Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Unfortunate baby boomer reality

All about m/cycle values primarily, but so much else included... Sad but true.

Bikes have been affected just as much as classic cars.

I guess I have several observations: first, obviously, an emotional aspect to the woman losing her husband and having to deal with the artifacts of his passion, which clearly took a prominent place in their home. Not sure there's much one can do about loss of a person and some people are reluctant to let go of the things of a deceased spouse.
To the extent of collecting generally, I look at it a being a caretaker and if possible making it better, to pass on. I assembled a pretty major antiquarian style audio system over the course of years and have a considerable collection of LPs, some of extremely high value (on paper). Realistically, none of this stuff fetches what the "blue book" expects.
With cars, I always did ok, but it was a boom-boom market through the '90s into the aughts. Bikes- yeah, in the toilet, I think. The market is saturated, our generation (I'm 71) has done it already and from what I've seen a lot of the kids where I am, they ride small bikes, survivors Honda 250s or scooters, as opposed to liter bikes. (Sadly I knew a few youngsters who lost their lives on those things- too much bike, not enough skill).
I've set up a trust with my wife to dispose of my "stuff" and I'm being fairly dispassionate about it--when I'm gone it won't matter and I want to make it easy on her. At the same time, I have to say these things that I've plunged into with both feet have brought me great joy, and in that respect, you cannot measure it by money/value/market.
PS: To me, that Norton was the bomb, but I'm a sucker for vintage stuff.
Thanks for the post- I rarely watch long videos but did watch that one.

The TV programme Bangers and cash arrived on our screens circa 2018 and perhaps laid bare not only the life cycle of baby boomers such as I, but also the likely effect on market values relative to expectations of those who thought that they were wisely investing financially to some reasonable degree, while applying a fair amount of man maths to arrive at the imagined financial conclusion...? That perhaps being the case, then may well have created a situation where a spouse, and or offspring would reluctantly or otherwise agree with the formula presented, and live in hope that if and when there might be a requirement to cash in, that the returns on investment might ease whatever situation had arisen. ..?

In the cold light of day, as in posted vid, it would seem that the real world market value may have greatly added to the degree of stress for this lady involved, who may have to some degree had her financial planning disrupted to some degree...?

Perhaps best to fess up while we can, to those who may be important to us, in order to avoid a possible extra layer of disappointment when we loose our grip on the perch...?

It's the age-old principle, of which we are reminded in the small print everywhere these days: "The value of your investments may go down." There's no such thing as a risk-free investment. Never has been.

It's particularly risky when the thing one has chosen to invest in is not only intrinsically a depreciating asset but also subject to the whims of culture and fashion.

Every 'toy' Sue and I have acquired over the years has always been a joint decision and therefore a shared responsibility when the inevitable happens. I don't buy 'toys' with the intention of making money, and so far I've not been disappointed in that regard, I've lost tons of money over the years, but enjoyed some great experiences, and that's all that matters.

Often in our rush to acquire possessions (things) we sometimes overlook some of the most basic and simple things in life that can give you the greatest pleasure eg the company of friends and family etc.. As long as you have sufficient funds to comfortably see you and yours depart this mortal coil, then anything else is 'bunce' and bunce in my books is just a means of funding life's experiences.

……a shroud does not have pockets …! You can take nothing out of this world but try to leave it better…
Unfortunately a Baby Boomer reality (interesting title) ……….actually whatever happens the baby boomers are the luckiest group.
I have an article from a few years back saying 1948 was the best year to have been born in, ( no time to find and quote from it) Nowadays I’m starting to wish I was born in the 80s for certain reasons !
Best from a boom banger, MM

John, if I had saved all the money I have spent having fun then I would now be really having fun but I would be too old to enjoy it. as long as the basics of life are covered anything left over is to be spent on enjoyment, I hate to think how much I have lost on cars, never really give it a thought as I can look back on a great life having wandered around our planet seeing all sorts of wonderful things.

I've been very fortunate to travel the world for months at a time in great locations enjoying the best of everything at someone else's expense for over 20 years. Years of living in hotels and rented accommodation in great locations, has shown me the world and now the simple pleasure and joy of just walking up in your own bed.

I've read there is a major polar ice shelf that looks very like its going to break off in the not too distant future, if it does then its predicted to raise sea levels by 13 foot or 4 metes in new money, certainly means I'll need waders to get out of my front door.

If those type of it's now too late uncontrollable occurrences happen and the life changing impact it may have on the densely populated food producing river basins around the world, a potential global disaster in the making kind of puts the value of your garage contents into a small and insignificant problem in the grand scheme of things.

I haven't yet checked my waders for any tears or holes, but its on this list of things to do in the coming weeks..

We have travelled similar paths but ours for 34 years of fully expensed Tax Free status in the form of "Ordinarily Non Resident" qualification - which in reality meant a few friends of a like mind clubbing together and time sharing a property out with the EU/UK zone to spend the rest of your leave time. It also acted as a meeting place for some of your friends and relatives to share some quality time with, so as to maintain the status you are only allowed 30 days in the UK per annum, so hardly rocket science to maintain tax free status was it Before the "you should have paid tax somewhere "wokers" wake up - save your efforts as I would do it all again, especially visiting and working in some wonderful locations, thus meeting some vey special people around the world and lifelong friends.

Heather was at home in UK raising our three for several years of this and got handy at jumping in the car/ferries or on planes with the tribe for another adventure to see Dad, she coped admirably, as they do being full time Mum's, they have the energy to donate to raising balanced human beings and servicing their needs and not her own for a tract of time.

The total irony is that she has a far better wiring of her brain than I do but try as I might not the confidence to fully exploit it.
She works and helps folk out in almost any situation who are not equipped for the present set up of perceived progress and takes my breath away with some of the courage and situations she gets involved in.
With enough Faith anything is doable is her Mantra.

Tim I have to disagree on this though

"The value of your investments may go down." There's no such thing as a risk-free investment. Never has been.

When taken in my context of investments in Friendships