The SMARTEST thing you've ever done: Investment? Love? Name the

[radwriter0555]

best play you ever made, be it in a poker game that paid out huge, buying a lottery ticket, investing in a property, running into your soul mate...

The wisest decision you ever made.

Name it.

[bmbmd]

1. I married Tammy June 10, 1978.

Maybe the dumbest thing she ever did....

[UrbScotty]

27. LOL. Happy 25th Anniversary six months late! (nt)

[SheilaT]

2. Marrying my husband.

When I first met him I thought it would be a short term relationship. He didn't really interest me all that much. We married about a year and half after we met, and it's been a little over 23 years so far.

[GOPisEvil]

3. I don't think I've made it yet.

I'd say the best move I've made so far is paying down my debt. I know that's going to pay off long-term.

2004 seems like it is going to be a year of large decisions for me. I can't put my finger on why I feel that way, but I hope I choose wisely. :-)

[skippysmom]

4. Meeting my husband

second place: moving back East

[Jerseycoa]

5. Buy an apartment

In the East Village NYC, one bedroom, light on three sides, hardwood floors, new kitchen and bath. $50,000 with $1000 down. I would say what it's worth today, but that would be bragging. :smoke:

[HEyHEY]

6. again back to the city

I had three months before leaving for college, I had quit the family business because I got tired of my older sister's attitude. I walked into my Dad's office and said "I'll never fucking work her again" and left.

ANyway the next couple of weeks I was job hunting non-stop. Then I saw a job open up at the city...I had minimal experience and was a young punk. Chances were not good that I'd get this. I applied.

The next day I got to phonecalls, one from a gas station that said I was hired and wanted me to start Tuesday at 11:00 am....the other was from the city wanting to interview me Tuesday at 11:00 am.

THe gas station paid $7.90 an hour...the city paid $18.50

I had a choice to make, go the safe route, get the gas station job or get some balls and go for the city. I went fot the city and ended up getting the job.

The next few summers I would work 3 1/2 months and make over 7500 to go to school with. Smart move I'd say.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Divorcing my 1st wife

No kids, no assets to divide. But the BIGGEST payback was the wonderful family I would go on building next.

I really want some religious nut to come and tell me divorce is evil.

[DoNotRefill]

9. Divorce is evil.

There, ya happy now? ;-)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. No. You're no religious nut. (nt)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Besides, you didn't COME. (nt)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. No, wait, Skinner! It's not what you're thinking! (nt)

[acmavm]

8. Getting rid of my ex. I'd give you the gory detail but then you would have

to wonder about what was wrong with me. You'll just have to take my word for it.

[soleft]

10. Unequivacly - I gave up management job to be admin. assist

everyday I leave work at 5pm and I don't give it another thought until I walk through the doors the next morning.

[MissMillie]

11. I Quit Smoking nearly 6 years ago

but I suppose that still comes in second to having my son.

[TrogL]

12. Got out of teaching

and got into computers.

It would have been nice if somebody pointed out that social misfits won't do well in front of a classroom.

[VelmaD]

13. I'm still in the middle of it...

I was just sitting here thinking about where I am in the process of letting go of my ex. It's been nearly 2 years and I let go of him a long time ago. But I just realized that I still haven't moved past reacting to life out of the pain he caused me. Getting past that will be the smartest thing I've ever done.

[Faygo Kid]

14. Kept my house after first divorce

And was happy to keep my roots, after 18 years of marriage. Bad decisions led me to sell it and move four years later. Those four years were great, though. Downhill since then.

[rbnyc]

18. Quit smoking.

Others:

Married my sweety
Got my degree
Started working for non profits
Learned to ask for help when I need it

:loveya:

[Tracer]

19. Started my own business.

Quit a job that I liked a lot (I was a manager), but the place was run by maniacs who thought management by intimidation and humiliation was the way to go.

Was terrified of leaving (the unknowns, the potential failure), terrified of staying (the day-to-day insults and misery) Ñ but I screwed up my courage and did it.

That was 12 years ago; I wouldn't go back to working for anyone else for all the tea in China.

[toddzilla]

21. Packed up my stuff and moved to Florida

about 5 years ago. i busted my ass and saved up a bunch of money and just decided to pull up roots and move to the sunshine state. i had no leads on a summer job and didn't start school for 3 months. although i ended up moving back to where my family is, i'll never regret my 8 month vacation. i rented a room in a vacant house for 375/month all inclusive 5 mins from the beach. I know i'll end up near the ocean eventually, there's just nothing like it.

[trof]

20. Investing

1. In the 80s I could borrow money from my credit union at 5% and put it in a CD (brand new then) at 8%.
Free money.

2. Just before I took early retirement from a job I learned that after I retired I couldn't borrow against my 401K. I could BEFOREhand, and still make monthly payments to pay it back after I'd left the company. I'd have to pay it back with interest, but I was paying the intererst to ME!
No brainer.
A month before I retired, I borrowed 30 grand, paid it off in 5 years, and still had my 401K PLUS 30 grand. Nice "enforced" savings plan.

[TEXASYANKEE]

22. Left home.

Moved away from home and family (Michigan) in 1980, at the tender age of 20, and moved away to Texas. Definitely the smartest move I've ever made. Followed by dropping 2 loser boyfriends, staying single, buying a house, and staying out of any serious debt.

And not to be forgotten -- signing onto Democratic Underground!

[UrbScotty]

28. And look what you got!

Hot weather, hurricanes, Bush, Perry...

So, our weather isn't all too hot, but at least our Governor is!


Our Governor


Your Governor

:spank:

...and lest we forget: Michigan gave the world Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin. Texas gave us that one guy in the House... what's his name? Tom... D...De...L...Lay...Tom Delay?

