So I did a thing… the Memorial Day weekend of 2022, I went to Camp Mustache (by myself). Not gonna lie; I was nervous af… not just because I feel like I’m such a newbie; but also as an introvert, going to an event that I’d need to mingle for 3.5 days sounds scary in and of itself. I was right, and I was wrong… Here are my experiences:
The Mustachians are welcoming and inclusive regardless of where you are on your FI journey.
One of the participants, Joe, said that “if Camp Mustache (or the FI community in general) is a cult, it’d be the only cult where the leaders are trying to make the followers rich, not the other way around.” It’s so funny, yet so true. It’s not everyday you could easily and openly ask “what’s your net worth” to anyone around you; but at Camp Mustache, we started a Net Worth Board where people are encouraged (but not required) to put their net worth on a huge post-it. The goal of the board isn’t to trigger “comparison-titus,” but to offer a glimpse of where the participants are at. For those who are far ahead, that can be the goals for the starters like me; but most importantly, there’s no judgment at all whatsoever.
The last part is the theme throughout the weekend, really. Everyone is so open to share, and aside from the breakout sessions during the day, everyone mingles during the free time in between as much or as little as they prefer. My FOMO has gotten to me a little, but I remembered to take mini breaks when I could, too. (Side note: the retreat location has their resident cat, JackandJill, who is VERY loving and helpful for this cat lady… he was the highlight of several of my mini breaks during the weekend.)
It was very interesting to also meet people I’ve met online on the All FIRE Connect! Meet Up group, too. It almost felt like we’ve know each other for a while now, when in fact Camp Mustache was the first time we met each other IRL. (Ahh… the magic of the virtual world!) We are not just money nerds, either. During the camp, you find different talents from the campers, too. We have expert mixologists (cocktail enthusiasts, too) which made every night much more fun for sure. And to my surprise, I’d say 85% – 90% of the campers were introverts (yay). And money isn’t really the ONLY thing we talked about; we’ve had conversations about dating/relationships, death, health, hobbies, and more.
And did I say I met Mindy Jensen from the Bigger Pockets Money Podcast? Y’all… before we even get there, I already announced my fan girl status… and starting Day 1, I was heart-eyed all over when I saw her the first time in the lobby. Although we didn’t get to really chat much, Mindy was so kind to pull me aside one morning before she was leaving, and we chatted about real estate. She patiently answered my newbie questions (same as everyone else, really) and offered resources, and I’m forever grateful for this opportunity. The theme of the event is “We Rise by Lifting Others,” and that’s exactly how I felt at the end of the event.
The Mustachians are not just about the numbers, either.
While FI journey is about money, about numbers, the main takeaway I get from the event is actually a MINDSET shift. I’ve heard this in All FIRE Connect! meetings, that one of the seasoned FIREd people, Alma, said “had I known what I know now, I would have taken it slower and enjoy life more.” (And I told her that at the event.) And several breakout sessions even talked about the idea of taking a sabbatical even while you’re still at the accumulation phase. Here; let me break this down further:
- Take your time: One thing I tend to forget from time to time is to slow down. Too often, when the comparison-titus hits, I start to doubt myself and our progress. No kidding, them negative thoughts were flat-out EVIL! (e.g. “I don’t make a 6-figure salary and this sucks;” “I’m turning 40 and I still feel like I just got started and I suck,” “holy shit I’m over budget and I’m never going to FIRE”… the list goes on… and you wonder why Mental Health and FI Journey is related in my opinion.) But I have to remind myself that it isn’t always about how much my paycheck shows; it’s more about the % of savings/investment I do every month, and the consistency to continue doing so.
- Take a sabbatical: This is actually a great concept that could potentially trigger some anxiety (to me initially too, tbh). This is about taking a sabbatical from work from time to time to recharge, rebalance, and reconnect to life. You might be thinking… “heck, I’m not a professor; I don’t get sabbaticals.” Truthfully, not every job or employer would allow you to take a month off just because. And I also understand that for some people, even asking to get a longer vacation sounded like putting your job on the line. (…which is another big WHY to have your emergency fund ready, people!) But the idea actually sounded very sweet particularly for those who are suffering from the daily grinds of high-stress jobs (or for those who whole-heartedly hate their jobs with a passion). Does that mean you may need to dig into your FU money? Maybe (depending how many PTO you have and whether your employer supports this long break). But the whole idea, truly, is take that damn vacation you earned but never take. I’m not talking about a weekend away (although that could be nice as well); but actually signing off from work completely for 7+ days or more and do things you absolutely enjoy.
I’ll let you simmer on that for a bit, but feel free to ask me any questions you have below. Or if anything resonates with you, share with me in the comment section! 🙂 Stay tuned for more…
Xennials on FI/RE 