u/FenrisUr

A ways back, I had the digital audiobook of an 80s horror novel. It was about an evil magician who was using dark magic from an ancient and extinct civilization (I think the Assyrians) to dominate the minerals market. The plot was about the main characters uncovering this and I guess probably fighting the magician, although I didn’t get that far. The weird thing was that it said the real civilization he got the magic from was so evil that their neighbors wiped them all out and they were a mystery. Any idea what it might have been?

I'm hoping to retire to Sibui, Romania in about 15 years. I know it's cheaper than America, but how can I reliably find out how much cheaper? I've asked some AIs and checked a few websites, but I'm unsure how reliable either is, and it's important to find out accurately for planning.

I was in Timişoara somewhat recently, and happened to go into a tourist gift shop. Aside from the expected items (a ton of Vlad Țepeș stuff, țuică, paintings of idealized peasants), there was a ton of mugs and such with pictures of Ceaușescu. It was very weird, because of all the massacres and giving AIDS to orphans and everything else. Why were those things there, and do tourists actually buy them?

I’m 36 years old. I’d like to retire when I’m 50-52. I currently make about 150k, of which I see about 81k after taxes and 401k. I invest 19% pre tax in a 401k, with a 9% employer match. I increase this amount by 1% ever year. I live on about 54k a year of my take home, saving and investing the rest. Aside from that, I have an uncle who (for reasons I do not understand, but am profoundly grateful for) gives me 38k a year. I invest this all, using it to fund Roths for myself and my wife, and putting the rest in a college fund for myself 2 year old son.

My account balances are as follows:

Fidelity 401k: 346k

Treasury I series bonds: 40k

Savings: 56k cash

M1 stock: 23k

M1 Roth: 55k

Vanguard roth: 109k

Son 529: 76k

CD at bank: 9k

I have no debt, owing nothing on credit cards, and owning my house free and clear.

Is retiring at 50 feasible, given all this? I’ve dicked around with retirement calculators and google gemini, but don’t really trust either.

Edit: One other thing. My wife and son are both Romanian citizens, and I’m planning on retiring to Romania, where the cost of living is much cheaper than even the LCOL place I live now.

What’s a good dps for a tank in a +10? trying to figure out if I‘m doing okay or not.

I’m looking for books about oppressive Christian people or sects that are hiding dark secrets or end up blinded to something horrible by their religion. Think something like Trad Wife or Midnight Mass.

Edit: Guys, I get that you’re all super funny and edgy and such, but “The News,” “The Bible,” and “Reality” are very clearly not what I’m looking for.