How has your decade been?
Discussion
It has been a pretty eventful decade. Started it in Switzerland. Was stressed at work then made redundant, moved back to the UK but recently decided for lifestyle change and now in NZ.
Got first dog (after wanting one for nearly 40 years).
Watched daughter grow from toddler to teenager (high point).
Bought and sold lots of cars - mainly Porsches and BMWs but a couple of Ferraris too.
Started riding on the road again (and owned dream bike: Desmosedici).
Broke arm and ribs (twice) in separate accidents. Was quite ill at one point after severe allergic reaction.
Celebrated 25th wedding anniversary.
Taught myself Japanese (and visited Japan).
Studied at Cambridge (postgrad).
Pretty eventful with lots of highs and lows. Wouldn’t have expected to be where I am now in 2010. I wonder whether the next ten years will be as unpredictable?
Got first dog (after wanting one for nearly 40 years).
Watched daughter grow from toddler to teenager (high point).
Bought and sold lots of cars - mainly Porsches and BMWs but a couple of Ferraris too.
Started riding on the road again (and owned dream bike: Desmosedici).
Broke arm and ribs (twice) in separate accidents. Was quite ill at one point after severe allergic reaction.
Celebrated 25th wedding anniversary.
Taught myself Japanese (and visited Japan).
Studied at Cambridge (postgrad).
Pretty eventful with lots of highs and lows. Wouldn’t have expected to be where I am now in 2010. I wonder whether the next ten years will be as unpredictable?
No change
2010 live at home, semi pro job, car. (shogun), a few friends.
2019 live at home,semi pro (different) job,car(panda),bike (honda), no friends at all i realized all people are self preservation merchants.
Guess the highlight was a few track days. Guessing the next ten will be much worse.
2010 live at home, semi pro job, car. (shogun), a few friends.
2019 live at home,semi pro (different) job,car(panda),bike (honda), no friends at all i realized all people are self preservation merchants.
Guess the highlight was a few track days. Guessing the next ten will be much worse.
Tyre Smoke said:
I've since met and married a wonderful girl 24 years my junior, who has taken everything in her stride - a ready made family. Is a wonderful stepmother and my best friend. My son hasn't seen his mother in four years and hates her, he is happy, stable and doing really well at school.
Well done sir. Out of interest what does your son make of you being married to someone presumably almost the same age as him?Met my now wife in 2009 so can't claim that one! But 2010 was continuing on my grad scheme. Didnt particularly want to work for them or in the industry, but after a sponsored place fell through at the last minute (due to the financial setting at the time) I was left scrounging for whatever was going.
This place were super late in sorting their scheme out and so I had time to apply.
2011, binned off the grad scheme and started a PhD. That took 5 years and I got to present my work at some pretty big gigs. In that time we bought our first home together. Got out first pet. I was able to really put effort into my swim and gym training. Probably the fastest I've ever been at that point (and I used to train 2 X day every day when younger).
Post PhD I've had 4 jobs. Made redundant from 2, left 1 because it was cripplingly dull and so far the 4th is going well.
2018 got married. 2019 we're preggo and expecting baby to arrive end of June 2020 to start the next decade!
Been on some cracking holidays too: Caribbean cruise, west coast road trip (twice), Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong. So very lucky!
Hoping it all continues!
This place were super late in sorting their scheme out and so I had time to apply.
2011, binned off the grad scheme and started a PhD. That took 5 years and I got to present my work at some pretty big gigs. In that time we bought our first home together. Got out first pet. I was able to really put effort into my swim and gym training. Probably the fastest I've ever been at that point (and I used to train 2 X day every day when younger).
Post PhD I've had 4 jobs. Made redundant from 2, left 1 because it was cripplingly dull and so far the 4th is going well.
2018 got married. 2019 we're preggo and expecting baby to arrive end of June 2020 to start the next decade!
Been on some cracking holidays too: Caribbean cruise, west coast road trip (twice), Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong. So very lucky!
Hoping it all continues!
TurboHatchback said:
Tyre Smoke said:
I've since met and married a wonderful girl 24 years my junior, who has taken everything in her stride - a ready made family. Is a wonderful stepmother and my best friend. My son hasn't seen his mother in four years and hates her, he is happy, stable and doing really well at school.
