

However, I continue to have increasingly painful knees and back issues that were subsequently resolved by right knee replacement in 11/26/02, a left TKR in 8/6/09 , & a 2011 back surgery that gave little benefit, but no harm.

New knees were true godsends that propelled continued physical pursuits including my foreign travel's daily & often demanding, self-guided walkabouts (China's Longi Rice Terrace hike,New Zealand's Stewart Island solo backpacking trip, etc), major  foreign treks (cross, England, Hadrian's Wall, and 600 mile Camino de Santiago trek) well into my 70's (???). 

Sometime in early 70s my prostate PSA numbers started to slowly elevate.  until 2018's PSA numbers hit updated Gleason Scales highest , most danfgerous ahgresssive 5 level.

 After my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands trip, my doctor advised I had a very agressive 5 on the updated Gleason 1-5 Scale.

I immediately underwent a relatively new theraphy involving 3 primary stages: 1)  4-5 weeks of radiation 5 days/week, 2) two Brachy procdures 2 weeks apart, & 3) bi-annual tetesterone suppressing drug injection.

Unfortunately, contrary to doctor's assurances, the cancer therapy, non- prostate complications including the return of my horrible body rash, weakness & incontinence ultimately my domestic & foreign traveled. Very sad because I had thought to travel well into my 80's even if at a lesser intensity.

Life guarantee little,

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

 
III. Ambition:

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:    
In my early 60s, I shifted quickly from construction AND a short USA/Canada road trip TO  … longer N American & foreign trips realizing that someday, for some reason, all my travel would end.

     On my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands return, doctors advised I had the highest level of prostate cancer. Contrary to their assurances, therapy & complications my travell - domestic & foreign ended

