Friday, September 19, 2008

An Odd Mix?

Passing through Singapore offers opportunity to catch up with old mates each time.
Well, what's new this time?

I told a uni-mate I got into Forex trading & Bird Nest farming as retirement activities.. "Huh! What an odd mix", he quipped.

He is correct.. it is an unusual combination indeed, even sounds weird!















Looking back, my first premise was to look for activities that suit a carefree lifestyle. Much of our working life was to fit into what the market needs and opportunities it offers.

To have a freedom of choice doing something in leisure is a dream. I started out with the notion of a little resort, but soon as I gained insights into bird nest farming... it is obvious which is a better choice!

When I first came to know Dr. Chris, a kidney specialist in KL, with his bird farms few hundred KMs away; visits them only fortnightly or perhaps monthly. It rang a bell in me the viability as a hobby farm.

The pluses:
No staff hiring and keeping them headaches,
No worry about seasonal variation of visitors,
No day to day operational issues involved.. etc.

Swiftlets takes care of themselves; they fly off at each day break to feed and return timely each night!
All that is needed is to ensure a conducive & safe environment for them to nest and breed.
No workers needed! No bills for feed mills!
I can spend as much time I like on the farm or as little as I choose.
I have the freedom to be away anytime too.
How convenient!
Down side is the capital outlay involved and a gestation period of no income.

Forex trading share many similar attributes.. complete freedom!
Freedom to trade any where, any time;
Freedom when to trade or not to trade!
Forex offers opportunity of regular income, provide one trades more profitably.

As my friend CK once put it across to me:
One is production based.. once up and running, it is a source of passive income. Little on going efforts involved.
The other is activity based; no trading - no income (besides trading risks); period!
They do compliment each other well.

Well, I have this simple graphic to illustrate:

Two different pictures: A headset & a circle painted yellow ....
Combine them creatively forms another new image, isn't it?








A smiley face, NO.. I am not smiling to the bank yet!

No comments: