A Busy Boy...
Nov. 11th, 2006 03:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
errantemberWhile I may have mentioned the existence of The Plan here, I haven't really given any status updates recently. This major theme is Changing My Life Between Burning Man 2006/2007.
Goal: Save the World by Ending the Neo-Conservative Domination of the Government of the United State of America:
Done.
Goal: Professionalize Photography:
I did my first real professional shoot for Sky of Hipnautica recently. I got paid for the gig, and will be getting model releases for the bands involved. I learned a lot about club photography, infrared photography, stage smoke, and post-process noise reduction.
Goal: Be Ready to Break Ground on Naturally Built House by next September:
I've connected with several members of the Austin permaculture community to learn background I'll need for the project. I've done extensive research regarding zoning laws and permits. It looks like it will be possible to built it legally on site if it's under 200 sq. ft. and I call it a "greenhouse" or a "garage." The extra driveway in my back yard is the ideal site, although there may be some restrictions due to it's proximity to the street. I also purchased a 1999 Honda CR-V today, which will greatly improve my ability to scrounge and move building materials. I've learned about composting toilets. Still need to do research on water purification systems and solar setups.
Goals: Professionalize Firedancing/Develop Computer Music Skills for Stage Performance:
We just got finished with the Halloween Fire Show at the Enchanted Forest this year. I directed one of the two largest fire scenes, and also did all of the audio engineering using Ableton Live. I produced a sound track with a second director's track with the direction and cues on it which will be a model for future shows. I also learned a lot about using Ableton for live stage performance, although we used a simply CD track for the show.
Goal: Go Through Everything I Own and Ditch Shit I Don't Need.:
I've been re-mastering all my VHS tapes onto DVD to save space. So far I've got about 7 movies done. I'm only updating stuff that's hard to find and that I care about enough to keep. For other items, I've got a Goodwill stack, an Ebay stack, and a lot of garbage bags. Now that I'll have the CR-V, I start mass-evicting piles of junk to the appropriate destination more efficiently.
Goal: Learn about property improvement/investment and apply skills to current property to increase income:
I've read two more books on property investment. I've decided to convert my already air-conditioned garage into a separate apartment and rent it out. This will require adding another bathroom and a kitchenette. It will also require some market research to figure out who to target the specific amenities to. This has several advantages. It's a good way to increase cash-flow when your property is on the upper end of the neighborhood value curve. It allows me to get income from part of the house I'm not using, *and* it will do it in a way that buys me as much time as I want to remodel the rest of the house on the cheap myself. Since the unit will be completely separate (with the exception of the laundry room) I don't have to deal with actually having someone in my space. I will probably take out a home equity loan to pay for it, though I may have cash depending on when Freescale finally finishes their leveraged buy-out. I'm also learning about Japanese Shoji design, and have ordered several books on how to build Shoji walls, lamps, and doors.
Goal: Get rid of my extra car(s).
Now that I have a new vehicle, I'm going to take the 2k the insurance company offered me for my Escort. I will then pursue getting the lien removed and the title transferred on the 626, which I will then sell. I should be able to recoup about 1/4 the cost of the new vehicle by the time I'm done, and then I will have a carport spot for the new garage renter.
Goal: Drastically reduce expenses and live more simply while still maintaining or increasing my income.
Several other goals above obviously contribute to this. Once I get the rest of my current house remodeled, I will move from it into the garage apartment and rent it out. At this point I should only have to pay a few hundred a month to maintain the mortgage and I can both continue to work on my Microhousing Project until I'm ready to move and and also still have a foothold in a place with city hookups. I'm also going to finally get a comprehensive budget to attach my other expenses, but the main thing for me is reducing my enormous mortgage payment.
Goal: Resume focus on stock market investing for 401k money
I not only got my portfolio back in order, but after the recent correction I'm finally sold out of several bad positions I had been holding because they were still going up. I now have almost all my funds free to re-invest. I've completed re-taking my InvesTOOLS 5-step investment course, and set up my paper trading account so I can start simulating options trades. Over the next week, I will complete the research necessary to get my money back into the market.
