Since I view you as the glue that holds this community together, I chose to address this post to you even though it is intended for the whole thread. First, I hope you saw my post explaining that not only do I not have you on ignore, I have no one on ignore.
My "market career" is a little different than most. It began by attempting market direction calls using telephone switch accounts in the '70s. Later, I expanded upon that by using index options. Simultaneously, I tried to adopt a LTB&H strategy using mutual funds. This was thwarted by the taxes the accrued due to fund portfolio churning. Only after the above experiences did I start with stocks. I mention the above only because it gives me a somewhat different perspective. Before allocating funds, I always consider the current market conditions. Some say it's impossible to predict market direction. It isn't, it's just difficult. I believe no one can do it perfectly, but there is a large gap between perfect and profit. While I'm not advocating that all should try to become "market timers", I am saying that some familiarity with the techniques of market timing can alert one to "dangereous times" and save one considerable grief.
I second Tigerpaw's idea that the porch is a comfortable supportive environment that no one should change. But one must get off the porch and expose oneself to different ideas and perspectives. That is said knowing full well that we have a widely varying and in many cases highly skilled group here. Moreover, many here not only lurk elsewhere but also post widely. It's just that one can ever know "too much". I treasure "the porch" and hope it continues to prosper.
Finally on another note, my own market involvement is episodic. When in "lurq mode" I'm totally involved and eventually just burn myself out. I'll be leaving later this week for a little R&R in the spring-bloom sonoran desert. Part of the time will be spent hiking the desert arroyos of Anza Borrego in San Diego county. The isolated palm oases are filled with migrating birds in the spring. I also enjoy searching for (and photographing with a digital camera), the many Indian artifacts the desert offers. Petroglyphs, pictographs, medicine wheels and sleeping circles are all there if you care to look. I know where there are 15 and 25 foot yoni rock carvings that would make Coonaz turn to jelly. <gg>
Wishing the best to all!
No longer lurking...
lurqer |
