Day One CampFI

My blog post comes to you today from Marine St Croix Minnesota where I am attending CampFI Midwest.  Although way to early for a roundup (I haven’t heard any lectures yet), there already have been a few take aways that I have gleaned from this wonderful group of people.  Whenever you get a gathering of like-minded individuals who are open and chatty (the beer didn’t hurt either) some interesting conversations bubble up.  Day 1 CampFI has been a blast already.  Excuse the short post but Physician on Fire has organized a little jog this morning so my writing time is a little truncated.

Deep Subject Expertise

There is a premium on deep subject expertise.  We are not immune from it here in the financial independence community.  Day 1 CampFI brought together a number of “famous” bloggers who were very recognizable by name if not by face.  While the temptation to swarm them was definitely there, the people who got the biggest crowd around them were the deep subject experts.

The two topics I heard most conversation center around were travel hacking and real estate.  It seems that one of the reasons people come to these events is to have the chance to query those in the know about these sometimes intricate subjects.  The questions delved far deeper than just the basic how to.  There were deep conversations about card churning,  credit scores, cap rates and appreciation vs cash flow.

A pretty good place to get your questions answered.

Not Everyone Is a Blogger

Not everyone is a blogger or podcaster.  I know.  It is hard to believe.  But there are financial independence oriented people out there who don’t feel the need to broadcast their thoughts and opinions into the ether.  Heck, many of them don’t even leave comments.  They just live their lives and accomplish all sorts of wonderful things.

This has been a great chance to escape the self-imposed echo chamber.  Although I am incredibly grateful for those of us who create content (what else would I listen to in my car or read every morning?) there is a quiet unspoken opinion out there.

This opinion not only has great relevance, but can add to our diverse voices of financial independence.  The great thing, however, is you can’t find it on the internet.  You have to show up to one of these real life gatherings and communicate in other ways beside twitter retweet.

Day one CampFI take-home: go to real life get togethers.

We’re All Just Looking For The Right path

All kinds have traveled here to Minnesota to get their FI on.  There are Frugality types and high wage income earners.  Real estate magnets and stock market investors.  Retired early and those who will never retire.  The differences can be dizzying, yet day one CampFI has shown we are more alike than I originally thought.

We all just want to find the right path.  Life is complicated.  We are truth seekers, decision makers, and chasing the existential good life.

And there is beauty in this struggle.  Beauty in the gathering of folks who just want to improve their lives and the lives of those they love.

Final Thoughts

Day one of CampFI is already over and I have learned a great deal before even attending a single lecture.  I can’t wait to chat more with this great group of people and continue the conversation.  If I survive this mornings 5K, I might be back to post about day two of CampFI.

Wish me luck.