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Don't get too excited

Living Beyond Our Means

1/15/2019

1 Comment

 
This is not a political entry--far from it. This is a statement as to how we have been living as a nation.

This is the National Debt Clock. Pay special attention to the number (the big one that is spinning out of control) in the middle on the bottom. That is the unfunded national debt.  $122 trillion. (This is the debt that includes Soc. Sec. and Medicare obligations) If you look to the right of that number--there is your portion. As of this writing it stands at $998,000.00. Almost a cool million for every taxpayer. 

The total gross domestic product--our nations output for a year is around $19 trillion. If we were to balance the budget today and start paying down the debt with interest--it would take us around 50 to 60 years to pay the debt off. 

So what to do with this information. It is a little like being on a runaway train--the hope is that we don't run out of track. We look at the economies of Chile and Argentina and think that could never happen to us--we are too responsible. Yet these numbers don't lie and the truth is they are probably going to get a lot worse.  There are one or two babyboomers (taxpayers) that might want to retire--soon.

At some point in the future--maybe near future--when it comes time to vote on raising the debt ceiling--we as a nation are going to have to focus on our $122 trillion in obligations rather than the policy dujour. 

When your digging yourself into a deeper hole--the first order of business is to put down the shovel.

J
1 Comment

Lines of Demarcation

1/8/2019

2 Comments

 
The Collins dictionary defines a line of demarcation as a separation between things deemed to be distinct. On a land map there could be a line of demarcation signifying the separation between the Mountain and Piedmont regions. On our nautical maps there are lines at 3 miles and at 12 miles that separate regions where different laws apply. Commercial fisherman are well aware of the lines and the harsh penalties that can apply for breaking the rules.  

I often look at the timeline of my life and identify lines of demarcation. Leaving for college, getting a job--marriage and family just to name a few. The latest line crossed is the empty nest. It is a very different world--last week, I organized my sock drawer--first time ever. 

Now there seems to be some time--time to think about what is next.  

I am not sitting on some great precipice of change or a midlife crisis--at 52 I think I have sailed past the midlife line of demarcation--as I know few people 104.

As I move forward I've been thinking about two things--Active hope and passive hope.

Passive hope is something we all easily do--I hope the weather will be sunny--I hope that the economy continues to do well--Active hope--that is the tough one. Active hope is visualizing a point in the future and what is in that space and being the boss of your current life to make the moves that point you toward your destination.

I hope there is a sailboat in my future--what am I actively doing today to fulfill that hope? 

There is plenty of work to be done. With a little luck and good health --there is a chance. For a very long time I thought that my life would not be complete if it didn't happen--now its OK if it doesn't.  This isn't a cop out--it is an understanding that I have had it pretty darn good and that sailing through life in a cottage on Shore Drive is a fulfilled hope.

Fair Winds,

J



2 Comments

    Author

    My name is Jim.  I work at the IGA--I am a long time lover of all things Topsail.

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