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Grizzly Mom and DadGrizzly Mom and Dad
Grizzly Mom and DadGrizzly Mom and Dad
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Where have we been!?!

Where have we been!?!

August 28, 2017 Posted by Grizzly Dad The Simple Life

Welcome back to us! First, we both want to apologize for the lack of updates over the last few months. The best excuse we can give is that other things got in the way. What exactly were those other things? We’ll write about each of them in a lot more detail as separate posts, but I’ll run through the complete list here.

Quit our Jobs

Grizzly Mom already told you about her exit stage left from big law. But I also left the tech market in SF behind a few months ago. We’re both unemployed and pretty happy about it, at least for now. We both decided that we want to work in some way, were just not really the kind of people that can ever ‘retire’. So there is some sort of activity in the future that involves receiving money for doing things. But the good thing is that it’s significantly more under our control now.

Sold our house in SF

We sold our house in SF. No more million dollar mortgage tying us down. Our house is a perfect example of why both luck, timing and preparation matter. We ended up making $500k off our house which sped up our plan by about 3-4 years. We bought at the right time (2013) and I think sold at the right time (but no one can know the future). Timing and luck are important. But being ready for opportunities is also important. The reason we were able to ID 2013 as a great time to buy in the Bay Area, and the reason we were able to buy then was a combination of good jobs, big amounts of our student debt already paid off, and my own time spent in the army (VA loans are great!).

Moved Back to Kansas

We packed up our lives in SF and made the journey back to Kansas with Baby Bear in tow. We’ve been here for a few months now and already think it was the best decision we ever made. We went back to the Bay Area last month and realized just how little we miss the crazy life that places like San Francisco offer.

Bought a new house

We’re now firmly ensconced in a new place in Kansas. A house that is both nicer than what we had in San Francisco and that could be purchased for the change in our couch cushions. Well, not quite that cheap, but it did come well under what we could pay for a house in cash.

Took the Bar Exam

Grizzlly mom had the fun task of taking the Missouri Bar Exam! Very Exciting!

Considered a Run for Congress

One of the more interesting twists is that I considered and went pretty far down the road towards running for US Congress in my hometown. Many, Many reasons why and equally many reasons why I finally decided against it (both of which I’ve written about before).

Went on vacation for a month

We went back on a ‘vacation’ to California to spend a bunch of time with Grizzly Mom’s family. A great, and relaxing time – the first time in many years that neither of us was checking our phones for e-mails!

Spent a lot of time with family and friends

The biggest thing is that we’ve all been relaxing. When you come down from high-powered jobs you need time to decompress and get yourself reacquainted with the world and with the people you really are. This was the biggest one.

Welcome Back!

It’s good to be back. The plan is to catch all of you up on all of the above in much more detailed posts – they’re all worth writing about!

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13 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Physician on FIRE
    · Reply

    August 28, 2017 at 5:47 PM

    Every couple goes through that phase where they just want to move to Kansas, leaving their jobs behind, take the Bar, and maybe run for congress. But you guys actually did it!

    Congrats on the newfound freedom. I’ll be curious to see what’s next for the Grizzlies.

    Cheers!
    -PoF

    • Grizzly Dad
      · Reply

      Author
      August 28, 2017 at 8:59 PM

      Haha. Yep. Just a normal right of passage for most people in their 30s!

  • Bob Estler
    · Reply

    August 28, 2017 at 9:50 PM

    Now we just need to turn you into real estate investors to accelerate the process again.

    • Grizzly Dad
      · Reply

      Author
      August 28, 2017 at 9:58 PM

      We’re thinking about it back in Kansas. But we’d start small.

  • Biglaw Investor
    · Reply

    August 29, 2017 at 5:19 AM

    Great update! Thanks for sharing. Missouri isn’t a reciprocal state, huh? Too bad Grizzly Mom had to take the bar again but I hope she passed with flying colors. Sounds like you guys just went through a major shift. Looking forward to the more detailed posts about each of these adventures.

  • Diego
    · Reply

    August 29, 2017 at 6:25 AM

    I thought bears hibernated during winter.

    • Grizzly Dad
      · Reply

      Author
      August 31, 2017 at 1:16 PM

      Ha! Yes. Usually. We’re strange bears – maybe from Austrailia.

  • Chris
    · Reply

    August 29, 2017 at 6:59 AM

    Welcome Back 🙂

  • Robyn
    · Reply

    August 29, 2017 at 8:52 AM

    Great news! I have missed your posts and look forward to your new adventures.

  • sher
    · Reply

    August 29, 2017 at 2:59 PM

    Looking forward to the posts – I missed them.
    Congratulations on the move and welcome back.

  • Mike
    · Reply

    September 2, 2017 at 2:20 PM

    You guys had become my favorite FIRE blog and as the months went by I feared we had heard the last of you. And it happens to blogs – life situations change and authors move on to other things. So today I was super excited to do my weekly check-in and see new posts!!! So congrats to you guys for having the courage (and for having accumulated the resources) to make your big transition. I very much look forward to hearing the details of the transition process and also to hearing the details regarding what I have no doubt will be exciting next steps for your entire family. Kudos and a big welcome back!

    • Grizzly Dad
      · Reply

      Author
      September 2, 2017 at 3:17 PM

      Thanks! This is a labor of love for us and love that folks like what we’re writing!

  • James Moes
    · Reply

    January 31, 2018 at 8:42 PM

    We did something similar. Bought in Seattle in 2013, cashed out at the end of 2017, and moved to Liberty, MO. Where in Kansas did you end up?

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