Just a reminder (for myself) that taxes (Federal) are due April 15th. This is what I’ve been busy with the last week+. While I could just hire a tax accountant, I’ve always preferred doing it myself. Additionally, since I early “retired” from actual fulltime employment almost a decade ago, the bulk of my personal taxes is things like dividend income, investment capital gains/loss, and interest for my non-retirement brokerage account.
I’m too young yet for actual social security in the US, and won’t really need it anyway once I do reach actual retirement age (which starts at 67.5 for me) since I’ll be pulling from my Roth IRA brokerage account well before then.
Am still looking at various kominka (traditionally built houses normally in rural/farming areas) in Japan since I am seriously considering this option (and might as well do it when the $ to ¥ exchange rate is what it is). There’s a current glut of them across the country where they are under $100K (so even if you have to spend $100K to remodel, it’s still an incredible value so long as my other requirements are fulfilled). Some of those requirements are kind of common sense like not being near the ocean, away from landslide areas, away from flooding potentials like a river/stream, etc. as well as not being so rural where access to stores, medical, and other such things are an issue.
Another thing I am considering is looking at converting ones that are low cost, into vacation experience stays. That is of course a lot more research involved/having local “experts” to run the property (and I have no desires to personally make money off of this except maybe just for fees/taxes; it’s meant as a way to give back in general). I’ll probably write more about that in the future. There are also a lot of really low cost abandoned properties (akiya) but that requires a lot more research and time (since it is recommended to actually visit and look at the property to gather as much information of the pros/cons) but would tie into this thing.
My motto is “you only live once and life is too short”. So, I’ve been looking at things in this context in recent years since like everything, am not getting any younger (time just works that way).
