A few of us Hiveans are chatting it up on Discord, reminiscing about better days, greener candles. @Acidyo brings up a big regret he’s been holding onto for years at this point: “I didn’t sell enough at $3.”

These red days can really mess with our heads, I gotta admit. I, for one, am the living embodiment of a meme at this point—I’ve got nothing left to buy the dip with. But this doesn’t pull me into a state of fear, doesn’t freeze me. To the contraire mon cher, I’m upset I can’t pick up more tokens on the cheap.

I told @Acidyo my conundrum with total honesty: I’m terrible at selling. Sure, I might think I “know” when to buy, but no matter how much I plan my exit strategy or set aside for the lean times, I always hesitate to pull the trigger. I just can’t do it.

That’s exactly why I’m writing this out—because I can’t express it any other way. I’m trapped here, for two different reasons, coming from totally different angles.

I Don’t Trust the Government

Naturally, I don’t feel safe holding money inside a bank. This feeling has gotten worse over the years as I’ve learned more about how “it all works.” A few years back, my bank accounts got frozen over a traffic violation. Let me say that again—a traffic violation.

Whatever sense of security I might’ve felt having dollars in “real” accounts vanished that day, like a handful of cotton candy in hot water.

I Don’t Trust Myself

Being in crypto gives me a shot at some kind of retirement. Maybe, with a mix of luck and hard work, I can live out my later years with a bit of dignity, with some flexibility.

I could live wherever I want, not worrying if a pension check can find me consistently.

So, I’m Trapped

But not in a way that makes me worry or feel bad. I feel like I’m nested here, in this system, drawn in by the seductive philosophy and the sweet scent of a promise.

MenO