Hi fellow steem-ites...

I'm a newbie to all the crypto-mania that seems to have hit suddenly. Although, I'm not surprised given the absolute mess that we're in. I'm a hard working dad that had to retire early due to illness, have rebounded, have more years ahead of me until I can actually retire, and have a real passion for the markets, particularly "real" money (think metals), meta-data, and great conversation with wonderful people. There are of course days that are better than others, but I think you all know that. Very much looking forward to meeting good folks for great conversation in between trying to manage all the canon balls in the air as I suspect we all do.

I escaped the educational system just prior to massive downsizing and am finding what I didn't think was true regarding 'older workers' seems to be now that I am one. My heart literally broke the other day when I sat in a McDonalds (yes the first time in a very long time) only to see the median age of the workers there, probably very well into their mid 70's if not later. One little lady was so frail, and she was the one wiping the tables off with a big smile! Who's mother is this? While I'd like to think like the rest of the millennials that she "just needed something to do", my heart simply tells me otherwise. What happened to us? How did we allow such evil to take place? And how will they survive who, like me, had a turn of 'unfortunate events'? OK, maybe it's a bit of a stretch using one example, but you get the idea.

So, this is my kind-of my experiment in keeping my sanity lol. Here amongst the posts I've already read, I'm finding intelligent, humble, folk who want to help others, and yes, maybe make a few cents too, nothing wrong with that lol. So, thank you for your kind community, hopefully I can contribute some rational thought as well, or not. We are all the richer for being able to have a place to share what we're truly thinking and for that, I am grateful.

And, yes, I am a bit of a silver bug myself lol. You GO all you metal holders out there!

Best,

Will