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

3. 80's Passion:  yyy

~~~~

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:    
In my early 60s, I quickly transitioned from rental upgrade AND a 1 yearly USA/Canada roadtrip TO …
   …increasingly longer N American & foreign trips as I realized that someday for some reason the "other shoe” must fall & all my travel must come to an end.
     After my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands trip, doctors advised I had the highest level prostate cancer. Contrary to their assurances, cancer therapy, & complications including the return of my horrible body rash, weakness & incontinence  my travell - domestic & foreign ended

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

 IV. Investing:

1. Blunder & Recovery: in My Stock Market    

     In 1999's "Dot.com" “" stock market bubble I lost 1/2+ million $. ,LITERAL:  arrogant, ignorant & foolish!

My Recovery of those Losses:
    A. Property Development: Upgraded & tripled my rental unit's size & income..

A. big blunder

Giant investing mistake. After selling my house & Snake River property next to Grand Teton National Park, for $1.25 dollars, I invested in more rental units and the stock market.

Unfortunately, I knew little about stocks, but was “very full of myself” because I had made so much on sale of my house. I believed I had the Midas Touch. ("Fools rush in where ....")

I bought tech stocks because everyone was in love with the huge, exploding range of innovative, new technologies. Unfortunately, many companies were worthless, sometimes merely a concept, rushed quickly onto the stock exchange so fools like me would throw our money at them.

When the dot.com dot.com  Bubble finally crashed, my stocks lost ½ - ¾ of a million dollars in VALUE. In a panic I sold all my stocks, THEREBY locking in an EVEN greater loss because some tech stocks (Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, eBay, Cisco etc.) Google would ultimately survive & prosper over the next 2 decades, but even had I this insight, I didn't know how to distinguish between the best and the worst Stocks I owned. That was my great level of ignorance. 

Anecdote: My look in the mirror: About 2-3 years later After my blundering 1999 1/2 million $ stock market loss“, I LITERALLY looked in the mirror and I said to myself, "Scott, you are looking at one of the most ignorant, arrogant, foolish investors you have ever known."And then, ... I started laughing. It was so true.

While I had certainly been shaken & frightened to the core,  a GIANT NEW QUESTION NOW LOOMED,  

How do I recoup my great loss? 

Real Estate loss recovery:   

Short Version: A. Property Development: Expanded a rental property unit's number, size & rental income thru continuous 10-12 hrs/day, 6 days /wk for 9 mon over 4 yrs.

Longer Version: 

Fortunately, I had bought an old rental property with part of my log house sale's proceeds; a triplex & duplex, each of which was composed of 2 very old houses cobbeled together.                                
        Typical 'old Jackson Hole, WY.

Anecdote: a hidden opportunity: at some point, it occurred to me that I might expand or develop that property's two buildings to increase rental units #s, space and income, however. my interpretation of Town of Jackson's zoning restrictions on my property seemed to prohibit that.                PIK of Jones Property

Nevertheless, I gained a meeting with the planning department, and my opening words were, "My interpretation of my property's zoning restrictions is that I cannot develop this property any further. I would like you to confirm that property zoning restrictions prohibit my further development."

(Notice: probably 99% of all such discussions are the property owner's lawyer trying to manipulate the Planning Department into approving a quwestionable construction proposal. I , in stark contrast,  was seeking confirmation that I could not develop my property.)

"After a 1/2 hour examination of my property specs & applicable zoning laws, he looked at me & said, "Scott you're wrong. Our restrictions did not anticipate your property. You do have the potential to develop it further." I thanked him profusely and was ecstatic. 

conceptual design and planning for what would become a 3 to 4 year project dominating the end of my 50s and the beginning of my 60s. 10-12 hr days for 5 months.

I immediately contemplating potential ezpansion design<

My prime goal was to add  2nd story to a 40' x 80' building which ordinarily would require tearing the roof of, building the new second floor and then installing a brand new roof.

After some contemplation, it seems ridiculous financially ridiculous to tear off a roof and then put one back on. So I conspired with a house mover to disconnect the existing building from its foundation elevated and stabilize it 9 feet in the air while I built my first floor underneath the second floor and then carefully lowered the second floor and it's existing roof onto the upgraded foundation saving the cost of a brand new roof. The planning department and engineers approved to sign and it was done and completed within the following spring summer and fall.

The second year I gained planning department approval to move a smaller building onto a brand new foundation when the planning department actually initially preferred that I tear down the building the saving that square footage.

Finally, in the third year, I precisely calculated the available square footage for construction that remained designed the building with a modular home construction firm. It was it was installed in one day. Increasing the square footage another 35%.

Over 22 years it has provide incressing rental income. Within the last 2 years 3 very large multistory apartment buiodngs have been directed on either side of me substantially increasing the value of my property for redevelopment.

necessary blueprints required for engineering approval ultimate Building Departmenmt approval.

That winter 

B. Stock Market:  Really? Again? 😀:

Having recouped my dot.com loss with the re- development of my rental units,  I had resumed my usual domestic, Roadtrek RV van domestic travels and limited foreign travels, when,  of course, the 2008 Black Swan "Global Financial Crisis or Great Recession" landed with an unforseen plop scaring all investors most of us able to comprehend its implications.

Fortunately, because my loan loan payments were relatively low compared to my rental units income, I summarily dropped all of my rents several hundred dollars each in order to keep my tenants. Occasionally, I stepped in and financially for gave or supported tenants in particular dire circumstances. 

Slowly n 2008-2009 greater financial confidence begn to emerge from the Great Recession and I said to myself, (I talk to myself a lot.), “Scott, you cannot be so stupid that you cannot learn how to profit in the stock market.”   I vowed to wisely learn how. 

So, relying on Jim Cramer’s, Mad Money, I committed to religiously listening to his daily podcasts & reading his book, " Getting Back to Even."   Over time I realized I was becoming familiar enouigh with his Rules of Investing, stock market terms, duplicity (TV talking heads & guests) , prudence etc. that I could actually understand what he was saying ocassionally before he said it. 

I had what fundamental goal, "preserve my principal". My basic emerging strategy was to focus on the key Cramer duscussed stocks that he continued to endorse and that seemd to reflect his confidence in their ongoing performance. 

Since the tech.com era I have been in enthralled with tech believing that like the telephone the automobile in the airplane and then the computer, etc. check revolutionizes economies, and move mankind forward. I still believe that.

My first fledgling small investment was in Apple, which Cramer admonished hole don't trade. I bought more over the years and have sold none.Apple alone recouped multioes of my dot.com crash loss.

2025 Perspective: while at 85 I may not let live to see it, it's my belief that tech Stocks particularly those in the realms of Kathy Woods, blah blah blah blah blah blah will dramatically grow over the next 5 to 10 years.

II. Health.

Most of my adult life I stayed physically fit with exercise (tennis, jogging (?), hiking, skiing), and a good diet.

Hypocrisy is MY art form expressed with too much Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream and  my early 50s diabetes II diagnosis ending Hagen-Daz & poisonous sugar while religiously taking diabetes drugs.

Even into my 60s, I would make demanding hikes, and mountain bike rides, as well as performing most of the construction trades on my rental properties re-development & maintenance.

However, I continue to have increasingly painful knees and back issues that were subsequently resolved by right knee replacement in 11/26/02, a left TKR in 8/6/09 , & a 2011 back surgery that gave little benefit, but no harm.

New knees were true godsends that propelled continued physical pursuits including my foreign travel's daily & often demanding, self-guided walkabouts (China's Longi Rice Terrace hike,New Zealand's Stewart Island solo backpacking trip, etc), major  foreign treks (cross, England, Hadrian's Wall, and 600 mile Camino de Santiago trek) well into my 70's (???). 

Sometime in early 70s my prostate PSA numbers started to slowly elevate.  until 2018's PSA numbers hit updated Gleason Scales highest , most danfgerous ahgresssive 5 level.

 After my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands trip, my doctor advised I had a very agressive 5 on the updated Gleason 1-5 Scale.

I immediately underwent a relatively new theraphy involving 3 primary stages: 1)  4-5 weeks of radiation 5 days/week, 2) two Brachy procdures 2 weeks apart, & 3) bi-annual tetesterone suppressing drug injection.

Unfortunately, contrary to doctor's assurances, the cancer therapy, non- prostate complications including the return of my horrible body rash, weakness & incontinence ultimately my domestic & foreign traveled. Very sad because I had thought to travel well into my 80's even if at a lesser intensity.

Life guarantee little,

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

 
III. Ambition:

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:    
In my early 60s, I shifted quickly from construction AND a short USA/Canada road trip TO  … longer N American & foreign trips realizing that someday, for some reason, all my travel would end.

     On my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands return, doctors advised I had the highest level of prostate cancer. Contrary to their assurances, therapy & complications my travell - domestic & foreign ended

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

3. 80's Passion:  yyy

