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Man, 2017 flew by.

And what a year it’s been. Mrs. G and I finally got to meet some of our blogging heroes—Claudia and Garrett from Two Cup House, JW and Lucy from The Green Swan, Fritz from The Retirement Manifesto, and Jillian from Montana Money Adventures. And I can say unequivocally that they’re all even nicer and more impressive in real life than they are on their blogs. Truly wonderful people.

Another highlight of the year was launching my YouTube channel, Talking Trash with Mr. Groovy. Not so much because I’m producing riveting video, but because it’s forcing me to face one of my biggest bugaboos: public speaking. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always gotten exceedingly nervous when addressing an audience larger than one, and my Talking Trash videos are proving to be great therapy for that shortcoming.

And speaking about being nervous, I also made appearances on Staking Benjamins and Choose FI. If you missed either or both of these appearances, and you’re in the mood to hear an authentic Noo Yawk accent, here are the links.

Americans Are Dying in Debt
Domestic Geoarbitrage

Finally, 2017 has ended on a really nice note for me and Mrs. G. We found Groovy Ranch—three acres in the wilds of North Carolina. And if things go as planned, there’s a good chance we’ll be having the first ever Groovypaloosa next fall. I’ll keep you posted.

Plans for 2018

So what’s in store for 2018?

More of the same. My goal is to do one post a week, one Talking Trash a week, and one Remote Talking Trash a month. If any of you bloggers/readers are interested in cleaning up your neck of the woods while shooting the sh*t with me, drop me a note.

And other than going to FinCon, the only new thing planned for 2018 is my first ebook, The Groovy Guide to Financial Independence. Yep, because of Nicholas Kraken, a great accountability partner who blogs over at Step Into The Road, I finally got off my arse and penned my twisted take on financial independence.

There’s still a lot to do, of course, but I’m confident The Groovy Guide to Financial Independence will come out in April. In fact, I’m so confident, I’ve even commissioned the artwork for the ebook. Check out one of the sketches below.

Who’s the artist? I’m not saying. I will leave you with this, though. The artist isn’t a blogger. But the artist is associated with one of my favorite bloggers. Ah, the plot thickens.

a picture of Mr. Groovy revealing a "Death Before Dishonor" t-shirt

Final Thoughts

Finally, a big end-of-the-year thanks has to go out to Mr. and Mrs. WoW from Waffles On Wednesday. Not only are they technical wizards—they did prove the feasibility of Remote Talking Trash, after allbut they’re super nice and super gracious, and I can’t wait to meet them in person at FinCon 2018.

Okay, groovy freedomist, that’s all I got. Here’s the last installment of Talking Trash for 2017—another beach-combing barn-burner with the WoWs. Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas. And Happy New Year. See you in 2018.

63 thoughts on “See You in 2018

  1. Congratulations on a successful/fun 2017! I am happy I found one of your posts through Rockstar Finance because I love your content. You have a great way of making personal finance fun and engaging.

    I am thinking about attending FinCon 2018, so hopefully I will get to meet you and many other bloggers I follow!

    I wish you continued success and a Happy New Year!

    1. Thank you, Mr. S. And believe me, the feeling is mutual. Best wishes for a very fruitful 2018. Give my regards to Mrs. S. Happy New Year.

    1. Thank you, FAF. I really appreciate your kind words. Best of luck in 2018. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for you. Cheers.

  2. Congrats to you and Mrs. G. on an awesome 2017! And thank you for a year of impressive entertainment, motivation, inspiration, and education!

    Can’t wait for your e-book and look forward to learning more about the Groovypaloosa.

    Happy Holidays from Portlandia!

    1. Thank you, Mrs. G. And likewise to you. I suspect that 2018 will be even kinder to you and Mr. G than 2017 was. Happy New Year!

  3. So, it’s a long story, but I used to follow this Canadian real estate investor named Julie Broad. She recently chucked her main real estate gig in Canada and moved to Los Angeles to start a non-fiction book publishing company (I only know because she still has my email address, ha). She sold a couple of paperback books on investing and branding on Amazon that did very well and so now she has created a business called Book Launchers. Anyway, my whole point is that if you have any interest at all in publishing a paperback, you might find it it interesting to talk to her. But regardless, writing an e-book is an awesome goal for 2018 and I look forward to checking it out!

    1. Oh, shoot. Just went to Julie’s website and it hit me. I know her! I just started watching her YouTube videos a few days ago. I wasn’t paying attention to who she was, just the book advice she was giving. Great stuff. And what a freakin’ coincidence.

      1. Too funny! And I’m glad you’ve checked her out. My thought is that she’s a hard-working woman with a great sales sense, and I think she’s super motivated to make Book Launchers a success. So, the timing might be good for you to get her full promotional attention. I think she would also understand your target audience and appreciate that you bring an existing following to your Groovy brand! Good luck however you proceed!

