Reasons To Be Cheerful

by Chris Johnson

Instigator, anthill kicker.

Author website

For loads of reasons, I moved my family from what Greg once called the “tiny town of Westerville, OH,” to Gresham Oregon, a suburb of Portland.  I move into my rental house in a few days.  picture is what I see in my backyard.

My front yard is pine trees, and past that is a pristine view of Mount Hood. I crossed the plain in my minivan with my wife and kids, over 3 days–followed by my first vacation in years, a week in Manzanita Beach. We’ll do a 6 month stay in Gresham, and then figure out if Vancouver, WA is the mecca of tax avoidance that people say it is.

I have been delivered.

Now, I go back to work feverishly on the Sabbath, working like a dog to help my clients get what they want (and paid for).  I am joyful about the task at hand, my lists are set.

Many of you know (and I’ve never really hidden it).I have survived an ordeal, and I am happy because I’ve learned that I can’t be killed.   I can’t be extinguished.  I can get better faster than the government can harm me.  I took their best blow.  Yes, it hurt.  But I got tougher. They will never harm me.  And when  they try again, my stuff is together and I’m ready, and it will be a mere inconvenience, a half day’s work and a check to some Tax Attorney.

Like Martha Stewart before me, I had to maneuver in unpleasant ways.  I had to give plasma to keep the lights turned on 3 years ago. I wasn’t able to adorn my wife in the way that I’d like.   I joined the non prestigious Chapter 7 Society.  But I never broke, and I never said “do it to Julia.”

I’m guessing I’m not the only one.  I’m guessing that other people are shaking off the blows right now, learning that we can produce the income sufficient to pay for an extra house over a three year period in “the worst economy ever.”   Over 3 years, I paid what it would cost to buy a small house in back taxes, penalties and fees (stretching all the way back to 1998).

Where is thy sting? I lived something close to the worst case scenario.  For the last few years, my monthly cash flow started at -$4500.  That’s before personal or business expenses.  That was back taxes (and penalties.  And interest).  That’s what I paid before I paid the business…And that’s over.  I will pay 2009’s taxes in–or before–October, and everything will be well.  I’m over that.

I’m learning: I can get better faster than they can take away.  I’m glad for the blows because I would never have learned what I can do.  I never would have (without the looming threat of Jail) that I can make whatever I will.  Have you learned?  The government can grow, but it can’t grow faster than we can.  It can’t grow faster than you can improve.  It’s not as smart as we are.  It’s not as vital, or as strong.

That all of you are here, improving gives me great joy.  You can’t hurt us, we are legion.  When we are of service to others, of our own volition, that is how we win.  Defiant prosperity.