I am surprised as everyone that 2018 has come to such a quick conclusion. Not a terrible year, but not a great one either. Made it through another year, one year closer to my future. Not a great year on the stock market, but regardless I was able to save a little money, and I continue to learn and explore.

Next year is 2019. Final year of the second decade of the 21st century. How fast time flies, especially when your in the middle of your life, and everything has come down to a fairly predictable routine. Days become more and more alike, the odd ball things of years past are pretty normal and you now how to address them efficiently with minimal worry. Experience comes with it’s own rewards.

I continue to mature, but I still wear my cowboy hat at times. But I’m no longer in my twenties, and indeed 40 is closer then 30. I can be dead serious, but I like to have some fun sometimes. I still like subversion and listening to old Phil Ochs records, although I don’t attend many political rallies these days. I tell myself it’s because of work, but the truth is I’m more concerned about my future and my limited years left on the planet, not saving society. I believe deeply in conservatism, saving and avoiding waste whenever possible. I mean I’m not into green toilet paper or all that silliness, but I still shy away from take out food, preferring to cook everything myself, and economizing when ever possible.

As the year comes to a close, money is as tight as it’s ever been, although I have been fairly successful, with a nice corner office and a view of the mountains. But I’m trying to whatever I can to save for a better tomorrow, so I can eventually own my own land, some place in the mountains or at least remote country where people won’t bother me and I meet my own needs to greatest extent possible using renewable sources of power.

I’ve learned to have lower expectations of the year. Predictability and normalcy is a good thing, and most things that happened in 2018 could have been seen. I mean I don’t see all that much exciting in the future in 2019, and I think that’s a good thing. Just make it through the year, have some adventures, learn a few new things, read some more books, spend more nights in wilderness with the cowboy hat. Save some more money, get another year closer to retirement and owning my own land, leaving New York in the rear-view.

With careful planning, saving, and investing, I believe 2019 can be a good year.