Subject: Re: What constitutes success?
do I have a better than 50-50 expectation that I can beat SPY by using MI screens? As long as I think I do, and have fun doing it, I'll keep doing it. Nothing else matters.

and

a smooth ride won't get you any higher standard of living the day you retire: only the portfolio balance matters. ... stick with the strategy which will ultimately in real life get you the highest CAGR

I believe that Elan is retired. I am retired. (I think we both retired much younger than the typical 65.) Jim, if not already functionally retired, could retire at whim.

Once retired, the main thing is having a portfolio large enough to easily tolerate Bengan's 4% (now revised to 4.5% - 5%) SWR withdrawals.

If it is large enough that your withdrawals get down to below 4%, you are golden. At that point, your focus can shift to HAVING FUN. The smoothness or bumpiness of the ride does not matter.

A FI asked me why we were nearly 100% stocks and literally 0.0% bonds when our portfolio had already "won the game". You know, “When you've won the game, stop playing.” We said back, "No, now we are running up the score. No reason to quit."
Quit would be boring. Running--or attempted running--up the score is fun!