As youngsters (now oldsters) growing up in Bermuda, we could not wait to leave the "Rock''. Wait was a mild term, yearned, plotted, schemed, in any way possible to get off (in many cases never to return), so claustrophobic, so limiting, so confining, so boring, so...just so small was this place, Bermuda, the fourth most remote spot in the world.

Just as the Vikings, the Portuguese, the English, and so on launched themselves practically off the face of the earth in the quest to explore the unknown world, the drive to seek and experience new frontiers is in all Bermudians. And when a friend or school acquaintance left, or a sassy ship sailed out of port, there was a tremendous sense of sadness for those of us left behind, feeling frustrated, isolated, almost abandoned. For those with limited resources, there was a sense they might never, ever get off the "Rock''. There was also then, a depressing realisation that they might be limited all of their lives to an island spectator role, living vicariously through old movies and TV shows, television itself coming late to the Island mass market around the mid 1960's.

A random vivid memory to this day, standing at the uttermost edge of the Town Cut in St. Georges, at the age of 15 desperate to get away, watching the training ship Windjammer set sail for the open ocean. And declaring that I, too, would someday soon be on that ship. "Don't be ridiculous,'' my mother replied, "you will do no such thing and besides, you can't, they don't take girls.'' Crusher! The tall ships blew into town this year. On one of them was an undiscovered young female cousin from the UK branch of our family. A cheeky, amiable lady member of the English RAF, at the ripe age of 22, she was equally at home as a paratrooper, a spotter for F-16 fighter pilots and crewing on the ship even though becalmed at sea for ten days. Meeting her for the first time, it never seemed a question of what she could do, only if she could find the time to experience it all! How times have changed! The sun set last week on the last day of the Twentieth Century; and we will enter what pure mathematicians call the real beginning of the new millennium. It has not been the best of years for investment markets.

In fact, it has been the worst year ever for the NASD. But worse than what? We all, alive today, have benefited from one of the longest and strongest periods of economic growth in United States history. It is also now recognised that a nation benefits the most from the contribution of all her people and we have seen greater equalisation in workplace gender roles than ever before. We have also witnessed first-hand the most amazing evolution/revolution in communications ever known.

The sense of isolation that Bermudians have all experienced in the early years will never be again! Speaking to a gentleman, David Gutteridge, yesterday, he reminisced about flight access years ago to Bermuda. It would take his father 23 hours to travel from England to New York (with two fuel stops); then he still had to hop another plane home. Today, planes in and out of here are routine; and while tickets are thought of as expensive in today's dollars, they are considerably cheaper cost in time and money than many years ago.

Count the number of corporate jets sitting on runway tarmac on any given business day here; we are a hop away from major international commerce centres.

And with the Internet and broadband access, we truly have never been so close to so little and so much. We are now allowed to be an active participant in the investment markets, in commerce, with our distant friends, with the world community. Bermuda, today, represents a wealth of interests at the very top of the economic food chain; and we are uniquely qualified and situated to continue to take advantage of enormous opportunities. We can only be limited by our own ambitions (or lack thereof).

So for 2001, let's concentrate on the future and positive side of life, because as my brother always says to his children: "The best part of living, is that no matter what happened today, you get to try again tomorrow.'' Take the time soon to run through a physical, mental, emotional, and financial health checklist; it will help you assess where you are and help you plan to get "ready to try again'': Physical health: Instead of lunch, have a small snack, then take one lunch hour a week and walk the entire hour. Your body and mind will feel better.

Do the same thing on the weekend. You'll be amazed at the results and the dollar savings.

Mental health: Educate yourself. Learning benefits the learner and the educator. Sign up for night school; take advantage of all courses offered on the job. You never know when that skill will come in handy.

Never got your high school diploma? Do it now, what are you waiting for? You are never too old and it is never too late to learn. You'll feel and be smarter; your confidence level will soar.

Motivate a friend or co-worker to do the same. When they see your courage and that you are not afraid to fail; you will inspire them.

Emotional health: Think long and hard about what you really need for your future. Not the same thing as what you want, is it? Think about less being more, investing small for value, rather than acquiring. The less pressure you put on yourself to succeed materially, the more value premium you place upon yourself as an individual.

Live simply, so that others may simply live.

Financial health: Owe money? Practice hard discipline; pay what you can on each bill every month. You can do it. If you qualify, consolidate your bills with a further charge on your mortgage, and then make that payment consistently. Cut up your credit cards, use one sparingly.

Need additional structure in your financial life? Get help now from a financial planner. It may be the smartest money you ever spent.

Save regularly. This is the second year of the pension scheme; everyone gets a minimum of 4 percent this year. Try to put aside an extra two percent to make a total of six percent. Consider that six percent of a $30,000 a year salary (with two percent from 2000) invested at a modest 7 percent for ten years is $27,028 and for 20 years is $78,972! That's how far $150 a month can take you.

Think you'll get a bonus this year? Put it away at a decent rate of savings.

Don't pay down anything early. Rainy days come when you least expect them.

You'll have some cash when you need it, not when you are forced to sell a precious asset.

Become a value investor in every aspect of your life. Learn about investment markets. They are here (and you are in them) whether you like it or not.

Because of who we are and where we are, in Bermuda, we are situated to take advantage of many investment opportunities. Where else in a town (literally) of 60,000 people would there be consideration of more than one major business holding a position on the most influential stock market in the world! But, if you don't understand them, you won't know about them and opportunity will pass you by! Do the best you can and remember, no matter what happens today, you get to try again tomorrow.

Martha Harris Myron CPA is a Bermudian, a NASD Series 7 license holder, a United States Tax Practitioner and a Comprehensive Financial Planner. She is Programming Director for the Financial Planning Association of Bermuda.

Stormy markets: Commuters walk past the New York Stock Exchange in a light snow storm yesterday. The Dow Jones closed down 250 pointsto 10,662 on declining earning reports to continue a near year-long decline.