  4. Cheers, mate! Looking forward to more of your fine writing in 2018 and beyond. If we ever meet in person, I’m sure you’ll be disappointed, as my blog is so fantastic, you’d probably envision Steve McQueen. Or maybe Em Philips? I dunno…
    Congrats on a fine year!

    1. Haha! I love it, Cubert. You’ll be disappointed with me too. Years ago I wondered what actor would be best suited to play me if they ever made a movie about me life. I fancied that the most suitable actor would be Harrison Ford. But then a friend set me straight and told me that the most suitable actor would be Rick Moranis. That wasn’t good for the ego. Merry Christmas, my friend.

  5. 2017 was a good year. It is fun meeting other personal finance bloggers. I enjoyed your podcasts and will keep an eye out for your ebook. See you at FinCon 2018.

    1. We got the best community in the world, Dave. Looking forward to meeting you at FinCon. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    1. Thank you, Caroline. I ain’t going to lie to you, I’m nervous about building a house. The one saving grace about the aggravation to come is that I’ll have plenty of fodder for this blog. Haha. Hope 2018 treats you well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  6. Happy holidays the Groovies!!!

    One request I have for 2018 is that I’m subscribed to your blog, but most of the time I get notified of new posts a day after they have posted 🙁

    If it’s not too much to ask, is there a way to notify the subscribers same day and early in the morning ? I would like to read your blog during my morning commute 🙂 .

    Thanks a bunch and see you in 2018!

    99to1percent recently posted…Giving Thanks and The 6 Gifts That Keep On Giving…
    https://99to1percent.com/gifts-keep-giving/

    1. Hi Ms99to1percent,

      Happy holidays to you as well!

      Thanks for letting us know. I subscribe and noticed the day late thing myself. We had MailChimp set up to distribute at 9 am any day there’s a new post, but perhaps we publish too close to that time for it to work properly. Therefore I changed the distribution to 10 am. I received this last post the same day after making the change. Unfortunately, the later time doesn’t help for reading while commuting.

      Mr. Groovy often finishes a post late at night and I do final edits the next morning (and then the fun begins, when we argue about what needs to go). We don’t have a pipeline of posts but perhaps we can improve on that in 2018!

      Thanks very much for reading!

    2. Happy holidays to you too, Ms99to1. Can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for you. I’m sure it’s going to be a banner year. Cheers.

    1. Thank you, Brian. You’re too kind. Hey, any chance I can get you on Remote Talking Trash after the winter? I’m sure there’s plenty of trash to pick up on Sunrise Highway. Haha. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the Debt Discipline family. Cheers.

    1. Thank you, Gary. That really means a lot coming from you. I love what you’re doing with your blog, and I love how you’re not afraid to tackle many of the pressing issues that bedevil everyday Americans (e.g., taxes, college affordability, healthcare, etc.). You got a formidable mind, my friend. I’m glad you’re using it for good. Happy holidays to you and your family. Cheers.

  7. Sounds like a fantastic year Mr. G and some fun things to look forward to next year!! Congrats on all your accomplishments.

    Like you, I have never been a good public speaker and quite frankly it makes me super nervous. Guess I need to tackle my fears as well.

    Currently, I am anxiously awaiting Mr.Wow to get home from work so we can watch Part 2!

    1. Hey, Mrs. WoW. I think you’ll really enjoy part two. I certainly did. My favorite part was the ending and Mr. WoW’s philosophy on saving. “The best time to start saving was 20 years ago. The second best time to start saving is now.” Brilliant. I’m so glad I got to meet you guys virtually. Can’t wait to meet you in person at FinCon. Thanks again for making RTT possible. Hope 2018 treats you well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    1. Montana was the highlight of our year. Great people, great countryside. Perhaps it will be our summer home in the near future. Got my fingers crossed. Can’t wait Montana Money Adventures has in store for us next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Adam, and the gang.

    1. Haha! Mrs. Groovy said the same thing about the irons. I don’t know what scares me more. My book or the house we’re about to build? I hope 2018 treats you well, my friend. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    1. Thank you, Tonya. I’m making headway on my speaking fears. Now if I can make some headway on my video editing skills, Talking Trash might become something. Do you have any suggestions for me? Looking forward to what BATB has in store for us in 2018. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  8. Merry Christmas to you too Groovy’s.
    Congrats on the land purchase (looks like a great lot) and enjoy the building process. It was a learning experience for me and I banked up a lot of sweat equity.

    I like your riddle for the artist as well. We used that saying at my school and I have a connection that lives in NC, but I don’t think I’m your favorite blogger–in this post at least 😉

    1. Hey, don’t sell yourself short. You are one of my favorite bloggers. You can actually tolerate my half-baked political musings. Haha! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friend.

