Financial Freedom

I've been interested in the financial world since about age 16, when I first picked up a book called "Smart Couples Finish Rich" (by David Bach). Since then, the concepts of saving, investing, passive income, and financial freedom have captured my imagination.

I think a lot of us forget to dream big sometime between being kids and growing up. But recently I've realized that I have at least one extra reason for dreaming big in the financial domain. Aside from any dreams of worldwide travel, world-changing philanthropy, or whatever it is that captures your imagination, I personally have a totally selfish but important reason to be financially independent, and that reason is my health.

For me, the possibility of not having to work (because my passive income would cover my expenses) creates an enormous relief, one that can feed back into calm and relaxation that would translate into being healthier. Now, that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to work; quite the contrary. But I would like to have the option of not working as a viable one.

That doesn't mean I already know how to get there. But I most certainly want to learn.

That's why I've been interested in expanding my financial horizons. I've done a lot of reading in the field but I think it's time to up the stakes. I've been investing in the stock market for a few years now, but I believe it's time for me to learn more about how people truly achieve passive income towards the goal of financial freedom. I intend to attend several courses by people who have "done it", which CashFlow club Israel actually gives. We'll see how that goes...

P.S. Like many other people, I read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. I liked it although I felt it was a bit exaggerated, and not clear enough on details. Couldn't put my finger on what was wrong until yesterday, when writing this post, I came across this analysis of the book. I highly recommend it for any Kiyosaki reader. A true eye-opener about the book and author. While I appreciate Kiyosaki's ability to motivate, there are downsides to being over-motivated, especially if you get to the point of brazenly taking dangerous risks. I admit I came dangerously close to this, but happily had some sense to take a deep breath and think about it.

And I'm off!

Off to see the wizard... umm, not really.
Off to... the Wonderful US of A!

Where I have booked tickets to Broadway show "The Little Dog Laughed", and a Mika concert. Sweet! And cheap! Also intend to book tickets for Lenny Kravitz. He rocks. And that's just in Boston. I haven't even looked at shows in NYC and Philly yet! Dear me.

Gonna have a blast, but a very cooooold blast. I packed my warmest. Haven't been to Boston in the winter since the infamous elections, winter 2000-2001. Brrr, just thinking about the snow makes me cold. But a happy kind of cold!

My flight leaves at 5:30 AM Israel Time. I decided to stay up until then. Staying at my sister's meanwhile (closer to the airport). Had a lot of fun putting my neice Carmel to sleep. We are just crazy about each other! She's so much fun.

Gonna see me some old friends in Boston, oh yes. Some of them I saw the previous spring but some haven't seen since that infamous '01. I'll try to get back in touch with a few good-olds.

Gonna buy me some high quality books, oh yes. Robin Hobb's second and third from er newest series. Maybe some other stuff, some Scott Orson Card - they are difficult to find in Israel. Maybe whatever's on sale and looks good.

Gonna buy me some good music, I think, if it's cheap enough. Maybe some art supplies. Definitely some medicinal creams, but that's for my other blog. Possibly some lego (that'll be cheap enough, for sure).

The dollar is super-cheap compared to the shekel, and I'm ready to rock. And roll.

I'll just have to roll my suitcase all the way back home... yeesh!

Reading Asimov

I've been rereading the Asimov books I own and have decided it's high time to read the entire Foundation/Robots/Empire series. It's a huge black hole in my SciFi reading. I've read some of the books, mostly by the order in which I found them in book stores and friend's shelves. So Robots and Empire and Prelude to Foundation, which are about the middle of the series chronologically but were published among the last of Asimov's books, were my first. I've read I, Robot a long time ago and got interested in the other Robot novels, but it's all very sporadic.

Happily enough, for me at least, Asimov was pretty sporadic himself when it came to continuity and inner congruity. I mean, Robots and Empire refers to Daneel as Han Fastolfe's creation of the ideal Spacer, when Caves of Steel clearly labels him as a mirror image of his creator, you know, the dead guy whose death they investigate (I could look it up, but, well... who cares, he is very dead right from the start).

I like Elijah Baley very much, and Daneel is definitely my favorite character. Gladia I can stand, although her mood-swings are annoying sometimes. Robots of Dawn is sorely missing from my repertoire to understand these guys, and I'm gonna grab it from the library tomorrow. Hari Seldon was great in Prelude to Foundation but totally (though obviously) obnoxious in Foundation. I guess I need to read the books in the middle for a better picture. As for the Empire itself, it is as yet pretty much a mystery to me, but hopefully that'll change soon.

It's worth mentioning that my first Asimov book an as yet still my favorite one, is Nightfall (the book, w/Silverberg, not the short story which I haven't read yet). Mmmm it's good. Siferra, Theremon, Beenay and the gang really make that world alive for me. Plus the concept and the dilemma itself is just awesome.

To sum it up - Asimov rocks.

Final note - I've been suspiciously absent from this blog, but I hope to change that from now on.