Well done sir. Out of interest what does your son make of you being married to someone presumably almost the same age as him?Edited by Tyre Smoke on Tuesday 26th November 21:43
TripIt is great for this type of thing:
In the last decade (so far, will be traveling some more before the year is out):
Traveled for over 1000 days
Took over 250 trips (business & pleasure)
Visited 23 different countries
Visited over 200 different cities
Total distance traveled - 660,000 miles! (thats flights etc)
Other than that:
Lived in the UK in a small(ish) provincial town in the West
Moved to the US (California) nearly 6 years ago - moved 5 times, eventually bought a home here
Had multiple different jobs, but effectively only had 3 different employers
Wasted way too much money on cars, motorcycles and gadgets
Looking forward to 2020 and beyond as its an opportunity to double down on career, family and life
In the last decade (so far, will be traveling some more before the year is out):
Traveled for over 1000 days
Took over 250 trips (business & pleasure)
Visited 23 different countries
Visited over 200 different cities
Total distance traveled - 660,000 miles! (thats flights etc)
Other than that:
Lived in the UK in a small(ish) provincial town in the West
Moved to the US (California) nearly 6 years ago - moved 5 times, eventually bought a home here
Had multiple different jobs, but effectively only had 3 different employers
Wasted way too much money on cars, motorcycles and gadgets
Looking forward to 2020 and beyond as its an opportunity to double down on career, family and life
I was thinking about this the other day. A lot of my friends seemed to have married, bought houses and are living a responsible life.
On the face of it, I'm in the same position that I was 10 years ago, but now I'm the boss and I'm a lot wiser. I have also learnt the art of patience, and knowing that I'm on the right path to achieve what I want to and that I just need to do what I need to do (which know I know what I need to do) and that everything will work itself out. In the last decade I've been inpatient and forced things which have ultimately led to me failing.
I have travelled to 66 countries, bought supercars, made a lot of money, spent just as much money, had a great time, been depressed, fell in love, fell out of love, lost a parent, and I'm starting to lose the other one.
I still have plenty of issues, but now I know what they are and can work them and over come them. Loved the amount I learnt the last decade, and I'm looking forward to the future. Been pretty good really. Roll on the 20s. My aim for the next decade is to retire for having to work full time.
Oh and I've ended up with a cat who sleeps in weird locations.....
On the face of it, I'm in the same position that I was 10 years ago, but now I'm the boss and I'm a lot wiser. I have also learnt the art of patience, and knowing that I'm on the right path to achieve what I want to and that I just need to do what I need to do (which know I know what I need to do) and that everything will work itself out. In the last decade I've been inpatient and forced things which have ultimately led to me failing.
I have travelled to 66 countries, bought supercars, made a lot of money, spent just as much money, had a great time, been depressed, fell in love, fell out of love, lost a parent, and I'm starting to lose the other one.
I still have plenty of issues, but now I know what they are and can work them and over come them. Loved the amount I learnt the last decade, and I'm looking forward to the future. Been pretty good really. Roll on the 20s. My aim for the next decade is to retire for having to work full time.
Oh and I've ended up with a cat who sleeps in weird locations.....
Edited by cowboyengineer on Tuesday 26th November 23:18
Graduated in 2010
Landed a job in design at a major OEM
Still there 10 years later and two promotions up the ladder.
Got married in 2013
Travelled together to Mexico, NYC and various places in Europe.
Travelled with work to Japan, Czech, Hungary, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany....
Bought a house, bought and mx5 and 350Z and then had a kid.
Sold it all.
Bought another house, another 350Z and had another kid.
Sold the car.
Lost my Grandma last year and managements Grandad in 2013.
Between us earn about £100k/yr more than we did a decade ago.
Mostly good with a few downsides.
Landed a job in design at a major OEM
Still there 10 years later and two promotions up the ladder.
Got married in 2013
Travelled together to Mexico, NYC and various places in Europe.
Travelled with work to Japan, Czech, Hungary, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany....
Bought a house, bought and mx5 and 350Z and then had a kid.
Sold it all.
Bought another house, another 350Z and had another kid.
Sold the car.
Lost my Grandma last year and managements Grandad in 2013.
Between us earn about £100k/yr more than we did a decade ago.
Mostly good with a few downsides.
2010 - Just married, drove a Hilux Surf, lived in SE England, IT desk job.
2019 - Happily married to someone else, drive a Boxster, live in Perth Australia, IT Management job.
In 2010 I had just got married to a woman, who would later become a nightmare.
Everything was a bit of a grind and hard work. Felt like I was just "going through the motions".
Moved from SE England to Perth Australia.
Was an IT contractor for 8 years and now moved into management.
Completely different friends group (people I knew before, but never really spent a lot of time with).
Went through a divorce where I lost 2 dogs and a Hilux. Kept a house and a HSV.