  9. Happy Holidays, Groovies! Looking forward to that Groovypaloosa in 2018 at “The Ranch”!! One question: do we all have to dress up as hippies? (Wouldn’t that trigger some intrigue from your new neighbors wondering what’s going on over at The Ranch!!)

    1. Hey, that’s not a bad idea. We had a sixties party around two decades ago and it was a blast. My good friend who had the party was a groovy shaman. He hired a band for the occasion and the band even played Shaman Blues by the Doors. If Groovypalooza has a sixties theme, I think you need to come as a groovy shaman. It will certainly be memorable. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friend. Talk to you soon.

  10. Great plans, and you’re not too far on the East Coast! Maybe one day I’ll head down that way to the Groovy Ranch! Talking trash sounds like fun, I’ll have to check out the channel 🙂 Happy New Year and Best Wishes to your Family!

    1. I love it, Kate. You’ll always be welcome at Groovy Ranch. And if you can’t make it to my neck of the woods this year, there’s always Remote Talking Trash. Hope you and your family have a great Christmas and an awesome New Year. Cheers.

  11. Hey Mr. Groovy,

    Exciting plans, love the sketch! It’s definitely intriguing, as is the book.

    Cool episode of Talking Trash; I can relate to the high-cost-of-living-but-love-it-here issue, being in Miami. I was actually in Tahoe and LA during the last few weeks (drove down CA); the sheer scale of LA was mind-blowing for me. It makes Miami look much smaller by comparison.

    Keep up the great work!

    1. Thank you, Miguel. And same to you. Can’t wait to see what The Rich Miser has in store for us in 2018. Hey, are you going to FinCon 2018? It’s practically in your back yard. Well, I hope you go, my friend. We need to ruin some microbrews together. Haha! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    1. My pleasure, Maarten. Mrs. Groovy and I really admire your work. You’re going through a lot on the healthcare front, and Americans need to hear a non-sensationalized account of just how byzantine our healthcare system is. You’re a hero, my friend. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    1. Thank you, DDD. Your kind words really mean a lot. And I hear ya about 2018. Check out this line from Dan Aykryod on the Briefcase Full of Blues album.

      “Well here it is, the late nineteen seventies, going on 1985.”

      In 1978, I thought 1985 was an eternity away. Never mind 1999 (thank you, Prince) or being 10 days away from 2018. Man, I’m getting old. Love your work, my friend. And your stoicism. I’m sure 2018 will be much more kind to you on the home front than 2017. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  12. I’m happy that being accountable is going to help you get your story out into the world. I know messaging me the first time was a big scary step for you. Big scary steps seem to be your 2017 theme. Congrats on the YouTube Channel and the land I hope the seed you planted this year flourish in 2018!

    1. Can’t say enough about you, my friend. If you weren’t such a great accountability partner, there’s no way I would have hammered out my book. Thanks again for all your help. And may you flourish in 2018 too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Cheers.

  13. I am SO excited to read your book – and that artwork rocks!!! Doubly excited that you guys found the Groovy Ranch land. Maybe this will be the push we need to visit NC in 2018. 🙂 Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, my friends!!

    1. Haha! I’m excited about the ebook too. But to tell you the truth, I’m even more excited about the ebook since I got the artwork. It’s much better than I ever could have imagined. I stumbled upon a really terrific artist. Thanks for stopping by, Laurie. And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.

      P.S. It would be great if you made it to the Tar Heel State in 2018. I got my fingers crossed.

    1. Thank you, Amy. I really appreciate that. Oh, hey, were your ears ringing? Just heard Pete talking about you on the Do You Even Blog? podcast. And no, the idea of T-shirts didn’t cross my mind. But I am intrigued now. Love the way your mind works. Merry Christmas. Talk to you soon.

  14. What a year!!!! Great to work with you guys and I’m excited for all the upcoming stuff.

    A book? You’re more ambitious than us.

    We are looking forward to all that comes from you guys… And mostly Orlando!

    1. Thank you, Mr. WoW. But don’t forget, my ebook is hardly a tomb. It’s only going to be 50-60 pages. War and Peace it’s not. Give my regards to Mrs. WoW. Can’t wait to see you guys in Orlando. Cheers.

    1. Following your lead, Vicki. Following your lead. How’s the reno going? Haven’t seen an update in a while. I do suppose that Western New York winters complicate things, though. Haha! The only thing I didn’t like about my years in Buffalo. That lake-effect snow is rough. Thanks for stopping by, Vicki. You always bring a smile to my face.

    1. Thank you, Lily. You have no idea how much your comment means to me. At least one person out there appreciates my twisted mind. Hope all is well in Frugalville. Give my regards to Jared. (And the old man, of course.)

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