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Re:My product is my garden by wombatmobile on Thursday February 04, 2021 @08:06AM (#26024978)
Pangloss, who was as inquisitive as he was argumentative, asked the old man what the name of the strangled Mufti was. ‘I don’t know,’ answered the worthy man, ‘and I have never known the name of any Mufti, nor of any Vizier. I have no idea what you’re talking about; my general view is that people who meddle with politics usually meet a miserable end, and indeed they deserve to. I never bother with what is going on in Constantinople; I only worry about sending the fruits of the garden which I cultivate off to be sold there.’ Having said these words, he invited the strangers into his house; his two sons and two daughters presented them with several sorts of sherbet, which they had made themselves, with kaimak enriched with the candied-peel of citrons, with oranges, lemons, pine-apples, pistachio-nuts, and Mocha coffee… – after which the two daughters of the honest Muslim perfumed the strangers’ beards. ‘You must have a vast and magnificent estate,’ said Candide to the turk. ‘I have only twenty acres,’ replied the old man; ‘I and my children cultivate them; and our labour preserves us from three great evils: weariness, vice, and want.’ Candide, on his way home, reflected deeply on what the old man had said. ‘This honest Turk,’ he said to Pangloss and Martin, ‘seems to be in a far better place than kings…. I also know,” said Candide, “that we must cultivate our garden.’

-- Voltaire, Candide

Re:My product is my garden by telesilla on Thursday February 04, 2021 @08:50AM (#26025274)
The families I know who live best are permaculturalists. Visiting them for dinner is always a treat. It's hard work though, and like others they have supplemental income. I imagine this old man knows well the trick: an independent life is impossible unless you have enough healthy young people around to do the labour.
Re:My product is my garden by jimbokun on Thursday February 04, 2021 @10:56AM (#26026443)
"an independent life is impossible unless you have enough healthy young people around to do the labour."

Or about $1 million stashed in index funds, give or take based on cost of living in your location.

Re:My product is my garden by raintrees on Thursday February 04, 2021 @11:16AM (#26026704)
Or around $600K in down payments in cash flowing rental properties in the US...

My wife and I spent around $75K to get approximately $1K a month in cash flow (5 doors, $200 each)...

Re:My product is my garden by Rumudiez on Thursday February 04, 2021 @12:01PM (#26027251)
I think the topic is independence, not being a parasite on others who are less well off than you.
Re:My product is my garden by 1MoreThing on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:17PM (#26029295)
It is kind of hilarious how often rent-seeking behavior is called out as evil when it comes to software companies, but actual rent-seeking with real estate is seen as virtuous investment.
Re:My product is my garden by vageli on Thursday February 04, 2021 @12:37PM (#26027680)
$75k for five doors? Might I ask whereabouts? That seems ridiculously cheap per unit.
Re:My product is my garden by wahern on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:06PM (#26029187)
Not impossible in impoverished areas. A rural trailer park, some section 8 housing in a bad part of town, or maybe they scooped up some single-family units at the bottom of the housing market crash.
Re:My product is my garden by raintrees on Friday February 05, 2021 @11:10AM (#26037808)
$65K for a 4 plex in Del Norte County, California, $10K for a single family in Lee County, Florida. Deals exist, it requires effort and action.
Re:My product is my garden by ngngngng on Thursday February 04, 2021 @12:58PM (#26027926)
I believe they're saying the down payment was $75k
Re:My product is my garden by silexia on Thursday February 04, 2021 @10:40AM (#26026248)
I agree it's hard work. Every project seems like it will take an hour at the outset, but ends up taking eight hours due to a wide variety of unexpected real world complications.

I traded in a beautiful city home for 106 acres at the beginning of the pandemic and am still glad I did. People have a fantasy picture of the tradeoff though... In reality, in rural places you have less social interaction and the people are of a lower caliber than urban areas. You can't make money farming unless you do it at massive scale, so I still work just as much online as before. Only now my free time goes into farming instead of golf or restaurants.

Re:My product is my garden by noxplode on Thursday February 04, 2021 @01:10PM (#26028070)
Supposedly, small market garden farms can be quite profitable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbHwAfHQA9M
Re:My product is my garden by CuriouslyC on Friday February 05, 2021 @10:01AM (#26036992)
You can't make money commodity farming unless at scale, but growing boutique items can be profitable. You just need to find things that nobody else is providing, and build a market for them. Vertical integration is also a good way to make money without scaling up - things like pickles and other cottage foods have a much higher profit margin.
Re:My product is my garden by slothtrop on Thursday February 04, 2021 @02:22PM (#26028786)
Love the quote and book, but only half-way agree with the sentiment, unless you stretch the analogy of what the garden is. Simple living/work won't in itself quench or stave off desire and passions. If that were true farmers would be a happier demographic. Desire never really disappears, it's at best channeled through engagement / flow, which dovetails with the fact that man's work is also the strongest predictor of his happiness. I imagine, but don't know, that those who want for nothing are not complacent, and those who are complacent can never consume enough.
Re:My product is my garden by singlow on Thursday February 04, 2021 @12:51PM (#26027845)
I was reminded of Being There by Jerzy Kosiński:

> In a garden, things grow... but first, they must wither; trees have to lose their leaves in order to put forth new leaves, and to grow thicker and stronger and taller. Some trees die, but fresh saplings replace them. Gardens need a lot of care. But if you love your garden, you don’t mind working in it, and waiting. Then in the proper season you will surely see it flourish.

> A gardener! Isn’t that the perfect description of what a real businessman is?

Re:My product is my garden by Breza on Tuesday February 09, 2021 @09:08PM (#26085031)
Haven't thought of that book in years but it's the perfect thing to cite here. Bravo.
Re:My product is my garden by hoytech on Thursday February 04, 2021 @11:16AM (#26026703)
And also check out the concept of the Epicurean garden, which is what Voltaire is referring to:

https://www.18thcenturycommon.org/cultivating-philosophy-in-...

Re:My product is my garden by tmountain on Thursday February 04, 2021 @08:42AM (#26025210)
Commenting, so I can revisit this later. Great excerpt!
Re:My product is my garden by alpha_squared on Thursday February 04, 2021 @09:10AM (#26025416)
You can favorite comments if you click on their timestamp.
Re:My product is my garden by spockz on Thursday February 04, 2021 @12:28PM (#26027573)
Dang: why is the favourite button hidden like this?
Re:My product is my garden by tmountain on Thursday February 04, 2021 @11:27AM (#26026828)
Wow, 11 years on this site, and I'm just learning this... Thanks!
Re:My product is my garden by jerkstate on Thursday February 04, 2021 @10:24AM (#26026075)
You should just read Candide, it’s fun and hilarious, and a true cultural touchstone.
Re:My product is my garden by slothtrop on Thursday February 04, 2021 @01:58PM (#26028575)
Yes, fairly short as well. One of my favorites.
Re:My product is my garden by sethjgore on Thursday February 04, 2021 @08:45AM (#26025234)
likewise!