Well, I’m definitely not purposely trying to depress anyone, so hopefully this helps: I think crypto is too new, and so I think it’s too risky. Everyone I have heard from who has taken the plunge into crypto makes it sound too good to be true (to me) and that reminds me of how every other investment strategy from 401k to gold to a bunker full of canned goods has been portrayed and it just makes me more skeptical. I’m kind of a “plan for the worst and hope for the best” type of person by nature but I’ve probably never been more untrusting of damn near everything than I am now. I don’t have a lot of faith in the government, in “retirement”, in what the future holds for my kids, etc. I can’t flip a switch to turn that off so if it depresses anyone, oh well. As of now, I haven’t found the time to dig as deep into crypto as you. I don’t believe I know anyone, in fact, who has. So my ignorance may be another cause for my skepticism. Currently no switch to turn that off either. I’ve tried, but it’s like trying to learn another language and I just run out of interest and energy I guess.
I am somewhat tantalizingly close to being debt free, and for now (with my U.S. dollars) that is my first goal…to be debt free at least for a moment in time. Maybe then I will have the ability to put money elsewhere and more willingly roll the dice. I guess at that time whatever the current state of affairs is will push me in some direction. Through work, I have been surrounded by people who unfortunately get sick and/or die long before they ever see retirement age. They exhaust all of their financials, all of their plans, all of themselves. Undoubtedly that has had an effect on my willingness to take what I perceive to be financial risks for the future. I have never heard any of those unfortunate folks say they wished they would have saved more, invested more, etc. They all say they wish they’d have done more while they had the chance…with their family, with their kids, for strangers, even just for themselves. Believe me, I understand you can’t go through life without a plan because you are expecting to get sick and die. I’m just saying it has certainly had an impact on me. Likewise, I'm not going to live my life dooms day prepping for a catastrophic nuclear war, a civil war, or a total tyrannical US government nor will I pretend that any of those; or at least an attempt at any of those is a complete impossibility. If I knew where the world was going, I'd be the most prepared guy out there, but like everyone else, I DON'T, so like everyone I guess I trudge on making assumptions and drawing conclusions (with my tinfoil hat?)
So while I work towards maybe soon being money ahead for the first time in my life with a wife and three young kids that I love more than anything, my plan is to diversify our future with a LOT of memories (which is what keeps me going and gets me out the door every day...seriously), along with a sprinkle of guns and ammo, a little bit of land, and who knows…maybe with some sort of unforeseen heaping load of good fortune, one day my perception of the world going to hell in a hand basket will change, I will find time to read up on the latest and greatest retirement venture and get my self all set up for the day I no longer have to work two jobs.
I don’t know if this post is any more uplifting than my first, but it is my attempt to explain that I am who I am and also why I feel how I do about crypto. Absolutely no reason for you or anyone to give a shit about it, but just adding context to my grumpy, depressing stance. But the convo is about crypto, so at the very least me being me (nothing but a stupid, ignorant, argumentative g-damn moron is some people's eyes I suppose) allows other folks to educate everyone who is still on the fence.
I’m all about silver linings.