Being a beach bum has its advantages.
The Rat Race trains us from an early age: Go to school, borrow money to pay for college, graduate and get a good paying six-figure cubicle gig so you can afford to buy a big SUV and McMansion in the city so you can live close to your job you need to pay all the debt you incurred paying for college and buying the house and big SUV…
One day if you’re a good boy you can retire a millionaire (on paper!) and have enough money to live the good life and hang out on the beach. Assuming you haven’t developed ulcers, cancers, aches and pains the sedentary cubicle life brings with it preventing you from enjoying what’s left of your life
The Beach Bum, on the other hand, poopoo’d all that.
Despite his lack of education and credentials, the bum took the short cut to the sand and sun.
Instead of slaving away in the cubicle mines, contributing to the 401k, and being a good YES MAN for 30 years, the beach bum decided at a young age to live now.
No boss
No debt
No worries
Yet every day the bum lives like he is a millionaire. Fishing, surfing, waves, sand, surrounded by beautiful busty senioritas… That’s the Millionaire Life as far as I’m concerned.
Of course there are tradeoffs.
Unlikely the bum has much of a family.
Me, personally, I am splitting the difference.
I have the cubicle gig and I’m exhausted from the Rat Race. But I’m no longer playing by the Rat Race rules.
I’m not being a YES MAN hoping for a promotion.
Not buying the McMansion.
And I certainly ain’t paying up for a new SUV. We’re good with two free and clear old reliables.
All the money we’re saving goes into the Wealthy Bastard portfolio – and it is growing like crazy the past few years. The escape hatch is near. Instead of putting in overtime to please the managers on the third floor, I’ve used my time to educate myself and master my investments. Working for myself has had a much better return.
Now, I’m not living on the beach like my fellow bums. (Yet)
But I am experiencing a Million Dollar Morning.
I’m a firm believer in Paying Yourself First – DAILY Ideally first thing in the morning.
When I’m on point, I notice my days are much more productive, fulfilling, and less stressful. Probably a lot like our beach bum.
For me, this is what works:
- Wake up SOBER. This means, no alcohol or sugar the night before (sugar is just as hard on your liver as alcohol. Sorry! It’s biology)
- Get early sunlight. About the time Venus is visible is always good for me.
- Phantom Jump ropes, outdoors, watching the horizon
- Farmer Burns breathing exercises and the Wi Ju meditation exercise (these are courses I bought from the great Matt Furey years ago)
This all takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It is a terrific wake up calibration that gets blood flowing, mind racing, and the feel good hormones pumping.
- Reading, meditation, journal time.
- Feed the chickens. Talk to the chickens. Ponder. (Yes, we have chickens in the city) Water the Zinnias, Dahlia’s, and Celosia’s
- Review goals and the days action plan using Theater of the Mind methods.
- Brief 15-20 minute exercise outdoors or in my garage
That seems like a lot, don’t it?
It is.
In all, if I really pokey around, takes nearly two hours.
But for me, this is a daily investment I make in myself, my family, and my homestead. No amount of Rat Racing or Boss Pleasing will pay off more than getting to see the sunrise every day and give my children a hug when they wake up.
Perhaps you think the Rat Race hustle is worth it. If you do, God bless you. Unlikely you’ll be hanging around these parts long…
But if you want to carry along with me on the Beach Bum plan… I’ll see ya tomorrow!
Duke Longrod