[PLUG-TALK] Dollars (was Bank fraud)

[Keith Lofstrom]

On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 12:06:03PM -0800, David Mandel wrote:
> Maybe gold and silver are better.  It was certainly useful to German and
> Polish Jews during the 1930s and 1940s.  Well, it was useful to some of
> them - the ones who had gold and silver and didn't lose it before being
> able to use it.
> 
> Basically, nothing is completely safe.  But, I wouldn't have all of one's
> holdings in dollars or any other currency.

The general rule is "don't put all your bags in one exit".

The Nolo Press book "Get a Life - You Don't Need a Million to
Retire Well" is instructive, especially for geeks, who focus
on material things.  Some assets and lack of debt ( both
fostered by cheap habits ) are good to carry into retirement,
or across borders.  But you also want portable skills, young
friends, and health.  Focusing on only one or two is risky.

PLUG is a twofer in that context - I make friends, I develop
skills.  Helping at the linux clinic (SUNDAY!) is the a good
way to meet people, and explaining stuff and fixing problems
is the best way to learn skills.

Open source project participation is also helpful.  I have
friends all over the world.  If things got really bad here,
I've got couches waiting for me a dozen countries.  I have
enough foreign assets to pay for two or three plane tickets. 

The biggest worry is that I wouldn't have the fortitude to
walk away from my accumulated stuff and relationships here,
long before Sachsenhausen and Kristallnacht happen.  It's a
little late to liquidate your business after the Nazis burn
it.  Einstein left in 1933, not 1936 or 1938, when the docks
were crowded and the death camps open for business. 

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com         Voice (503)-520-1993