Shorting and longing are not the same, nor are they equal in terms of their simplicity.
One of the most simple things is to dollar cost average and just continue to accumulate BTC on a regular basis, which will likely turn those following such method into much richer than they otherwise would be.
Of course, there are no guarantees in any strategy, but there is a certain amount of value in figuring out a reasonable accumulation level and then just getting to that level and furthermore continue to dollar cost average, without fucking around with a bunch of nonsense or trying to time which direction the BTC price is going or might be going in the short term, when likely the longer term is going to end up being UP.... and those who are not fucking around with thinking about both up and down (or valuing their wealth in short term dollar measurements), will likely be much more wealthy in the longer term (measuring in dollars or whatever).
These days having a 5 year or longer investment time horizon and keeping on investment seems to be a reasonable and prudent approach. Also, 1-10% allocation in BTC seems to be a good starting amount, even though going above that range could also be reasonable and prudent for many people.
Firm believer in this, but only time will tell if that approach will turn out to be prudent, things could still turn out really bad if the global economy really does go tits up and many are certain, myself included, that we haven't yet seen the full wrath of a collapsing global economy in the coming months.
It might still end up being a long blip on eventual Bitcoin performance 5 years down the line, for which cost averaging will really pull in value, but the problem for guys like me is wondering if we should protect value near the top, and judging when that top is. Because while I am in the long game, I still need to eat, and hopefully I can pause averaging near the top, so I can still sit back in ease as we come down and enter the next down cycle.
These can be quite tough calls regarding how much to take out as the BTC price goes up, which it is likely to do, and whether more should be taken out based upon larger BTC price moves up.
Even though currently, I consider rpietila to be a bit of a delusional scammer, he did make a good thread, back in the day, that had allowed me some thinking through my BTC profit-taking plans.
(SSS) - A Sane and Simple bitcoin Savings planI personally do a variation of that, which is to cash out about 1% value for every 10% the BTC price goes up and then to use a portion of those proceeds to buy BTC back, and rpietila had recommended raking out 10% for every 100% that the BTC price goes up without looking back.
Of course, each BTC accumulator has to find a balance that s/he feels comfortable to attempt to accomplish, and to set up that plan before the BTC price starts going crazy. Surely, each of us has the power and discretion to adjust our plan along the way, but if we at least have a bare minimum plan, then we have a lot more solid of a base in which we can work from in the event that we go to making adjustments to our plan(s) along the way... whether that is cashing out more or cashing out less and waiting somewhat strategically for certain adjusted BTC price points.
I have frequently proclaimed that no matter what BTC investors (those attempting to swing trade) do is that they should never run out of cash to buy more BTC (and keep a plan in that direction), and also never run out of BTC to sell in the event that the BTC price keeps going up beyond expectations, and both of those scenarios are easier said than done... and maybe there is a certain amount of BTC that BTC investors might say that they are going to HODL no matter what.. whether that is 20%, 50%, 70% or some other personally decided amount of their BTC allocated investment funds in BTC... of course, timeline will contribute to how to treat the BTC investment, especially if an investor is either getting really old or an investor has reason to believe that s/he might be needing fiat in a shorter time line (whether health reasons or some other personally specific reasons).
By the way, regarding your proclamation that you "need to eat," buwaytress. That is true. You should be sure to ensure that you have largely already accounted for your cashflow, and my own system tends to use an Excel spread sheet to project out my expenses for 6 months to 2 years, and of course, the more complicated your expenses, or your anticipated expenses (maybe including business relations, family expenses and/or other bills or uncertainties in cashflow), the more that you need to project further out and even to keep a larger dollar cushion in one or more locations that ensure that you are able to cover those various basic expenses and emergency expenses that should be considered way before the likely more discretionary hookers, lambos and blow part.