Freedom on ngmarley.com

Priorities - Freedom is the Goal

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gotta start ’em young.

Last night I saw this Instagram clip of Bob Odenkirk answering the question of who he’s most jealous of. His answer? “Anybody who’s got young kids.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMtE6dnSrlN/

That’s the goal, that’s the best job of all — being a good, present parent. IYKYK. It’s the best time of life, the most hectic, and you just want a break. But at the end of it all, you wish you’d had more of this time. Someday, the shoes and toys won’t be scattered all over the living room floor. And you’ll wish you had the time back.

Some Things That Will Be Obsolete in 5 Years

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Just 20 years ago, the world was a completely different place. And in 20 years, it’s going to be completely different than it is today. Everything’s gonna change. Lifestyles, standards of living. It’s already in progress. We just don’t always see it that way.

Think about it: can you imagine a time before YouTube? That’s just ONE service that’s changed the way we learn, share, entertain and, in some cases, make a living.

Institute Policies to Avoid Breaking Hard Rules

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Today I had a conversation that went something like this:

Girl: “Hey, can I borrow your laptop?”

Me: “Hell no!” (jokingly, but not really joking)

Girl: “I’m working on something now, so I’m gonna need to borrow your laptop. This font size is just too small for what I’m working on.”

Me: “…”

I personally have a hard rule about my laptop: no one uses my laptop. For any reason, ever. That rule is slightly bendable for one person - my wife. And even then, she has her own account on my Macbook, she doesn’t log on using mine. Why?

In transit to Taiwan

Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The last 2 weeks of life have been a complete blur. I’ve been running around like crazy trying to get loose ends tied up in Arkansas, get assets moved around and re-allocated, and sell my big stuff (e.g. car) that I won’t need abroad.

Right now I’m in the Narita airport in Japan, about 80 or so km east of Tokyo.

And unlike my last short visit to Japan, this trip’s layover is only about 3 hours, so there’s really no time to get out and see any of Japan. So I’m staying in the international terminal, getting some food in my stomach and waiting for my evening flight to Taipei.

I get what they don't have...

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

My wife and I were invited over to a new mutual acquaintance’s house the other day. The house is in a nice subdivision… really nice. As in, 4 beds 4 baths 3518 sqft… $500k+ house. Just looked it up on Zillow.

Many of the houses are even bigger, with better views. Some of them are $1.5M+. There’s one that’s $4.8M, 8-bedroom and 15000 sqft.

That’s crazy. Anyway, that’s just to give a feel for where we were. As I drove through the subdivision, I got a little inspired. Motivated.

On Being Prolific

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Cut to the chase - I’ve decided to commit to being prolific. YOLO, and I’ve got so much stuff that I’ve worked 80% on, then just left it there. Articles that I’ve left it on my hard drive, never published. Ideas for amazing things, workshops, businesses, just left in my notebook.

A couple weeks ago, I had an idea for a non-profit. It just came to me in the shower, but it was so detailed, and the potential upside so big, that I had to write it out. It’s just sitting in Evernote now, but I’ll be publishing that publicly very soon.

How to Get Your Passport (for US citizens)

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

US Passport

Note: I wrote this back in 2010. I think the fees might have increased, and I’m not sure if the links are all working now. Get the book, not the card. The card is useless. Oh yeah, now you have the option to get the 26-page or the 52-page version. I don’t think there’s a price difference, so just get the 52-page version. Trust me on this one.

Finally, some solid goals.

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Sunset on a Highway in Alabama

Feel like I’ve had a breakthrough tonight. Maybe it’s a combination of being alone for a few hours (INTJ - I charge up on being alone), or maybe it’s the slight lift that I got from the cup o’ tea that I had a little bit ago, but it’s starting to click.

For years, I’ve wanted to “travel the world” and be mobile, yet make an income at the same time. But it was so hard to envision without getting a time-consuming and draining customer support job.

How to Do Anything at All in Life

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Note: I originally wrote this in July 2010, 5 years ago, but never posted it. Five years! That’s crazy. Obviously a lot has changed since then, and I wish that I’d posted this waaay back then. But the point I was trying to make still holds true, even more now, since it’s like I was writing for myself. My future self. It’s like a time machine, but in reverse. Crazy, man.

The Living Light Culinary Arts Institute

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

I never thought I’d actually fulfill the dream of going to culinary school, especially after adopting a vegan diet and lifestyle. But fast-forward to now and… here I am! I’m currently attending the Associate Chef and Instructor Training program at the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Fort Bragg, California.

It’s only been two weeks, but it’s been an amazing ride thus far. I’ve learned far more than I even thought possible, and still have two weeks left to go (one of which is dedicated to desserts!).

Sailing!

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

My wife and I are now registered for the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing class through Learn to Sail Texas in Corpus Christi.

We’re currently the only 2 members enrolled for the July 28-29th course, but that’s full enough that the captain won’t cancel the class (unless there is a hurricane).

This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a little over 2 years now, so I’m pretty excited that I’m finally able to make this happen.

Facebook account deletion link

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In case anyone is looking for it:

https://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account

This is the official Facebook delete account link. You can permanently delete your account by visiting this & entering your password & a (Re-)Capcha.

Be aware that it will be gone forever – this doesn’t just de-activate it. For now, there is still a 14-day grace period, so if you log back in within 14 days, the account deletion request will be cancelled.

Life Update and Castles in Belgium

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Castle at Bouillon, Belgium

I just realized that my ‘about’ page is pretty freakin’ sissy, so I’ve reverted to the old one. The image of myself on that page is pretty sissy as well, but I’ll change it as soon as I get around to it. The sissy ‘about’ page can be found at https://ngmarley.com/blog/about-2. (Update, April 2015: Not anymore. Sorry.)

Also, I’m going to immigrate to Belgium and purchase a castle there. I’ve already got some semblance of a plan in place, but currently only in my head. Here in a few days when I’m finished traveling I’ll be able to focus more on the specifics and getting it laid out and such. But basically, it’s a €10M in 3 years type thing. Don’t worry, it’s do-able.

Change is Good

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ok, I’m lazy as hell. That’s a good quality for a programmer, but not so good for other things. This was originally supposed to be published on 25 Oct 2010, exactly. So that’s when I’m going to set the publish date, even though it’s now 6 Nov 2010. Screw it.

Change is inevitable. Nothing ever stays the same. Change can either be for good or for bad, but it will always be.
– paraphrased from Coach Gothard (i think)