Mar 24th, 2020 | Tom Talks

SELF-IMPOSED ISOLATION: THE AWFUL AND THE GREAT OF IT While traveling in Florida in February, Tom came up with a game plan to deal with, what was then the coming pandemic: to pack up the house and move indefinitely to his 20-acre compound in northern Santa Barbara County. What can you learn from Tom's experience after his first three weeks? 

Here is the cookware set that Tom talks about in this episode that he got and swears by. Expensive, but will last you literally forever.

Here's the story about the kid in Ecuador who scratched his nose and then contaminated an entire batch of bread.  This is why Tom says that you can't trust packaged or delivered foods right now. The story is in Spanish, but make sure you, at least, can see the video.

How is isolation or quarantine going for you? Let Tom know: tom@blowmeuptom.com.

 

HOUR 1

Comments

Submitted by mwkirlin on

I am a little embarrassed to admit as much but I have been having fun. I have a 2,200 sq.ft. house on an acre. Not your place but still overkill for me. I have great sunrises, enjoy coffee in the morning, alone. I feel like a kid between Christmas and New Years. I know that is not the experience of most people, but I have an annual contract and am working from home for the next month. I have a really secure job because laws are in place that demand my services, and with 31 years of experience I have security that comes with it. Like you, I earned that. I also made regrettable mistakes, marriage being the primary one, but I am connected with my now adult son and we support each other. He virtually echoes what you taught me, partly because I always taught him to look out for himself first, and to treat others with a sense of respect and trust, just the way he would want. And now I am smiling that I have appliances that work for me. Damn you made me feel good tonight.

Submitted by cpk on

Why do all of these people say this stuff? What business is it of theirs if you date a model or not, or buy a fancy car or not? Your money your life. so many people just want to tell everyone else what to do, instead of taking care of their own business.

Submitted by TallTim on

Glad you're doing well.

I'd dump the place in the Hollywood Hills, personally. Its not going to get better there. It sure as hell isn't going to improve after the economic "Ice Age" that is happening now. The unemployment rate is going to be insane. Think you had homeless before? You've seen nothing yet.

I work wherever there is an internet connection, so I'm fine during this lockdown. I have supplies. I had foresight to be prepared for some kind of disaster, man-made or natural.

Even if the stores are bare, I can survive for a decent duration before I bug out somewhere else.

Lots haven't, and they're paying the price. Just wait until things reopen and the demand isn't there. This dislocation is going to make the great depression of the 30's look like a cakewalk.

Take care of yourself.

Submitted by Faithful LIstener on

I think a lot of people will practice Tom's money philosophy when this is over, and even while it is going on. A lot of people just got their financial wake-up call. After this is over, I think they will be like those who pulled through the First Great Depression, taking nothing for granted in terms of economic well-being. This must be a horrific shock for many who were barely getting by to begin with. I suspect so many will practice the new frugality with rare intensity. I told all of my relatives they can make a loaf of bread - good, high quality, fresh hot bread - for as little as a quarter, just to make a point as to how wasteful they are in every day life. If they, and so many others, don't get the lesson after this, there is no hope for them. Tim's right, demand will drop dramatically for al but the essentials, and even then, creative substitution will come into play. Loaves of bread for a quarter! If they are serious - and I don't think things will go back to the way they were, and Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps, and a debt snowball excel spreadsheet are online for free - they will live like people did during the First Great Depression. To thrive, you've got to survive!

Submitted by TallTim on

As Tom suggests, having at least a 12 month buffer in funds is key.

I don't think we've seen the fallout yet, because after the initial "stimulus" package to bail out everything -- including helicopter money to individuals, that is only a short-term fix. The bridge over troubled water continues, and there will be more bailouts. Its practically baked in. Unemployment spiked to a level not seen in 50 years.

I agree that Tom's students and P1's will probably be fine. I also agree about making what you can - damn you for making me hungry, I could go for some fresh bread, lol. I should buy one of those machines, since I'm not disposed to proofing dough and all that stuff.

Take care out there, its going to get wild.

Submitted by BIDEN2020 on

For me it's been 4 weeks of isolation at my 4acre ranch --I love it - it's great can see cars go by 200 ft away.. I have 3000sf house and my 2000sf metal & wood working shop here..free & clear after 12 yrs now..& debt free.
making the usual custom metal & wood industrial style pieces..selling at the same pace about 4k a month..got a 100k cash stashed away..
I can stay 30 feet away from the random occasional customer that stops by thankfully it sells itself so it's like 2 min. transaction.
Other than mostly just watching tv and making cool 'designer' tables & desks and going on short bike rides...

The second trump became the so called pres...I knew he would fuck it all up...to this extent.

Submitted by BIDEN2020 on

Tom, I heard the shelter in place was going to be for 1 year of human isolatiion
unless the is a cure / vaccine-- life seems like it is coming down to either you had covidfucking19 or you don't..