Turning Left in Life

I came across something I wrote 30 years ago, while recovering from a mild heart attack. I had been burning the candle at both ends, too much stress, not eating right, not getting enough sleep or exercise.

Turning Left
(written in January 1996)

We all go through our lives making decisions. From an early age we are taught to do the right thing, by parents, other family members, teachers, and eventually, employers.

Get the right education, job, wife, home, schools for the kids, friends, investment plans, etc.

In the last two decades, the concept of giving your best to your company in exchange for a reasonable income and the security of employment for the duration, has become obsolete. Instead of permanent job security, the 40 plus employee faces an increasing prospect of being replaced by a younger, less experienced, and cheaper employee.

When the break happens, the time to find the next position, is roughly one month for every $10K of original salary. Frequently, the next position is much less secure, and the compensation is lower.

Some individuals are not responding to this condition in the usual “right” manner. Instead of a frantic effort to find a way back to land an equivalent position, these people are turning left. The left turning people are examining ways to provide security for their family that is not dependent on the whims of a bean counter, or a CEO.

The “necessities” of a big house in the right neighborhood, 2 cars, and the other badges of “success” is re-examined and a left turn decision is made to downsize.

The thoughts of downsizing opens several questions for, including:
Since we never caught the Brass Ringe, how much do we “owe” our kids?
Should we maintain our frantic pace in order to build a retirement nest egg, which we may not live to enjoy?
If we downsize, can we live where we want to, instead of where we have to?
What is the value of having more control of my life?
How much “stuff” do we really need?
Do we have to stop working at 65, or can we build a life, based on “working” at what we love, for as long as we are physically able?
What is the value of having time to do non-income producing work or play (volunteering to help make a difference where we choose)?
How much of the total family expenses can be considered deductible?
Can we switch our car, home, and medical insurance polices to high value deductible?
Can we tap the equity in our home to fund our family corporation startup?
Can we learn to work together, maximizing our individual talents?
What assets can we dispose of, in order to build our working capital?
Can our egos stand disconnection from our pre-downsizing lives?
Are we too embedded in this community that we had to live in (friends, family, confort zone, etc.)?
Can we ignore the comments from friends and family, who can't understand how we could consider making a left turn?
Can we withstand the uncertain of living without a guarantee of next month's income stream?

The rewards of living with a left turn philosophy can include:

A life without the mind numbing stress of living without control of my destiny.
The flexibility of controlling my time, even before being retired.
Working hand and hand with your spouse, to build a life where you control your destiny and it's quality.
Discovering that it doesn't take a lot of stuff to be happy.
Freedom from dress codes, and other demands of the corporate world.

The facts of living a left turn life, including:

You will probably never retire.
You won't be living in a big home in the surburbs.
You won't be able to live in high style.
You probably won't be able to bail out your kids when they screw up.
You may not leave much of an estate.
You are going to have to get a Reverse Mortgage if medical expenses or other problems prevent you from generating enough cash flow to get by.
If you run out of money, you're going to have to live off the state, your kids, become an urban camper, or turn to a life of crime (you will get three hots and a cot plus medical if you get caught).
You will have to carefully watch and respect your financial resources.
You will need to be proactive in maintaining your physical and mental health.
You and your spouse will grow closer as you go hand in hand through this adventure called life, with some time to smell the flowers.

In Retrospect
We have spent the last 30 years turning left. There have been good and bad times, and it has been an adventure, with few regrets. We have made our share of mistakes, but, we are living where we want to (near most of the grand-kids), in a comfortable home, and except for a reverse mortgage, we are debt free.

Over the years, since our left turn, we lived on a North Carolina barrier island for seven years, moved back to Northern California (a mistake at the peak of the real estate bubble), moved to Indiana for five years, moved to a retirement community in Southern California for two years, and finally to our present home.

I got my Captain's license, and ran a charter boat for seven years on Bald Head Island. In Evansville, Indiana, I opened and ran a Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop for four years. When I retired for the fourth time in 2010, I started writing, another hobby that had been on the back burner for years. I published my first book in 2012, and currently have 8 books on Amazon.

Kathy started a no-kill cat rescue organization when we lived on Bald Head, after volunteering at a couple of others. Cattails has found forever homes for over 400 cats and kittens every year, since 2004. It is staffed and run entirely by volunteers, and the facility is almost paid for. Today, her passions are our grand-kids, and knitting projects.