I don’t value time enough

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I wonder if I don’t value time enough ⏳

I often wonder if I don’t value time enough. A common saying at work is you can always get more money but not more time. I am at the mid point of my life but I really find myself willing to prioritize money over time in search of a better tomorrow.

Money isn’t just a number in a bank or investment account. It’s not a Rolls-Royce or a fancy in-ground pool. It can be purchase used manure spreader. Or buy the land, the homestead, the tractor, implements and the livestock. It has some uses today but saved and invested much greater returns tomorrow. While there is no guarantee of tomorrow, it’s a risk I’m willing to take, as I have faith in the future, and the longer I wait the better tomorrow will be.

I admit that I sometimes go towards extremes to save a few bucks – consuming a lot of my limited time. But sometimes that time wasn’t going to get used at any rate. I forgo other things now that I might never get a chance to experience. But maybe it wasn’t something that I wanted after all. Investing, including in your future involves risk.

But also, I am no fan of outsourcing the necessities of life. Okay, I no longer change my own oil on my truck but that because it became such a problem to get the filter off the truck with all the caked on mud and dispose of the oil living in the suburbs. But I’d much rather cook my own food, camp in the wilderness rather than go to a restaurant or hotel. I’d rather haul my own bottles and cans to the transfer station.

You can pay people for nearly everything in your life today. You can pay for people to buy your groceries and clothing, haul your trash away, give you a ride around town – all things that save you time. But sometimes saving money is more important, and you have free time to spare in the present that otherwise would be wasted.

Route 8

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Rough road says the sign along the way. Eleventh Mountain and the hamlet of Oregon (no development) in the distance.

Taken on Sunday December 5, 2010 at East Branch Sacandaga River.

Thomas Mountain View

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The view from the Thomas Mountain Cabin, overlooking Cat Mountain, Lake George and surrounding lands.

In September, the United States was at its lowest coal stockpiles since 1978 – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

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In September, the United States was at its lowest coal stockpiles since 1978 – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Because of less coal consumption as well as coal capacity retirements over the past three years, the days of burn of U.S. coal remain within the typical range, even though total stocks are low. For bituminous coal plants, largely located in the eastern United States, the average number of days of burn was 88 days in September, a slight increase from the 86 days of burn recorded in August. The average number of days of burn for subbituminous units, most of which are in the western United States, was 82 days in September 2021.

Given the long-term trend of declining coal consumption, many U.S. mines have begun to close. Reduced production capacity and supply chain disruptions have created some concerns about the ability of coal-fired generators to replenish stockpiles to last through the winter (October–March).

Electric grid operators are closely monitoring coal inventories this winter. PJM, the grid operator for the largest electric system in the United States, instituted temporary changes to rules governing minimum inventory requirements to provide more flexibility for coal-fired generators, given low stockpiles at some plants and supply chain disruptions.