Can you be financially independent

I find it inspirational that some people achieve financial independence fast and much younger than me. Yes, I frequently feel stupid due to what I had not known and what I had not done in the past.

Can I change this? No, therefore, I will not dwell on the past.

Here is a new source of inspiration, a podcast about millionaires. Can I achieve what these people have achieved? Again - no!

First, I am already too old. Second, I do not have their income. Third, I have obligations to people I love.

But sooner or later, I know that I can secure a minimum level of finances that can carry me on till I die. I have quite minimal expectations and requirements.

My best case scenario is to put another four years of work and then retire, and do something FUN! I hope that in four years I will still have the spark for life. Despite the warnings of many that I need a good plan for my retirement years, my only plan would be to not have a plan.

Within the next four years, however, multiple plans would run concurrently. The major goal would be to save as much as possible of my income and invest only if the market goes down and I have sufficient cushion of cash. At present, my cash is paltry.

The only problem in surviving the next four years is my attitude. I need to work mostly on my sanity and stay focused on the goal rather than on the daily drama at work.

I also need to re-start my kitchen experiments and post a few failures or triumphs.

My only mantra these days is "This too shall pass".