Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Goodbye, farewell, and amen.

I'm sure you guys have noticed I haven't been around much lately (read "much" as "at all"). Life has gotten in the way, and priorities have changed. Some of you may be aware that I've been acting as live-in caregiver to my aged mother for the last three years, who's suffering dementia (weird thing about dementia is it's actually everyone else who suffers from it... the person with the condition remains blissfully unaware) as well as holding down a full time job. On top of this I've recently become engaged (yay!) to someone in another country (oh...) and that's been taking up what little free time I have left. The bike's been rather neglected of late, in fact I've only ridden it twice in the last six months. My RC planes are also somewhat neglected with my latest remaining 99% complete for about a year now and my club membership having lapsed. Bills are mounting up with regular international travel and I've been trying to get myself into a financial position where I can buy a couple of investment properties with an eye toward early retirement (before 50 would be nice). My plan, for anyone interested, is to get a pilot's licence, buy a seaplane, and retire to the Philippines where I'll drink beer, sit on the beach, look at tiny little brown girls in bikinis, and run a small inter-island air taxi service for tourists. There's 7107 islands in the Philippines and only one other seaplane service that I've found, so I shouldn't be short of destinations.

The upshot of all of this is I've decided it's time to sell the bike, as much as I love it, to fund some short term goals like applying for a visa for my fiance and getting deposits together for investment properties. I'm not giving up riding per se, just taking a hiatus while I reach for new horizons, so to speak. The lack of personal time means I'm no longer able to fill my responsibilities as a moderator here so I'll take the opportunity to bow out gracefully. It's been fun, and I'll maintain my membership here to keep up with the news, and help out with any electronics related queries. My website will also remain online for those who use it.

I'd like to thank you all for the friendship and comeraderie you've shown me. It's been a fun ride, and I'm sure there'll be more in the future, possibly with a slightly more tropical flavour.

Good luck mate
Best wishes to you and yours

Good Luck Matt,
sounds like a top plan
hope all goes well and well done for having the balls to live your dream.
Cheers
Chris

Yep Move with the times . Do whats best for you Matt. Thanks for all you have put in to us and this site over the years . One day you might want a trumpy to ride round that island of yours and you will always be able to get another one. atb geoff

Good luck in your endeavors,both personal and business!
It's great that your taking care of your mom, your a good man. I thank you for all the help you gave me.

Best of luck in all you endeavors!!!

My Mother in-law has Alzheimer's, and home caring for her has put a very large strain on the whole family. Luckily for her she isn't aware of what is going on. One statistic to keep in mind: 80% of care givers that home care a Alzheimer patient end up passing away before their patient does. In large part this is due to the care giver being the spouse. So take care of yourself as well.

Thanks for all your help and input to the forum and members. Your plans sound great!

Sell the bike, buy a sea plane... only two things to say. Fly safe! and Keep the dry(ish) side up!

Good luck Matt. We have all enjoyed, and benefitted, having you around.

Matt , understand your predicament, went through the Dementia/Alzheimers with my Mother, it is no fun. We'll be here, prayers are with ya...

Cheers Matt,

Fortunately I haven't had to live with alzheimers in my own family, but have witnessed a lot of it around me. So in that sense my hat's off to you & your's

You have brought much to this site over the years and in that sense......Thank You.

Now about that crack about planning to "retire before 50"

jh

Good luck Matt! It's been good having you here, thanks for all you've done.

Good Luck Matt! I hope all your plans work out well for you. And you know you can always still pop in any time you want, you're still family around here, with or without a bike.

Thanks for all your help Matt! Good luck!

Good luck Matt. Having a wife from a foreign country can be a challenge. I hope you have better luck in getting her a visa "down under" than I do here in "the colonies". Although, she's has had 2 visas to Australia, her latest is good for 1 year, multiple entry!!

Best of luck with your mother as well !!

Good luck Matt, hope it all works out for you.

All the best Matt, don't forget to pop in once every blue moon, and all the very best with the future planning.

Here's to your many contributions you've made over the years to make this website what it has become, Matt!

Hope all your plans come to fruition.

(...and like everyone else is sayin' here, please keep in touch and let us know how you're doin')

Hey Matt,

I understand some of what you are going through...

I'll be welcoming you as my neighbor soon I guess!

make sure you move to the south of the Philippines, much friendlier....

I might become an early client, since you will be just south of me and a short trip over.

Just make sure you get a sea plane big enough to store a surfboard in it!

Take care and the best of luck!

I'm bummed to see Matt go, but you never really leave BA.com. You'll always be welcome, Matt, and your hammock at the Moderator Retreat™ will be waiting for you.

Great Plan / Plane ..take care and God Speed !

Good luck in your new endeavors and God Bless you for caring for your mother. here's to your future!!

Goodbye is such a harsh word. How about Aloha?!

Aloha Matt. Safe travels to you.

Best of luck

And just because you're going to be happy doesn't mean you can forget about us.
So when that happiness gets too much, just pop in and say hello, we'll get rid of some of it for you

Awerabest Matt , i hope it all works out for ya.

Matt, I wish the best of luck and I love a dream so go for it! Glad to hear you're not bowing out and will pop in from time to time.

Matt,

Glad to see you have a plan and are acting on it. Hope things go well with you. Appreciated your input over the years especially with electrical issues. Make sure you drop by from time to time.

Good luck in all your future endeavors.

Best of luck to you Matt! Anybody that can retire and live the high life (pun there on flying) has it made! All the best.

All the best Matt and hope it goes to plan. My mum has just been diagnosed with dementia and it is a terrible disease.

Good luck with all your plans, and thank you for all the tech advise.

Cheers Matt and don't forget to take care of you.

Sounds like a good plan for life to me.
Just be extra cautious if Anne Heche tries to book your seaplane.

Best of luck. Stay away from 'Po City'.

good luck - thanks for the electrical help.