Since 2006 I have been reading FIRE blogs. The first one I remember reading was Get Rich Slowly by J.D. Roth.   Followed by Early Retirement Extreme, and the infamous Mr. Money Mustache, and many more.

With blogs I feel like I got to know the people behind the words.   Their writing lets me see behind the curtain of their thoughts and that allows me to get to know them somehow.  That some sort of “one way friendship” emerges. They were voices I relate to. They were comforting.  They help me on my own journey.  I become a silent part of their community.

I still enjoy reading blogs almost 20 years later.  I admit I am old school and one of those guys that really use to enjoy reading a newspaper cover to cover on the weekend.  Now its checking on my favorite blogs.

Many of the blogs I follow have died out.  Many bloggers have retired from their normal careers and once they do their life changes.  When their life changes blogging becomes less important and for many they simply stop blogging and just fade away. 

 People have also moved to producing and consuming material as a podcast or on Youtube.  With a podcast or video I can tune out and not really think. It is more passive for me somehow then a written article.

Reading makes me focus on the content more. At my own speed.  The info goes in deeper and lasts longer.  I enjoy podcasts but I still find blogs more thought provoking.

There is still a space for blogs. I appreciate the blogs where the writing captures you, where it makes you think, where it entertains you.  I reread blogs that strike a cord for me months or even years after they were written. They still ring true. 

Why did I start writing blog?  Is it a way of thinking?  Does it help align my thoughts in my own head?  I would argue that it is  yes and no.

I think writing slows down our thoughts. So we can analyze them with a different part of our brain.   What writing does do is let us see our thoughts as they move around. Writing my thoughts down has always been a good way to pause and to let ideas breath.  To actually think instead of being on autopilot.

For me going back to read something I wrote is like a time machine.  It not only reflects what was going on in my life at that time but it reflects what I was thinking.  A snap shot of time with emotions tied to it. Tough to do with a picture. 

As I approach my FIRE date I feel I should add to the shrinking number of blogging voices.  I have gotten so much education and joy from blogs that I hope the space continues to thrive. The only way to do that is to contribute to it.

I want to be a more active part of the community in whatever way that develops.  Because in retirement I do know it is about your tribe, your community, and I have been part of this one for a long time without really knowing I was.

My path to FIRE is not filled with Unicorns and rainbows. I have made many mistakes and continue to make many more. I hope to write about them. To show people that it is normal.

I write this for me. As Self Therapy in a way .

I am putting this into the blogosphere as a way for to me to hopefully help others with whatever retirement struggle they have.  To talk about it.  It is easier for me to share my thoughts with writing then to do it verbally. 

Talking to yourself is fine when its writing. Talking to yourself in public not so good  

Join me as I fight through my final year(s) to retirement