Celebrating The Financial Independence Community

I know in the past I have mentioned how the financial independence community can be close minded at times.  Needless to say, these occasions are actually few and far between.  Day after day I am inspired by the wealth of knowledge, passion, and camaraderie as witnessed on countless blogs, forums, and podcasts.  There is no question that not only is the FIRE spreading, but it is doing so in an orderly and hospitable manner.

Unlike so much of modern social media, it is rare to see haters and naysayers among our ranks.  Much of the negativity only becomes apparent when national media shines a spotlight on a particular individual and then outside trolls come to frolic.

I’d like to take a moment to celebrate and recognize the gifts of our financial independence community.

Diverse

I named my blog DiverseFI because I am not your average FI.  What I have come to learn over time is that no one is.  Listen to an origin story or two and you realize that we have all arrived in this community from different directions and for a multitude of reasons.

The dichotomies are pervasive.  There are the frugalites and the high wage earners.  There are the business builders and 9 to 5 employees.  High income and low-income.  Index buyers and stock pickers.  Those who aspire to fatFIRE and those who feel quite comfortable with leanFIRE

And don’t even get me started on the real estate fanatics.  But even they are split into landlords, crowd funders, syndicators, and a million other variations.

Supportive

I have never felt so embraced by any group of people as much as the financial independence community.  Although as diverse as can be, there are no shortage of cheerleaders for almost any struggle.

Where else can you see a six figure a month internet maven oohing and aahing over a frugal win by a five figure a year computer coder?

One of my greatest fears entering the blogosphere was that a blog about financial independence by a high W2 wage earning physician would lack resonance.  I winced at the idea that the vast majority of my potential audience would feel no kinship with my hopes and struggles.

To my great surprise, readers of all stripes have been kind enough to peruse my posts and even comment.  Sometimes my posts are spot on and I am congratulated.  Others, I am totally off base (like my post on travel hacking) and I am politely given the opposing opinion.

Vibrant

Financial independence is nothing if not vibrant.  Bubbling with enthusiasm, there is no shortage of meet-ups, get togethers, camps and meetings.

This month I will be attending CampFI Midwest.  Next month CampFI South and Fincon.

Young, middle-aged and old.  Retired early or never retiring.  Money spender or frugal king or queen.  The energy coming off all these individuals is nothing short of amazing.

Won’t You Come Join Me?

Tickets for CampFI South are not quite sold out.  I would love to have all of you come join us celebrate the financial independence community Sept 7-10 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  There will be some excellent speakers and a beautiful resort.  But more importantly, you will be able to bask in the glow of this diverse, supportive, and vibrant community in which we have all become a part of.

In addition, by using the coupon code DiverseFi you will get an additional $75 off the ticket price.

I can’t wait to see everyone and deliver a few blog posts in person.