Thanks!

[LesWurse]

Many thanks to all the responders to my questions about "getting back in".  They were all positive and patiently understanding about newbie nervousness.  Jeez - not one sneer!  You don't find many forums like this.

[MediumTex]

At some point, we were all where you are at now on the PP learning curve.

It can be difficult jumping into something as counterintuitive as the permanent portfolio.

I would read as much as you can about it and make sure it's right for you.  Happily, a lot of what you would want to read (in addition to Harry Browne's writings) is probably somewhere in this forum.

[AdamA]

I would read as much as you can about it and make sure it's right for you.  Happily, a lot of what you would want to read (in addition to Harry Browne's writings) is probably somewhere in this forum.

Also not a bad idea to read some of the more entertaining pundit's predictions about the economy of late.  Not for advice, but more to understand the macroeconomic theory. 

For example, Peter Schiff, although I would never follow his investing advice, makes the argument for holding gold very articulately (and is also very entertaining, as long as you to remain skeptical of his predictions).

Martin Weiss has some good stuff about bank defaults (will help you understand why short term treasuries are used in the PP instead of money market funds and savings accounts).  His email newsletter is a train wreck, but, as such, kind of entertaining.

Robert Prechter, although almost always wrong, is always entertaining, and occasionally makes very good contrarian points (ie, don't count the dollar out, gold is a crowded trade).  Whatever you do, don't subscribe to any of his paid-for newsletters/services!!!

[dualstow]

Jeez - not one sneer!  You don't find many forums like this.

It doesn't hurt that you were modest and self-effacing in your original post, laying out past mistakes for all to see. (We've all made them).
But I agree: it's hard to find forums, big or small, that don't attract at least a few obnoxious comments, no matter what the topic.