The Majority Are Still Wearing Masks Outdoors!?

 

I've been wearing my mask under my chin outdoors ever since the new Wuhan virus rules took effect this Tuesday. 

Its easier this way. Whenever I pop into a supermarket, hawker centre, or taking public transport, I just pull my mask up.

I've lost count how many times I've walked into the Toto booth or supermarket near my place, completely forgetting to put on my masks during the past 2 years!!! 

So embarrassing! 

Yup. After 2 years of "social conditioning", putting my mask on whenever I step out of the house still does not come naturally to me. And thank goodness for that!

Over the past 2 days, I'm pleasantly surprised that the majority of people still prefer to put on masks even when there are outdoors!?

You know what?

That in essence perfectly illustrates how we old fogeys veterans operate in the markets. And why we often underperform youths during a bull market.

Veterans who survived a harrowing -50% bear market often have the tendency to prepare for the next one.

The joke is we have predicted 13 of the past 4 recessions... Lol!

Hence you'll notice most veterans who survived at least 1 bull/bear cycle hardly get flustered whenever we have a sudden pull back in the markets.

Especially those who are strolling down the mountain. 

However, there are some extreme ones who still prefer to put on masks outdoors even when we don't have to...

And that's where I'm different from them. What would I do if I have no reason to get up in the mornings?

I prefer to join Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Stanley Druckenmiller, Jim Rogers, etc.

No, I'm not under any illusion I can copy their performances.

Ever wonder with their wealth and at their advanced age, why don't they just park their money into US TIPS (inflation protected bonds) and call it a day?

Evidently, investing/trading has never been a "job" for them. 

I suspect some hate investing/trading like their day jobs. So the first opportunity they can, they would FIRE and switch to the SAVE MORE path... The more PASSIVE, the better!

I don't know.

I'm just glad I can walk around these 2 days with my mask under my chin. Its so nice to be able to breathe freely again outdoors!!!

Diversification is for...

 

As with everything we read or learn from others, we need to understand the "essence" instead of just blindly parroting what others say...

Of course I diversify across different asset classes. 

Then again, for my equities investment portfolio, I don't own more than 10 stocks.  

To some, its too "diversified"...

To others, it may be too "concentrated"...

Compared to those retail "investors" who have most of their net worth concentrated into equities, but they are spread across 50 stocks or more. 

Who is more diversified?

Its quite easy to determine.

Did you panic or have sleepless nights beginning of March when Russia invaded Ukraine?

We all have different competences and pain thresholds.

Crash got sound.

Don't let the recent bounce go to waste if you realised you have taken on too much concentrated risks... Wink.

 

Finally No Masks Outdoors!

 

It's a start!

OK, masks are still needed indoors. That meant weekends I still have to put my mask on.

I can live with that!

As a snake oil, I'm used to putting my "in your best interest" mask on when facing customers anyways,

I just hope fellow Singaporeans will have the cow sense to their masks on while travelling in MRT or buses. 

But then, who am I kidding!? Just look how many still talk amongst themselves and on the phones while taking public transport...

For private car hires and taxis, I'm sure the driver will ask their customers to put their masks on during the ride. So no worries here. 

Although I'm not working in the travel related sector, feel a sense of relief for my service related brethren. 

Not gonna lie. 

There's a bit of guilt seeing how retail and F&B have more or less "recovered", yet through no fault of anyone, those who happened to worked in the tourism sector are still "suffering"... 

Hang in there! There's light at the end of the tunnel!

By the way, I still doing my weekly ART test every Saturday before I start work during the weekends. 

The ART kits were provided free of charge by the retailer I'm stationed in. 

Smart business move. You don't want one infected promoter/staff to infect the rest of the hired guns! We are already shorted handed as it is... Cost savings remember? That's why I'm not a fan of save more or austerity...

Of course on the outside, the PR spin its to "protect" our customers. Sure, if you say so...

Breathe.

Ah...