[geniph]

23. Admitting my first marriage was a dismal failure,

leaving him, and marrying my now-husband. Also quitting my nice secure job at Boeing and going out and getting work in the non-Boeing world was a wise decision. In retrospect, cashing in my 401K to buy my house - even though I had to pay tax at 38% that year, and had to pay a 10% penalty - was by far the best thing I've ever done financially (those 401K funds are worth virtually nothing now, while my house has appreciated some 25-30%).

[Ellen Forradalom]

24. Helped my father die

Helped him through his terminal illness: made him food, helped him to the bathroom, helped him phone old friends, and held his hand as he passed away. Loving someone like that comes back to you tenfold in appreciation and inner peace.

[MaineDem]

25. Best investment? KTEL

Back about 5 or 6 years ago. I got a tip, acted on it, and watched that baby soar. Should have gotten out earlier than I did but we still made a pretty penny on that crap stock! :D

The best move I ever made was marrying my husband 29 years ago. Sappy answer, I know, but I mean it.

[zanana]

26. Marrying my husband.

Did it 24 years ago--I don't know how I would have gotten through everything if I hadn't had him by my side. At the time, I didn't know I was making a good decision (I met him in AA during my second WEEK of sobriety). A year later, we were married and we've both been sober ever since.

[pscot]

29. Marrying the right girl

If it weren't for her civilizing influence I'd probably be living in cardboard box or under a bridge along the L.A.River.

[Capn Sunshine]

30. well number one would be convincing my wife to marry me

despite the phone calls every day from the CA Atty General, the SEC and the FBI.
She was skeptical. I convinced her :)
That was 20 years ago.

NOW, the 2nd smartest thing I did was to turn down the offer from the Reagan People to work for them on the campaign. I still have my soul as a result! :evilgrin:

[NightTrain]

31. Broke up with the girlfriend I had when I was 27

We started out as roommates but ended up sharing a bed. Unfortunately, she turned out to be selfish, immature, and cold-hearted. (I'd rather not go into detail about that.)

Initially, moving out and severing all ties with that woman felt like I was cutting away a cancer with no anesthetic, but in retrospect it was the best thing I could have done for myself.

[populistmom]

32. Buying our house I suppose

I mean, as far as a strictly financial decision. I generally had a good head for money, more so than my husband, even though I've been told all I do is "artsy things" :grr: but I digress. In 1995, when the real estate market was pretty much bottomed out around here, we bought our house much of it was me explaining how the market is low, it's a good time, we're having our second baby, this makes sense, ya da ya da ya da. Money-wise, we still didn't have much then, but things were looking up a little. Now our house is worth double what we paid.

I'm happy as to how I am raising my children because so far they are all extremely smart and well-adjusted people. I'm very blessed in this regard and I know I'm doing something right.

In many things though, I look back and see so many mistakes, so many times I took a path that might not have been the best path, often putting my needs asside for that of someone else or putting blinders on my eyes to hide painful truths. Sometimes though, I don't always know how much is reality and how much of it is just me being self-critical.

[kayleybeth]

33. Walking up and introducing myself

to the man who is now my husband. It took all of my nerve (and no small amount of beer) but that was the pivotal move that turned my life around. He eventually asked me out on a date and the rest is history. Going on 10 years now and we could not be happier :-)

[Catholic Sensation]

34. going out with this one girl two years ago

Taught me that waking up incredibly angry after spending the previous day with "my girl" and her "friend" is a sign that maybe things aren't as good as they seem.

Not necessarily the most happy scenario, but one that made me a much wiser person.

[scarlet_owl]

Everyone's saying this, but I'll say it too.

Getting married to the perfect person. Quitting smoking is a close second.

[scarlet_owl]

35. Everyone's saying this, but I'll say it too.

Getting married to the perfect person. Quitting smoking is a close second.

[qwertyMike]

36. Having my first child . . .

at age 40! And another 2 yrs later.

I'd had my fun, done my stuff, and to quote Johnny Depp, my life was all fog before that.
Perfect time.

[Insider]

37. left the u.s. army in 2000

iraq is too damn hot, and those boots hurt.

[SOteric]

38. Letting myself love again, in spite of the loss.

[GalleryGod]

39. Not EVEN Close: Married My Wife!

Once I Got a second Shot..20 years later.:loveya:

[UrbScotty]

40. Wednesday Evening Kick!

:kick:

[NightTrain]

41. Another: Buying a computer and getting onto the Internet

In the six years that I've been on-line, I've had the good fortune to befriend dozens and dozens of wonderful people, some of whom I've even had the chance to meet in person. :bounce:

Of course, I've also met some assholes via the Net, but whatcha gonna do? :shrug:

[Demobrat]

42. Going to night school for a year

to learn how to write advertising copy. It's supported me well for a quarter century.

[Susang]

43. Moving to Chicago

I wouldn't have met my husband if I hadn't moved here. Plus, I really love it here.

[VOX]

44. Marrying my lovely soulmate...

And not "cancelling my own ticket" when things were way *down* 27 years ago...

Helping my mom for nine years while she was ailing -- I wanted to just walk away from the responsibility so many times, but I'm so glad I saw it through to the end.

Also, making that backhanded running catch in 1969 while playing centerfield!

[NJCher]

45. partner, chart

Definitely my spouse, too. Another was to get my astrological chart done. It explained so many things to me and continues to do so.



Cher

[VermontDem2004]

46. You could probaly get a better response from me if you asked

The DUMBEST thing you have done.

[RebelOne]

47. Moved from Miami, Fla. to Atlanta, GA in 1989.