Howdy, mates! This summer time, I am touring to Ecuador to take part in my fifth chautauqua on monetary independence. It’s best to take into account becoming a member of me. These Ecuador chautauquas — that are unrelated to the European chautauquas — are at all times a enjoyable, academic, and bonding expertise.
Clarification: Sooner or later, chautauqua founders Cheryl Reed and JL Collins parted methods. Now JL runs the European chautauquas — that are on hiatus — with Katie and Alan Donegan. Cheryl continues to run the unrelated Ecuador gatherings. Each occasions are glorious.
As at all times, I plan to talk about the intersection of cash and that means.
How will you discover goal in your life — with or with out cash? How a lot cash is sufficient? What must you do after you’ve got achieved monetary independence? These are the types of questions I’ve explored at previous chautauqua occasions. And whereas I have not but ready my presentation for this yr, I count on these are the identical questions I will be exploring in July.
Different audio system this yr embody:
Tanja Hester from Our Subsequent Life. Tanja is an outspoken voice within the personal-finance neighborhood, working onerous to problem assumptions and to advertise monetary freedom for all. She’s the writer of the superb Work Elective and the award-winning Pockets Activism. (Tanja can also be a fellow office-supply nerd. Severely, our chat historical past is full of geeky discussions of favourite pens and notebooks.)
Piggy and Kitty (a.ok.a. Jess and Lauren) from Bitches Get Riches. Lengthy-time readers know that BGR is certainly one of my favourite cash blogs. I love how Jess and Lauren mix biting humor with deep dives into personal-finance matters. Not a straightforward activity. And the Bitches are simply as humorous in individual as they’re on the internet. (I flip to Piggy and Kitty once I need assistance with fashionable popular culture. “What does S-tier imply?” “How do I make a Taylor Swift animated GIF?”)
Jessica and Corey from The Fioneers. Whereas I’ve met Jessica and Corey, I’ve by no means actually had an opportunity to get to know them. I am keen to alter that in Ecuador. I discover their writing thought-about and considerate. I am notably keen on their idea of Gradual FI, the notion that you should utilize “the incremental monetary freedom [you] achieve alongside the journey to monetary independence to dwell happier and more healthy lives, do higher work, and construct robust relationships”. This meshes properly with my very own imaginative and prescient of the levels of economic freedom. (Final Halloween, Jessica and Corey printed an interview with me: Cash does not magically repair our issues.)
And, in fact, we’ll get pleasure from a presentation from our host, Cheryl Reed. Cheryl based these cash chautauquas with JL Collins in 2013 and he or she’s hosted ten of them previously. She likes to debate happiness and pleasure and the way to develop it in your life.
If you happen to’re focused on attending this chautauqua, you will discover extra info on the official web site. Notice that there are two gatherings in Ecuador this yr. If it does not work to hitch me, maybe you possibly can attend the second occasion.
Every chautauqua is completely different, in fact, however the 4 earlier retreats I’ve attended all had similarities:
Attendees collect at a resort for every week of dialog and camaraderie. These are smallish services that enable us to spend time along with few different friends. We eat and drink collectively. We stroll collectively. We play video games collectively. We speak about cash collectively. We’ve got enjoyable!
Every day, one (or extra) of the presenters offers a speak about a topic pricey to her coronary heart. (I speak about cash and that means, for example.) These are l-o-n-g displays however they’re enjoyable, interactive, and informative.
Every attendee meets one-on-one with a presenter. What you do with that point is as much as you. I’ve had individuals carry detailed spreadsheets and questions on retirement. I’ve had individuals chat with me about journey. I’ve had individuals ask for relationship recommendation (no joke!). Typically talking, it is an opportunity so that you can decide an individual’s mind about some kind of matter associated to their space of experience.
There are numerous (optionally available) off-site journeys to go to the native space. In Portugal, we visited a vineyard. In Ecuador, we have visited thriving markets, chocolate factories, and butterfly preserves.
From what I’ve seen, nonetheless, the true worth is within the friendships shaped throughout these weeks. A lot of our time is spent sitting collectively discussing life, the universe, and the whole lot.
I am nonetheless involved with of us from every of the chautauquas I’ve attended previously. A few of these of us have turn into shut mates with whom I’ve frequent contact. (Our 2016 crew — the Werewolf Hunters — even rented a home in Utah for an in-person reunion. We go to one another at any time when we’re in one another’s cities and have a semi-active group chat.)
I can not promise that you will kind life-long mates throughout this week, however from what I’ve seen, the chances are good. And no surprise. You are gathering with a bunch of like-minded individuals to speak about some deep, private topics. Bonding is sure to happen.
Listed below are a number of favourite pictures from previous chautauquas…
These chautauquas aren’t for everybody, and I do know that. However they’re excellent occasions for a sure class of individuals. If you happen to assume that you’re a kind of individuals, hop on over to the web site to try the main points. Possibly I will see you in Ecuador this summer time!
Another fast word: I lately joined my pal Grant Sabatier on the Earn & Make investments podcast for a dialogue about cash burnout. These conversations with Grant and Doc G are at all times entertaining and enlightening.
