Mrc,

Wow, you must of read my mind. I was driving in my gas guzzling truck the other day thinking of initiating a thread just like this. By the way Mrc, I dont agree that 2000 was a bad time for you as a novice investor. I think it was an excellent time for you to become initiated and learn the ropes! This is the way I feel about the current "bear" as feel I am a novice at this time. I was invested in 2000 but did not even know what was going on. What bubble?

So at the risk of divulging too much information about myself, I am going to be vauge with time frames and dates......here goes.

I am a graduate from a prestigous upstate NY college, with B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering. I worked in the Industrial Automation field for many years. I scored a great job as a Robotics Applications Engineer. It was a small company, which offered me the opportunity to wear many hats from Sales to Engineering to fabricating to plant commissioning. I have engineered & installed projects in plants accross the Northwest of many well known names, from Ice cream packaging, cometics, to investment casting, and many more. The company was not always so small (spin off) and had some history that goes back, that I dont want to discuss at the risk of divulging to much of myself in cyber land.

However, the company was small, not well managed, there was fierce competition, and eventually went out of business. I was growing tired of the 1-1/2 hour commute and then plant travel on top of that. I once spent an entire month in Vermont away from my family. I contemplated doing a start up with my engineering "partner" at the company, but decided I did not really want to work that hard and miss out on my family.

I decided I wanted to have more time for my family and to get things done around the house. Local engineering jobs were not paying what I desired (wife and I entered the workforce at a great time and became spoiled quickly!) and it looked like lots of boring desk work. I also despised the corporate environment, it is just not for me. Home construction at the time was booming and since my in-laws were big into this field, I decided this would make a good temporary stint and meet my goals.

I am currently self-employed as a Liscenced Plumbing & Electrical Contractor. My wife is a high power "hot shot" at an HMO. My self-employment allows me to pick up the slack at home while she climbs the corporate ladder. This may sound crazy, but I almost welcome a slow down since I have so much to do around our house, and it just aint gettin done! (too much time on this board and playing with kids!) I am still busy, as most people I work for are very affluent and still dont mind spending! I sometimes think I am not living up to my potential as a degreed E.E., but I have to say, I have never been more happy in my life at present. I dont plan to stick with the current stint forever. I like to bust a move when I get bored with something. I am a firm beleiver that 95% of life is what you make of it. Things just always seem to fall into place for me. Perhaps I will do something financial. Like many here, I really love this stuff. I have taken 180 degree turn from a big spender to a big saver in recent years. I have finally become debt free except for about 10 years left on mortgage!

Like Migues, I am thankful for being so lucky and happy in life. I cant imagine getting so caught up in the corporate life and missing out on the most important things, our family! Also, I am currently working on not getting too caught up in this investing stuff......as many of you know....its hard! I have two wonderful healthy happy children. I am age 38 and my wife is age 31. Kids are 5 and 9.

I sold my 883 Harley Davidson when I got married since we were broke and needed the money. I am Jonesen to get another one and need to start investing for that goal. I am having a hard time with that one, since I feel we are behind in our retirement savings. I start to feel guilty for all the money I wasted on crap when I was younger. I keep telling myself you gotta live too! Then I slap myself and say something like..."the purchase price compounded over the next twenty years.....". Pisses my wife off! Hopefully, When the kids are out of the house, I plan to ride off into the sunset with the La HurleyHucksta on the back!

Started investing in 401k slightly prior to 2000, totally clueless. I became knowledgable with Financial Planning but still not with investing and rolled into IRA with American Funds. Just recently about a year now became an informed investor and have been soaking up info like a sponge. What got me started was the word "no load funds". I wanted to know what that meant and did a web search and never looked back. I always wondered why my AF advisor never sent me a bill. I read lots of financial books and visit this site daily. I would like to retire in 10 years, but will have a very hard time meeting that goal, and remain flexible. I joke with my wife and say I am retiring in 10 but you have to keep working for 30! She is much younger than me ya know!

OK, I better stop rambling on about me now! Hopefully that puts a little personality to my silly moniker, for better or worse! Sorry for my bad grammar, run-ons, and fragments, you know us Engineers!

Good Luck to all my cyber friends here. This is truly a great community to be a part of. I dont know many folks interested in this stuff to discuss with face to face. It is really sad how clueless the average person is.

Have you all seen the movie Nacho Libre? (Very Funny!)

As Nacho says........."My life is gooooood!"

Brian