Differently able

When I got married, I told my wife of my goal of making monthly investments until we retire. She could not comprehend why we needed to literally stuff our calendar with some form of forced savings, then I shared with her the idea of "sacrificing now in order to have more tomorrow." Well, it has been almost nine years since, I would like to believe that I have been successful in persuading her.

I did not have much growing up, but I did not find the need to compensate when I became able. Frugality has been a friendly virtue from the day I started working. I learned to be content and happy with what was on the table. Until now, I try to live within my means. My only extravagance are the seeds that I used as capital in some so-so ventures that I have engaged myself in. Still, the mission remains the same: planning for retirement.

I am happy to be living a simple life with my family; they make me whole. Things that we can afford, we choose not to afford. My wife knows that her occasional slip in thought will never materialize, unless she swipes her plastic and pays for it herself. Likewise, my lapses here and there have remained just ideas. Anyway, we have been good so far, no void that needs artificial filling.

Going back, I think our investment horizon is clear.

The year that will be

I am looking forward to a very busy year ahead. In addition to what has already been keeping me preoccupied, quite a couple of revenue generating opportunities are in the pipeline. Hopefully, they all prove to be profitably worthwhile. No overdrafts for a change.

The first order of the day is to reorganize a five year old company. Changes in ownership and management are being formalized in preparation for a project early this year. After more than a year of negotiations, our efforts have finally paid off. Persistence-fatigue almost caught up on us. Good thing we persevered.

Also, we are looking at organizing something offshore. For this particular venture, credibility and shelter from taxes are top priorities, thus the need to go offshore. The only area of deliberation is whether to use an existing company as the legal vehicle to hold the interests abroad. With diligent marketing, the business has a lot of potential.

In another related development, reviving a recently dormant undertaking could be another item as there is a client-in-waiting. As a matter of fact, we have turned down prospects. Success here hinges on the progress of the world economy, which as of yet is in the pits. We do not want to just throw the dice. We will patiently wait.

Wedding bells are ringing. Ouch! I have gone through this before and to do it all over again is monotonous! Kidding aside, my marriage needs some serious blessing. If ever, a very simple exchange of vows would do, maybe no more guests. We are doing it for us anyway, not for anyone else. No concrete plans yet, but it will happen. My old dress shirt is still good.

To those who are not in the know, the abovementioned opportunities may sound great. Okay, okay, apart from the wedding bells. With any luck, 2009 does more than just sound great. I would be happy if only to pay off some bills. I will keep you posted.

Never drive alone

Why do I hate driving? The heavy traffic, undisciplined motorists, and roads-unworthy draw my ire. I must admit, I am not the most pleasant human being when I am behind the wheel. I would not even want to get into a road altercation with myself, if only to give you an idea of how obnoxious of a driver I could be.

The case has somewhat mellowed though, not that I have changed as a person nor did I give up driving altogether. Alone as I often am on the road, all of a sudden, I learned how to invite good company, something that I have carelessly forgotten for most of my life. Once again, I found serenity in the company of prayer.

I still do not enjoy taking the wheel, but I look forward to the quiet time alone. The once short commutes that felt like eternity are just about enough for me to say my prayer. If I felt alone before, not anymore. I only wish God enjoys my company as much as I enjoy His.

Southern family hideaway

For the last couple of years, my family would spend our December holidays with my in-laws. It was no different this year, except for some missing members of the entourage who had to fly out on business. How sad.

My in-laws' southern hideaway is a 30-minute drive on the freeway from our place, something I consider a long drive. Admittedly, I easily get bored behind the wheel. Moreover, speeding with my family onboard worries me. If not for the commute, every week could be a vacation.

The place is far for from regal, no mansion whatsoever. What makes it magnificent though is that it is home. It is where I feel like I am back to being a child again. I would not trade it for a million bucks. Oops, on second thought, let me reconsider. Seriously, there is no better place.

It will surely be the same next year: at home with family.

Unfit for employment

The security of a steady paycheck has never been my motivation. While I may have had a 16-month stint as an employee, I was self-employed all of my life. I did not have the luxury of a family business to dabble with; I just thought differently.

Being on the payroll helped me launch my career as a consultant and trying-to-be entrepreneur. Unlike some who would get the scare of their life on the idea of losing their jobs, I was fearless. Against the opinions of my mom and aunt, the two most important women in my life then, I took on self-employment and never turned back.

As an employee, I spoke my mind. Tact, diplomacy, or whatever you want to call it, was not my greatest virtue. I was the worst player to engage in corporate politics. Good thing I did not stay long; otherwise, I would have hurt more feelings.

Just a few years ago, in a consulting job, I was exposed again to the game that I did not want to play: office politics. If I was a total stranger to the client, I would have been branded as difficult. Fortunately, they knew me well as someone who stood firm on principles, and they bet on it successfully.

I am not an honorable man, but I want to keep whatever principles I have left intact. With such attitude known to me since the day I held a time card, I knew then that I was not fit to be an employee.

Marriage tripod

"Until death do us part" is a solemn vow; however, it is not good enough for me. As odd as I am, I included supplemental conditions that would lay the foundation of my marriage like a tripod. Long story short, my wife agreed; hence, the start of her agony. Just kidding.

Death will come like a thief in the night. While we can prepare for it by doing good, we do not have control over it. I just pray that God lets me go first; He knows very well that I will find it more painful than death to continue to exist without my wife.

I am not the greatest son in the world, but I promised to give up my marriage if my wife disrespects my parents. Fortunately, Shiela is a true daughter that my mom has gained. I can die tommorrow confident that my wife will look after my mom.

Lastly, cheating is something that I cannot tolerate, there will definitely be no second chances.

Looking back to school

I would describe my student life as irresponsible. My faculties were not limited; in fact, I was capable of excelling at will. Motivation was the missing link. I even remember logging 37.5 days of absence from class in my senior year, another half-day and I would have ended up missing my graduation rites.

As a kid often away from school, I missed a lot, from lectures to recitations to quizzes. Fortunately, when needed, I could rely on my untapped intellect to pull through. When my mind was into school, it was really there.

Looking back, I regret not having pushed the limits of my potential. Although education and success are not always synonymous, education certainly has its advantages.