Setting up key word alerts in your profile is also extremely helpful.Sounds like you need to rethink your aversion to debt to take advantage of the deals you are finding, and/or find a partner who wants to invest out of state and can bring cash.Rentometer.com may help with rents, but I find that cruising Craigslist once a week for my neighborhood is the best way to get accurate market rents.  

I would like to take one of the cruises up the amazon

Cruise through the area during the day.

You wouldnt have to call , the tenants would have a sticker on their front and rear window , When the tow company cruises by and sees a car without the sticker .

You have all these people out there who are constantly beset on all sides by scammers posing as the IRS, Microsoft, Carnival Cruises, you name it, all these people fumbling around until they trick some poor sap into forking over their social security number.

So you never intend to be able retire on the beach or enjoy cruising, because you will be too busy still putting in that hard work - until you die?...

Are there websites or ways that a person could search for REI-related conferences/cruises/etc happening around the US/world?

Hopefully in exchange for networking and learning.Got preapproval from one lender, finished application with another.Had 2 agents set me up on automatic email alerts for plexes, foreclosures, etc.Listened to podcast 29 and others and got inspired to check out peer to peer lending.Placed CL ads for my websiteReceived a book on inspecting homes and cruised halfway through the book.Followed the local newspaper on the growth of the F/M areaSaw one duplex with Realtor, haven't put in offer...Dang... that felt good.

If I die that gives my wife a very good income base and huge amounts of equity to cruise through retirement.

We like to cruise..