Tomorrow and beyond
Where do I see myself in 3,4,5 years from now? To be entirely honest, it’s not something I’ve thought about a great deal. I have no neatly etched plan for my future, and I haven’t any more than the slightest inkling where I want to take my life. There was a time, not too long ago, where I had formed the determination to focus entirely on financial independence by learning all I could about saving and investing, and implementing what I learned so that eventually the money I had invested would generate enough interest to provide a comfortable, if not luxuriant, annual income. This would free me to dedicate my time to whatever I should choose, be it activism, travel and adventure, literature, charity, my hobbies, or more likely, some healthy combination of the above.
I had put together a financial wall-chart, tracking my earnings and my expenditures, as well as the interest from my investments, with the idea that when the line of interest crossed the line of income – “The Crossover Point” – I’d be free, being vulnerable only to the most drastic downturn in the stockmarkets. Then I started to do some math. Assuming the markets returned roughly 8%-12% annually, a very reasonable assumption given the average rate of return for the past century or so, I’d need in the neighbourhood of $750 000 invested to generate an annual income of $60 000 – $90 000. Taking into account the power of compound interest, and not having a calculator capable of doing the exponential functions necessary for this calculation, it would take perhaps 20-30 years to save up this amount. Would it be worth working my tail off to save up this amount? Yes, from the perspective of having a secure and comfortable retirement. However, the prospect of dedicating the years of my youth almost entirely to work and not having the opportunity to travel or participate in all the activities (sports, yoga, vegan cooking, camping/bike trips, music, community involvement, and just plain hanging out) that interest me is rather daunting.
Additionally, after putting $1 600 into an RRSP in 2006, I began to contemplate the ethical nature of these sorts of investments. The mainstream stock market, and I’d be investing primarily in mutual funds, is in large part responsible for the environmental crisis facing our society. Most companies held in mutual funds are not companies I feel comfortable investing in. Even the emerging and blossoming field of Socially Responsible Investing, or SRI, isn’t really satisfactory – more often than not, if you dig into the companies held by some of the bigger SRI firms, you still find that they’re investing in not so green oil and gas firms, big financial institutions, and others of that ilk. What’s really needed to green up our economy is local investment – investment in smaller, locally owned companies with good business philosophy and a firm commitment to sustainability – companies you’ll have a hard time finding held by the large mutual fund companies, and also companies unlikely to return large dividends.,
Perhaps the mainstream economy isn’t for me. I’m starting to realize that my path is much more closely aligned with operating principles such as co-operative housing and sustainable, organic, agriculture. With such ideas as the Yarrow Ecovillage, or the Windsong Co-operative in Langley, as well as the Glen Valley Organic Farm. All of these are innovative, leading edge operations which epitomize my concept of a re-tooled sustainable economy which transcends conventional economics. Being as involved with Rail for the Valley activism as I am, and knowing that the line, if restored, would go right past Yarrow, perhaps becoming a member of the Yarrow Ecovillage co-operative is the way to go, and it’s something I’m considering very seriously. Being in the construction phase now, just being involved and helping with the unfolding plans would be a worthy experience in itself.
Three years from now I definitely see myself holding some sort of a degree, though lately I’ve been waffling and straying from my Geography path, really enjoying my English and Psychology classes. Double major? Geog. Major, English minor? I even hold studying at UBC, SFU, or some other university offering a more complete campus experience as a lofty, pie-in-the-sky pipe dream. Perhaps I ought not to characterize it that way. If that’s what I really want to do, well, I’m sure I could find a way to make it happen. I’m burdened, however, with familial responsibilities and financial constraints – I’m not interested in being so financially crimped that I’m unable to fully focus on studies. The more I consider it, the more I feel that UCFV is the place to finish my degree.
I suppose that at this point in time, my most pressing goals are a) to see more of the world – do some travelling, and b) meet new people, establish relationships, and explore myself through them. Though perhaps I could do a better job of maintaining the relationships I do have.
On the whole, three or more years from now, I see myself as a much more well-rounded person, having explored my artistic and spontaneous sides. Perhaps I live in a sustainable community with like-minded people, a community that offers such attractions as a community garden, energy efficient building style, easy access to public transit, a library and bookstore, co-operative daycare, an inclusive and accessible theatre, music, and dance program housed at an arts centre. I’m not be single, but not a parent either, and the relationship is very free, open, trusting, and rewarding. We’re not chained to each other and can function independently if one needs some solitude, but are excited to face life together, and each day is productive and fun-filled. It’s the nearest I can come to describing utopia as I understand it.
Somewhere between now and then is a tour of Europe with a focus on Holland – a trip with the potential to de-rail, or rather, re-route, all of the above.
