As i’ve said before, years ago when Steve returned to Apple i, on a total whim, bought some Apple stock. I picked up the phone where i was working back then and called the only stock broker i’d ever heard of, Charles Schwab. The representative was very helpful and patiently walked me through the effortless process. I paid with my AMEX card. I paid $24 per share and bought 101 shares.

The very next day it dropped to $13/share and i felt like an idiot. I embraced Warren Buffett’s advice; when asked “how long do you like to hold a stock?” he replied “forever.” So I opted for the long view.

Today that long view has finally come to a close.

Ever since Steve died I wanted to get out of Apple. I put in sell orders here and there, but for one reason or another they never executed. Not too long ago the stock hit an insane high-water mark and were i not preoccupied with something probably job-related, i would have sold, but i missed that opportunity.

Today i put in what’s called a “limit” order, the limit was reached, and the very last of my Apple stock converted to cash.

I’m converting assets i’d tired of, assets acquired in a previous life, into a new asset: a multipurpose outbuilding ostensibly for pigs (or other animals). True, this new asset will depreciate and is therefore, on paper, a lower-grade asset. But this is the new reality and it requires capital. Plus adding outbuilding(s) increases the value of our property, so despite the depreciation we will be, hopefully, in a better position when it comes time to sell.

Below in an illustration of something you won’t see too far from lumber mill towns: stacked 2x6s forming a wall. Contractors who do renovation have told me stories about pulling down plaster to find walls like this in older homes. That’s a lot of lumber.