Also cut out all the 'new' friends, as they were a toxic part that helped with the relationship breakup.
Now v happily re-married, and really enjoying life.
Completely different friends group (twice over), traded the HSV for a Boxster and now enjoy the many months of summer motoring.
Life is a lot easier now. Still stressful in parts, but it's a lot easier when there are fewer financial worries and better weather.
2019 - Happily married to someone else, drive a Boxster, live in Perth Australia, IT Management job.
In 2010 I had just got married to a woman, who would later become a nightmare.
Everything was a bit of a grind and hard work. Felt like I was just "going through the motions".
Moved from SE England to Perth Australia.
Was an IT contractor for 8 years and now moved into management.
Completely different friends group (people I knew before, but never really spent a lot of time with).
Went through a divorce where I lost 2 dogs and a Hilux. Kept a house and a HSV.
Also cut out all the 'new' friends, as they were a toxic part that helped with the relationship breakup.
Now v happily re-married, and really enjoying life.
Completely different friends group (twice over), traded the HSV for a Boxster and now enjoy the many months of summer motoring.
Life is a lot easier now. Still stressful in parts, but it's a lot easier when there are fewer financial worries and better weather.
Edited by Bibbs on Wednesday 27th November 00:39
crofty1984 said:
I'm an accountant. Thinking of a career change when I can.
The monotony of a job is a killer I get that.Also thinking along the same lines in a few years.
Know a lot of people that have quit the rat race and now very much happier doing something totally different even if they are not earning a ton of cash.
That’ll certainly be me for the next stage of this thread
10 years ago I was 24, just about to get married. Was renting a little house in a nice village and worked as a receptionist on a busy farm.
Throughout the years I got married, gained 2 cats, 1 horse (already had 2 others) worked my way through my accounting qualifications and consequently given more responsibility at work. Got divorced, lost 2 horses and 1 cat, met an amazing guy, bought a house in the village where I work, got engaged and now practically helping to run said busy farm alongside Director. Completely different person to what I was 10 years ago in a good way.
Throughout the years I got married, gained 2 cats, 1 horse (already had 2 others) worked my way through my accounting qualifications and consequently given more responsibility at work. Got divorced, lost 2 horses and 1 cat, met an amazing guy, bought a house in the village where I work, got engaged and now practically helping to run said busy farm alongside Director. Completely different person to what I was 10 years ago in a good way.
cowboyengineer said:
I was thinking about this the other day. A lot of my friends seemed to have married, bought houses and are living a responsible life.
On the face of it, I'm in the same position that I was 10 years ago, but now I'm the boss and I'm a lot wiser. I have also learnt the art of patience, and knowing that I'm on the right path to achieve what I want to and that I just need to do what I need to do (which know I know what I need to do) and that everything will work itself out. In the last decade I've been inpatient and forced things which have ultimately led to me failing.
I have travelled to 66 countries, bought supercars, made a lot of money, spent just as much money, had a great time, been depressed, fell in love, fell out of love, lost a parent, and I'm starting to lose the other one.
I still have plenty of issues, but now I know what they are and can work them and over come them. Loved the amount I learnt the last decade, and I'm looking forward to the future. Been pretty good really. Roll on the 20s. My aim for the next decade is to retire for having to work full time.
Oh and I've ended up with a cat who sleeps in weird locations.....
It's funny because whilst I'm clearly in a different position financially to you (no supercars) I worry about career progression all the time but wonder if I should relax a bit more about it as it'll work out OK in the end. On the face of it, I'm in the same position that I was 10 years ago, but now I'm the boss and I'm a lot wiser. I have also learnt the art of patience, and knowing that I'm on the right path to achieve what I want to and that I just need to do what I need to do (which know I know what I need to do) and that everything will work itself out. In the last decade I've been inpatient and forced things which have ultimately led to me failing.
I have travelled to 66 countries, bought supercars, made a lot of money, spent just as much money, had a great time, been depressed, fell in love, fell out of love, lost a parent, and I'm starting to lose the other one.
I still have plenty of issues, but now I know what they are and can work them and over come them. Loved the amount I learnt the last decade, and I'm looking forward to the future. Been pretty good really. Roll on the 20s. My aim for the next decade is to retire for having to work full time.
Oh and I've ended up with a cat who sleeps in weird locations.....
Edited by cowboyengineer on Tuesday 26th November 23:18
As 2010 approached I was in my second year of teaching at a local FE college and, knowing I had made a huge mistake, still desperately trying to escape.