~~~~

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:

2. Travel: Foreign & Domestic:    
In my early 60s, I quickly transitioned from rental upgrade AND a 1 yearly USA/Canada roadtrip TO …
   …increasingly longer N American & foreign trips as I realized that someday for some reason the "other shoe” must fall & all my travel must come to an end.
     After my Ecuador & Galapagos Islands trip, doctors advised I had the highest level prostate cancer. Contrary to their assurances, cancer therapy, & complications including the return of my horrible body rash, weakness & incontinence  my travell - domestic & foreign ended

Thanks the gods for all my trip videos.

I must be brutally frank ........ 

In the 50s bio I said it was time for you to "fish or cut bait", if you acted, hopefully, you are physically and financially healthy.

If your financially successful career’s income was prudently/wisely spent AND excess income was wisely invested, OR,  if you became financially literate generating a profitable investment portfolio AND if you stayed healthy, if your marriage endured .... then your 60s through 80s+ are likely to be secure, worry free & with the unlimited opportunity to pursue a new work paths (consulting, online internet business), hobbies, domestic & foreign travel (This is a travel website, after all. 😄)       Yours is the ideal retirement.   Congrats!

At worst, If you wallowed in a financially unrewarding career, if you squandered your earnings on an unnecessarily opulent perhaps unhealthy lifestyle and thus failed to become financially literate & invest profitably, and if you let your body deterioate you are probably in dire straits doomed to scrape by barely surviving on your children’s support or government largess (Social Security & Medicare)  until you cannot.       It was your life; your choice.

The odds at this point of you becoming financially secure in an increasingly expensive world are heavily stacked against you.  You have not lived life’s ‘game’ wisely & you have lost. 

OTOH, if you you tried hard and achieved at least middling financial success,, but we're unable to achieved the financial success you had hoped for, ....  all is not lost. 

Anecdote: Stock Loss Recovery: After having lost at least ½ million dollars in 2000 dot.com stock market crash, my financial recovery in my 60s vastly exceeded my earlier losses. IMO, (2025) in the next 5-10 years will be outstanding. 

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2. Social Connections & Isolation: Career retirement may sever your social connections risking social isolation & loneliness, in turn, sparking an important scramble to establish a new group of friends, most likely also retired. This is doable.

3. Ageism and Discrimination: Age-related discrimination (Ageism) can affect elderly’s employment, housing, healthcare (?), & social interactions. Obviously the less financial secure, the greater possibility of negative effects.

4. Life Transitions & Identity: Career retirement may 1) sever daily contact with longtime fellow employees, 2) create a sense of uselessness cuz no one at work cares/wants or needs your contribution, & 3) if unprepared with rewarding & captivating hobbies you may lack self-worth’s sense of purpose sending you scrambling for new roles, hobbies, and sources of fulfillment. 

A race must be one with every step not just the final few feet. 

5. Opportunities:     OTOH, these 3+ decades offer unique opportunities:1) to share your acquired wisdom & experience (consultant, night or trade school, onoine Youitube tutorials, 2) your personal growth’s pursuit of old & new hobbies, interests, domestic & foreign travel., 3) charitable volunteering, mentoring, & public service offers a quick & rewarding instant gratification & a self-worth/esteem boost.

6. Travel and Exploration: FINALLY!! This a travel website, of course. 😃) SIT (solo independent trave), big bus touring & cruising travel is available to all at various price & fitness levels. Few pursuits offer the astounding advantages & opportunities for personal growth, pleasures, fulfillment & sense of accomplishment at any age and in any physical condition as foreign travel [plk” travel benefits]

SIT (solo independent travel), big bus touring & cruising travel is available to all at various price & fitness levels. FINALLY!! This a travel website, of course. 😃  [pplk: SIT, Resources] [pplk: Big Bus touring] [pplk: Cruising]

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” —Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.