Just starting. I need to vent.

At age 63 I've experienced a lot of life and have things to say. Just about anyone who has reached this age has a lot of experience, some good and some bad, to relate. I don't know who might read this blog as I don't intend to publicize it. I dont' really care to spread the word that I have a blog. There are just some times when I have a point of view and with the era of blogging I thought I'd just dump my thoughts here.

Things that occupy my mind these days include: money and investing, retirement, relationships, the Bible and Jesus, politics, and business. These are the things I expect to write about most often although other subject pop up from time to time.

While working topics of current and burgeoning technology oozed out of all conversations at the office. The company was staffed with very smart people who kept me mentally active. When I retired at age 66 from the semiconductor test industry I sought out new ways to stay up-to-date with the world, and with technology. Podcasts became my new lifeline. Most days I download 1-5 Gigabytes of podcasts including technology, news, politics, and business. My daily input comes from listening to or watching 2-5 hours of selected topics at my leisure. My iPod Nano is my link to the world.

It is from this base that I begin this journey of typing, perhaps daily, perhaps not.

Some background:
Exiting the U.S. Navy I took a job at Signetics (semiconductor manufacturer), a very short stint at National Semiconductor, then moved 3 years later to CalTex (semiconductor manufacturer) also for 3 years, finally on to Teradyne (semiconductor test system manufacturer). I stayed at Teradyne for 33 1/2 years until I retired. The bonus during all those years was working with intelligent but down to earth people who, aside from a strong focus on their jobs, provided stimulating conversation over the years.

I traveled widely, hitting about 30 countries, most of the United States, and stopped counting when I hit 1 million miles traveled which occurred in my 20's. I lived and worked in Paris, France for three years during which time I traveled and worked all over Europe. Those years in France gave me a perspective on the United States from within a socialist country. Several of my trips were to communist countries which broadened my views further.

Me:
I have many weaknesses, memory being the most obvious and friends know well, but one strength is the ability to grasp concepts quickly. I also tend to view subjects from a big picture perspective. I maintain the big picture focus in all of my reading, listening, and watching. I'm often able to help people extract themselves from minutia to take a look from the 10,000 foot level. I find it helps to keep this perspective while observing all that goes on in this world.

Faith:
For 47 years I ignored religion and God. I was raised Catholic and like many children it was the faith of my parents rather than my own choice. When I entered the U.S. Navy I simply closed the book on that religious chapter and lived life my own way. I like to ask people, "how's that working for you?" these days. Looking back on those self directed years I can say it didn't work out well at all. They were full of trouble, strife, and anxiety. The 16 years since have been dramatically different, peaceful, joyful, focused, with clear direction and understanding. My life is forever changed.

Politics:
Early in my life I ignored politics. I didn't know if I was a conservative, liberal, Republican, or Democrat. Today I'm clearly conservative, perhaps about half way between center and radical conservative. I see a line which begins on the left with Dictatorship, then Communism, Socialism, The Democratic/Liberal party, and finally the Republican party. To me anything left of center (between liberal and conservative) is a path to communism. At the same time I realize a purely conservative approach leaves a lot to be desired as well. There is no perfect place on this line.

Business:
I must daily recognize but put aside the understanding that the world is a Ponzi scheme. All business on this earth depends on manufacturing something to sell to someone else. The overall objective is to be one step ahead of all others and to come out on top. I imagine all people on earth in a pyramid, the largest count are on the bottom and few on the top. It will always be that way no matter how hard we try to fix it. I'm not saying we should try though.

This Ponzi pyramid is human nature and I do not believe any other scheme will work. Communism is a perfect example of a stalwart attempt that failed for a number of reasons. Sad but true. Given this understanding I forge ahead trying to see where I fit in the pyramid and do my best to maintain, not slipping down nor being too concerned about climbing to the top.

Inflation is a built-in part of the world Ponzi scheme. Since everyone is trying to either maintain or climb the pyramid. To maintain my position on the pyramid I must account for inflation. The United States is currently suffering from a number of economic ills and our place on the pyramid is slipping. There is no correcting this slide. In the long run it is healthy but it will require a reawakening that won't result in a turnaround for a couple of decades. Get used to it folks. We've screwed ourselves and the current liberal moves are only going to sink us further and faster.

Don't take this all as gloom and doom. I don't. It's just good to keep the 10,000 foot view of things always. The world is a fascinating and wonderful place full of interesting intelligent and hard working people. Hang on and go for a stimulating ride. Just don't lose focus.