The escape came in late 2010 when I took a big pay cut to go and work as an IT Technician in a local school.
Who then paid for me to do my Microsoft qualifications, and promoted me to IT Manager about 16 months later.
I loved that job, but a new principal came in and we didn't see eye to eye so I ended up going to work for a local manufacturing firm in mid-2015 and have been there ever since. We've just been bought out my a multi-national so it will be interesting to see what the next decade brings.
In terms of cars, I had a Seat Toledo TDI in 2010. Sold that when I started at the school (could walk to work, which was wonderful). Bought a Fiesta Ecoboost when I started this job in 2015, bought a C70 convertible in 2017 as a bit of fun, traded the Fiesta in for a i30N a month ago and had to sadly wave goodbye to the Volvo as the roof broke.
Still married to my wonderful wife, and still have two cats although our old tom passed away this year so we got another from the Blue Cross.
The escape came in late 2010 when I took a big pay cut to go and work as an IT Technician in a local school.
Who then paid for me to do my Microsoft qualifications, and promoted me to IT Manager about 16 months later.
I loved that job, but a new principal came in and we didn't see eye to eye so I ended up going to work for a local manufacturing firm in mid-2015 and have been there ever since. We've just been bought out my a multi-national so it will be interesting to see what the next decade brings.
In terms of cars, I had a Seat Toledo TDI in 2010. Sold that when I started at the school (could walk to work, which was wonderful). Bought a Fiesta Ecoboost when I started this job in 2015, bought a C70 convertible in 2017 as a bit of fun, traded the Fiesta in for a i30N a month ago and had to sadly wave goodbye to the Volvo as the roof broke.
Still married to my wonderful wife, and still have two cats although our old tom passed away this year so we got another from the Blue Cross.
It had almost completely passed me by that it was the end of a decade this year, obviously I have a calendar and a working knowledge of how it works, but it sort of passed me by. I think perhaps when we think of the 20s, 30s 60s 80s we're still thinking of the last century, at least I am anyway.
The last 10 years has probably been the most difficult yet, and probably represent the most 'progression'.
It didn't start well, I'd been laid off from RBS in 2009 after nearly a decade, the pay-off was very generous but I'd managed to nearly kill myself on my bike a few weeks later and burnt through most of it being too sick to even look for work. Although it was dark, it did work out for the best. One of the medics who was looking after me went out of their way to say "you know you're depressed yeah?" It was a bit of a revelation that not only was I depressed at that point, I had been for a long time and I got some help, not enough, but still I tried.
I ended up taking stock of my life, faced a lot of stuff I was in denial about (anxiety, alcohol and mild drug issues) and worked through them one by one. Sounds stupidly easy but it soon gathered some momentum and things got better.
I met a Women right at the end of 2009, it was a great match, I was a 32 year with 2 busted arms, grossly over-weight from inactivity and living back with my parents. She was a 25 year old Student Nurse and single Mum nearly broke and just lost her Mum to cancer, a real match made in hell. We've been married for 5 years now.
The last 10 years have been graft, it took years to get my career back on track and start earning some decent money again, I'm only now buying my first home (well, once the solicitor pulls their finger out) I've had to accept I can't have the 'house of my dreams' starting so late, but it's a nice place in a nice area and, the only yardstick I've got, it's a bit nicer than most of my friends places).
So I start the 2020s as a Husband, Father, Homeowner and proud PCP payer of a car I love, it's not PH news worthy but it makes me happy. I still find myself waiting about to see Consultants to prod about my knackered arms.
I plan for the next 10 years to be far more stable, watch the kids grow, worry and stress less, enjoy myself a bit more. I'm planning to give up the rat race in 10 years or less, I can't retire, but I should be able to throttle right back. I'm planning to join the NHS as a PTS Driver (driving old people to Hospital and the like) It's a Band 3 role, so about £20k a year, way less than half what I earn now, don't care, even if I have to take orders from my Band 7 Wife ha ha.
The last 10 years has probably been the most difficult yet, and probably represent the most 'progression'.
It didn't start well, I'd been laid off from RBS in 2009 after nearly a decade, the pay-off was very generous but I'd managed to nearly kill myself on my bike a few weeks later and burnt through most of it being too sick to even look for work. Although it was dark, it did work out for the best. One of the medics who was looking after me went out of their way to say "you know you're depressed yeah?" It was a bit of a revelation that not only was I depressed at that point, I had been for a long time and I got some help, not enough, but still I tried.
