Ugh, have reason to believe that I will be laid off in a couple months (company downsizing). I guess better to know in advance than be blindsided, but I really hate the job search/networking process. (Although once I get over the self-consciousness of trying to reconnect with people, I usually love the actually catch-up conversations).
Fortunate to have a very comfortable cushion. Some rules of thumb might even claim I could retire early, but that’s likely with a low margin for error and no way is my risk-averse brain there yet. Almost certainly at “CoastFI” though, which should reduce the stress level, but again, not how my brain works. I’m always thinking about worst case scenarios. Like if we’re at a market peak, etc. If we hadn’t just taken in a cat, I’d actually consider going abroad to some cheap countries for 6-12 months.
Anyway, just needed to “vent” as part of my coping, despite fully realizing I’m in a rather privileged position.
How the Super-Rich Signal Their Wealth to Each Other
Gauche display is out. The .1% use a subtler set of cues and signifiers to mark their place on the totem pole.
What are some of these “subtler cues,” you ask?
The most straightforward symbols start with watches. One Wall Street macher explained, “You see a gold Rolex Daytona, that’s one thing. You see a Patek Perpetual and you say to yourself, OK, this guy’s playing a different game .”
When you can wrangle people to your abode, serve a tub of Ossetra caviar with Lay’s potato chips. Place it out like guacamole on the coffee table.
To signal that your NetJetting days are over, you might drop into conversation with a sigh, “We’ve got to find a new pilot.”
Trying to look for positives in light of the election results, and I think I’ve found one:
As a public school employee in Ohio, I do not currently pay into Social Security, nor am I earning credits towards Social Security. That’s kind of strange, and I’m not sure whether it’s a good/bad/neutral deal. But I am pretty sure that the incoming administration is hankering to cut Social Security benefits, and I wouldn’t be as harmed by that particular choice as I would be in a normal job. So, selfishly, I guess that’s a positive thing.
