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[RC] affordable and retirement - Lynette HelgesonI work in a Nursing Home and seeing people at the end of their life I can tell you the most important lesson that they have taught me: take care of your body and mind, and enjoy life to the fullest while you can. Do the things that you love, no matter what the cost, because in the end the memory of that life is the only thing that will give you satisfaction of a life well lived. Lynette Helgeson (in 60 degrees, sunny North Dakota) "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space! From: "Mary Maynard" <luvmares@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [RC] affordable?? I am very impressed with laura's response to this question. I take my hat off to her! I do stuggle with the cost of this sport. I often feel like it is just too costly.But I can't seem to stop :-) ! I am lucky to have a loving and supportive husband who helps me pay my horse expense bills. But I do work part time and every thing I earn goes to the horses. I have four horses. I pride myself in taking the best care I can of my horses. This is, in it's self, very expensive: shoes on two , trims on the two not being worked- all done every 5 weeks. Feed and supplements for four, vaccinations and adaquan costs, Chiropractic care for my working horses and teeth work bi annually, and then there is the need for health certificates and coggins. The list goes on and on. Then you add truck care , fuel cost , time off from work. Oh brother it adds up.I don't have a fancy living quarter trailer. I sleep on a futon mattress in the nose of my goose neck, with no air conditioning and an ice chest for food and I take sponge baths to clean up. For several years I slept in the bed of my truck... When I think of all the money I am spending, I get real nervous and think I should just quit..and put the money into our retirement fund. But one important truth for me is ; I have to ride or I really WILL go nuts. Riding keeps me sane :-). So is it affordable? For me I can't afford to stop - or it would be the looney farm for sure :-). Good luck to you - go for it!!! Be sure to use Laura Hayes as a GREAT example of how to attain what matters to you in life. I hope to meet you on the trail some day! Mary Anne Maynard From: Pam DeMerchant <pam.demerchant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [RC] affordable?? There are 2 ways to afford our hobby: a) reduce expenses b) increase income. So far, the comments have been on the first option. There are only a few that are able to successfully make money off of their horses, and for the rest of us, they're an expensive hobby. Accepting that reality, I chose to sacrifice for many years, by choosing a non-horsey indoor career that would pay enough to afford my habit, and went back to school twice while working full-time in order to get there. I rode not-at-all, and then very sporadically during that time. It paid off and has definitely been worth it. You get to pick which method or combination is acceptable to you. Either way, there is sacrifice involved. Pam =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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