Bring On 2015 and 2014 KISS MY ASS

2014 was a very confusing year, and I will explain why.  I was looking at my Timehop pics this morning and it was a year ago this weekend that we had came down to actuallly set foot on some boats we thought we liked.  Then by April we found our boat here in Kemah, that following October we moved aboard fulltime.   Yea, most of you will say why is that a bad year, oh the story has just begun.

My wifes youngest sister who had already kicked breast cancer's butt, found out she had a genetic issue called CDH1 gene mutation.  Well that has caused that entire side of my wifes family to get tested.  A lot have tested positive, and some have tested negative.  CDH1 is a nasty little booger that is not on the main front of cancer TV ads or testimonials.   However, I think it has  a broader reach than it is currently known to have.  It first causes stomach cancer, and it causes a stomach cancer that is very hard to detect.  For instance my wife had her genetic testing done and was positve.  So she had a stomach biopsy done. First pathology report no cancer.  Her gasteric DR. Insisted  on more testing, and guess what STOMACH Cancer hiding in the folds of the stomach.  This cancer hides and will raise its uguly head and KILL you without blinking an eye.  Treatment of people with CDHI even if you test negative on your biopsy should be a total removal of your stomach, and if your a female a double mastectomy since it also shows up as lobular breast cancer.  Yea that one tends to hide too.  So far both her sister and other family members are on the same path for treatment.  By the time your in your 60's the chance of you having cancer is 75%.  To much risk for us.  So now with all issues taken care of, and my wife almost fully recovered we have the plans almost back on track.

What we have learned is that low debt. and I mean almost debt free helped us in so many ways I cannot explain.  Having the right insurances to protect us for healthcare cost and income, has made this a little bit easier of a year.  Was it easy NO, insurance battles are always stressfull and a pain.  In the end they did pay and we were out very little.  We both have become minimalist.  We have learned that experience and adventure mean more to us than stuff.   Stuff you will one day leave, but the experience of life will be with you forever.  We did get it off track a bit on paying off the last 2 little items, Carols car and the small amount on the house.  Those should be done by spring if were lucky. In 2014 we put all our personal belongings on the boat, we own nothing else in storage or tucked away at someones home. Then we can start packing away the money for cruising.

The plan is our investments stay put for 10 more years, and as long as the market does not fall off the edge of the earth they will double.  I have a state retirement I can pull at 55, and the money we sock away for a couple of years should get us to that 10 year mark with little problems.  We still need to sale the house on the lake, but that market is slow.   It is an income producing property, and yes some will say keep it.  I just do not want the headache.  I can make more investing it wisely, and less headache.  

So know you see why 2014 was good and bad, but for the heart it was mostly bad.  My wife is such a strong person and it has pained me to see her hurt both physically and emotionally.  I have watched both of my sister in laws battle the same fight.  We have a son that has to fight this also. My father in law must fight the same battle and many more family members must fight it this year too. So our hearts still carry a burden this year, but prayers are many and God has answered many.  We went out for a date night, and the wife finally got to by a new Bra for her new "Girls" and she looks GREAT!  She is for sure on the down hill slide of recovering from 2 major surgeries.  2015 watch out we have big PLANS!

The best day of 2014!