RE goals- early retirement. Part 2

[Rich Weese]

I like to share personal experiences on BP, rather than all this concept stuff that is often posted. My info is first hand. Either I've done it on seen it done. This is to follow up on just how easy retirement can be and not expensive, depending on how and where you want to spend your retired time.

How would you like to play golf every day for about $5 per day, multiple rounds? If you don't want to walk, $2 per day for a RIDING cart. For about $7 per day, golf 18, 36 or 54 holes!! I did this for several summers.

The Course is gorgeous, lush and green. The temps are 70 Degrees, roughly EVERY DAY. Did I mention this was a Country Club ?

For several years, I belonged to Redwood Empire Golf and Country Club. It also has a Pool for the fam. (speaking of the family, the rate I quoted was a TOTAL rate and includes my wife!!) This is located on the Redwood Coast of Cal, in Fortuna, 25 miles south of Eureka. Now you think, there is the catch, country Club membership!!

The normal membership fee is $1500, one time! They give EVERYONE a 50% discount! $750 and your family is a member for life. The monthly fee was $160 last time I was there and the cart was $60 per month. There are less than 500 members. I NEVER had tee time problems and always was able to get on. Huge pine trees, lakes and good contour. A nice challenging course.

If you have an RV, there is a highly rated RV park with store, pool and spa for sore muscles after 3 rounds of golf. The park is on the side of a large river with great walking trails. The monthly fee is about $500 per month.

So, here is another beautiful way to spend a year or more for very little money. Once you have a rig, your monthly expenses are WELL under $2000 per month. The RV park was Riverwalk, and there is gorgeous scenery everywhere. Giant Redwood state parks, the EEL River out your front door, the CA coastline, Oregon coast 100 miles away, and vintage National historic towns to stroll through.

A very relaxing way to go. I also played on 2 county softball teams, one Over 50 and one over 55 league. I was a stud on over 55 and got killed on the over 50! I still have dents on my shins to prove it.

This was a wonderful way to spend time. Chased the deer off the course every morning. Took a mulligan if I wanted. This was as much fun as you could have for next to free. The Club even allowed you to put your membership on "vacation" for a few months if you went away and you didn't have to pay any dues.

Man, when I think about this, I wonder , what the heck am I doing in FL? If you desire more info, reply or e-mail. I just don't want you to feel retirement is not possible for you. It doesn't take much money, if you are willing to look around.

Other benefits of this lifestyle?

1. Kids can't come back home!

2. When you visit them, you can stay in your own rig and leave when you want

3. More flexibility in staying as long or short in one place as you want.

4. You may select any place you want as your "home". I call this a "domicile", and mine is South Dakota (lots of reasons!)

Part 3 will explain how to cut LOTS of your expenses and TAXES with this lifestyle. It'll be short but very powerful. Possible to save THOUSANDS annually with just one little trick. If this interests you, let me know. Rich

[Eddie Ziv]

Originally posted by Harvie Arington:

You know Rich, the main reason I'm interested in real estate investing is for retirement. I'm 40 now but I don't want to work a JOB for another 30 years so I can retire just before I die. I also don't trust the stock market. My wife and I have talked about buying an RV and traveling the country when the kids are grown ( the youngest is 2). My goal is to "retire" while the kids are still kids and enjoy them while I can. What I'm trying to say is thank you for bringing up this topic. Reading about this helps keep me focused on our goals.

Harvie

Harvie,
I think your terms are wrong. You are not looking for retirement. You are looking for financial independence. There is nothing wrong about having a "Job". The trick of financial independence is to allow you to choose your job which would be your passion and not your necessity. Although you may not be a spring chicken, you are still young to follow your passion... Retirement is ... well, it is for old people...