This leaves several other goals either just barely being pursued or falling behind, but I'm really happy with the progress the increased focus has brought so far.
Goal: Save the World by Ending the Neo-Conservative Domination of the Government of the United State of America:
Done.
Goal: Professionalize Photography:
I did my first real professional shoot for Sky of Hipnautica recently. I got paid for the gig, and will be getting model releases for the bands involved. I learned a lot about club photography, infrared photography, stage smoke, and post-process noise reduction.
Goal: Be Ready to Break Ground on Naturally Built House by next September:
I've connected with several members of the Austin permaculture community to learn background I'll need for the project. I've done extensive research regarding zoning laws and permits. It looks like it will be possible to built it legally on site if it's under 200 sq. ft. and I call it a "greenhouse" or a "garage." The extra driveway in my back yard is the ideal site, although there may be some restrictions due to it's proximity to the street. I also purchased a 1999 Honda CR-V today, which will greatly improve my ability to scrounge and move building materials. I've learned about composting toilets. Still need to do research on water purification systems and solar setups.
Goals: Professionalize Firedancing/Develop Computer Music Skills for Stage Performance:
We just got finished with the Halloween Fire Show at the Enchanted Forest this year. I directed one of the two largest fire scenes, and also did all of the audio engineering using Ableton Live. I produced a sound track with a second director's track with the direction and cues on it which will be a model for future shows. I also learned a lot about using Ableton for live stage performance, although we used a simply CD track for the show.
Goal: Go Through Everything I Own and Ditch Shit I Don't Need.:
I've been re-mastering all my VHS tapes onto DVD to save space. So far I've got about 7 movies done. I'm only updating stuff that's hard to find and that I care about enough to keep. For other items, I've got a Goodwill stack, an Ebay stack, and a lot of garbage bags. Now that I'll have the CR-V, I start mass-evicting piles of junk to the appropriate destination more efficiently.
Goal: Learn about property improvement/investment and apply skills to current property to increase income:
I've read two more books on property investment. I've decided to convert my already air-conditioned garage into a separate apartment and rent it out. This will require adding another bathroom and a kitchenette. It will also require some market research to figure out who to target the specific amenities to. This has several advantages. It's a good way to increase cash-flow when your property is on the upper end of the neighborhood value curve. It allows me to get income from part of the house I'm not using, *and* it will do it in a way that buys me as much time as I want to remodel the rest of the house on the cheap myself. Since the unit will be completely separate (with the exception of the laundry room) I don't have to deal with actually having someone in my space. I will probably take out a home equity loan to pay for it, though I may have cash depending on when Freescale finally finishes their leveraged buy-out. I'm also learning about Japanese Shoji design, and have ordered several books on how to build Shoji walls, lamps, and doors.
Goal: Get rid of my extra car(s).
Now that I have a new vehicle, I'm going to take the 2k the insurance company offered me for my Escort. I will then pursue getting the lien removed and the title transferred on the 626, which I will then sell. I should be able to recoup about 1/4 the cost of the new vehicle by the time I'm done, and then I will have a carport spot for the new garage renter.
Goal: Drastically reduce expenses and live more simply while still maintaining or increasing my income.
Several other goals above obviously contribute to this. Once I get the rest of my current house remodeled, I will move from it into the garage apartment and rent it out. At this point I should only have to pay a few hundred a month to maintain the mortgage and I can both continue to work on my Microhousing Project until I'm ready to move and and also still have a foothold in a place with city hookups. I'm also going to finally get a comprehensive budget to attach my other expenses, but the main thing for me is reducing my enormous mortgage payment.
Goal: Resume focus on stock market investing for 401k money
I not only got my portfolio back in order, but after the recent correction I'm finally sold out of several bad positions I had been holding because they were still going up. I now have almost all my funds free to re-invest. I've completed re-taking my InvesTOOLS 5-step investment course, and set up my paper trading account so I can start simulating options trades. Over the next week, I will complete the research necessary to get my money back into the market.
This leaves several other goals either just barely being pursued or falling behind, but I'm really happy with the progress the increased focus has brought so far.