I ended up taking stock of my life, faced a lot of stuff I was in denial about (anxiety, alcohol and mild drug issues) and worked through them one by one. Sounds stupidly easy but it soon gathered some momentum and things got better.
I met a Women right at the end of 2009, it was a great match, I was a 32 year with 2 busted arms, grossly over-weight from inactivity and living back with my parents. She was a 25 year old Student Nurse and single Mum nearly broke and just lost her Mum to cancer, a real match made in hell. We've been married for 5 years now.
The last 10 years have been graft, it took years to get my career back on track and start earning some decent money again, I'm only now buying my first home (well, once the solicitor pulls their finger out) I've had to accept I can't have the 'house of my dreams' starting so late, but it's a nice place in a nice area and, the only yardstick I've got, it's a bit nicer than most of my friends places).
So I start the 2020s as a Husband, Father, Homeowner and proud PCP payer of a car I love, it's not PH news worthy but it makes me happy. I still find myself waiting about to see Consultants to prod about my knackered arms.
I plan for the next 10 years to be far more stable, watch the kids grow, worry and stress less, enjoy myself a bit more. I'm planning to give up the rat race in 10 years or less, I can't retire, but I should be able to throttle right back. I'm planning to join the NHS as a PTS Driver (driving old people to Hospital and the like) It's a Band 3 role, so about £20k a year, way less than half what I earn now, don't care, even if I have to take orders from my Band 7 Wife ha ha.
It's been an interesting decade. A lot of fun and a heck of a ride. If at the beginning of 2010, you told me I would be where I am now...I wouldn't have believed it!
Worth considerably more now than I was at the start of the decade.
Better quality of life having moved from outskirts of London to Southern Florida.
Married. Happily (yes, really).
Baby (with no. 2 due in June).
Bought a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Sold a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Started businesses.
Sold a business.
Loads of great experiences across 5 continents and countless countries within.
Many more...
Looking forward to the twenties!
We went to see the new Downton Abbey film recently and that got my wife back into watching the series again. It's set in 1912 to 1926 (according to Wikipedia). It's astonishing how much life has changed in those 100 years - I am excited to see what the next 100 years brings...even though I probably won't be seeing in 2120.
Although they do say that the first person who will live to 200 has already been born...looking at my habits, it probably won't be me!!!
Worth considerably more now than I was at the start of the decade.
Better quality of life having moved from outskirts of London to Southern Florida.
Married. Happily (yes, really).
Baby (with no. 2 due in June).
Bought a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Sold a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Started businesses.
Sold a business.
Loads of great experiences across 5 continents and countless countries within.
Many more...
Looking forward to the twenties!
We went to see the new Downton Abbey film recently and that got my wife back into watching the series again. It's set in 1912 to 1926 (according to Wikipedia). It's astonishing how much life has changed in those 100 years - I am excited to see what the next 100 years brings...even though I probably won't be seeing in 2120.
Although they do say that the first person who will live to 200 has already been born...looking at my habits, it probably won't be me!!!
It's been an interesting decade. A lot of fun and a heck of a ride. If at the beginning of 2010, you told me I would be where I am now...I wouldn't have believed it!
Worth considerably more now than I was at the start of the decade.
Better quality of life having moved from outskirts of London to Southern Florida.
Married. Happily (yes, really).
Baby (with no. 2 due in June).
Bought a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Sold a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Started businesses.
Sold a business.
Loads of great experiences across 5 continents and countless countries within.
Many more...
Looking forward to the twenties!
We went to see the new Downton Abbey film recently and that got my wife back into watching the series again. It's set in 1912 to 1926 (according to Wikipedia). It's astonishing how much life has changed in those 100 years - I am excited to see what the next 100 years brings...even though I probably won't be seeing in 2120.
Although they do say that the first person who will live to 200 has already been born...looking at my habits, it probably won't be me!!!
Worth considerably more now than I was at the start of the decade.
Better quality of life having moved from outskirts of London to Southern Florida.
Married. Happily (yes, really).
Baby (with no. 2 due in June).
Bought a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Sold a ton of stuff with wheels and motors.
Started businesses.
Sold a business.
Loads of great experiences across 5 continents and countless countries within.
Many more...
Looking forward to the twenties!
We went to see the new Downton Abbey film recently and that got my wife back into watching the series again. It's set in 1912 to 1926 (according to Wikipedia). It's astonishing how much life has changed in those 100 years - I am excited to see what the next 100 years brings...even though I probably won't be seeing in 2120.
Although they do say that the first person who will live to 200 has already been born...looking at my habits, it probably won't be me!!!
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