Tom Morrissey (46) of Aguilar, Colorado has been simplifying life and following the Your Money or Your Life program for 10 years. He reports that “…life is good, but I’ve been thrown a few ‘curve balls’ along the way.” When we first interviewed Tom and wife Jenifer for Getting a Life in December 1995, he was employed in the high-tech industry and they had been on the Your Money or Your Life path for two years. In our conversations we were able to tell Tom of a way of tapping into pre-tax 401K savings without penalty using the “substantially equal periodic payments” IRS option. After crunching the numbers the couple decided to take the leap into the world of frugal financial independence in mid-1996.

Tom calls the next two years “the travel years.” After selling their home in Loveland, CO, they lived at a housing cooperative in Masonville, CO while exploring natural building techniques such as cob construction. Next they moved to western Oregon for a few months, continuing their research into alternative building techniques as well as intensive organic gardening. However, the damp Oregon climate aggravated Jenifer’s allergies and they returned to the Masonville housing community in 1997 while looking for property to buy. In ’98 they moved to south-central Colorado after purchasing a 307 acre ranch near the small community of Aguilar naming it Turkey-Trot Springs.

Over the next four years, the Morrisseys developed a large organic garden, took on animal husbandry and did volunteer work focused on preservation of the natural environment of the area. Unfortunately, Tom’s already poor eyesight declined significantly during this period until he was declared legally blind in 1999.

In 2002, Tom and Jenifer decided to divorce and sold Turkey Trot Springs. Tom reports that because they had religiously followed the steps in Your Money or Your Life, they were well tuned into their financial situation making the division of assets associated with the divorce much simpler than it might have been. In early 2003, Tom purchased a nearby eight-acre spread which included a 1200 square foot house where he now lives with his two dogs.

His eyesight stabilized, Tom now spends his time maintaining several websites for his favorite causes, listens to audio books and enjoys movies on DVD. He is still interested in alternative building techniques and hopes to begin developing the soil on his property in 2004 for a new organic garden. He has a small but close circle of friends, practices meditation regularly and tries to live in the moment.

Tom says that Your Money or Your Life continues to be an integral part of his life. “I'm still following most of the steps. I feel as though the program is serving me well. Factoring in life energy considerations and alignment with values is now second nature and usually happens as part of my point of purchase decision-making.” He continues to be financially self-sufficient without paid employment and still tracks his expenditures, does a monthly tabulation as well as an annual financial review.

Despite the “curve balls” life has thrown at him, Tom is happy and comfortable taking each day as it comes without worrying about what has happened in the past or what the future might bring.