Value Investor: when to buy

[Temperament]

Bravo etan! Congratulations too!
i think you have got my message and your courage back, not that you have lost it, i hope.

Repeat of my message below:

Hi etan, do not be discouraged about making back money you have lost. Actually you have your lifetime to invest to make back. How old are you now? I am going to be 65 soon and i started investing only at 40 year-old. (Everyone "old" in this forum will know) And as long as my wits live with me, together we will invest.

This last 2008/2009 Big Bad Bear pawed my stock portfolio down to about 50% at once stage. Now 2012 not only i recover my losses, i make some money too. If Mr. Market keeps on going North, i will keep on unwinding my position as i travel with Him. If Mr. Market suddenly decides to take a fighter plane and dives South, i am prepared to go with him too.
Another words be prepared for all eventualities Mr. Market throws at you. This then is my investment's "principles".
May you recover your losses.
Amen.

NB:
To tell the truth, i thought 2008's low was the lowest point but it was actually 06 march 2009. i was buying until now ( 06/03/2009) then i chickened out as i couldn't take it anymore. Though i still have more than 40% of our capital in "save investment" . On hindsight i should have put in all our remainder 40%. i did it when i started investing because i was quite youngish old then. i think it is more "fun" in investing in stocks when you are younger; as you can afford to take more risks. Or put all your money in stocks except your emergency fund.
Now it seems preservation with a little profit to keep up with inflation is more important for our capital. But i may get greedy again, once of these days. Really i hope not. What's the point isn't it? We all ended on the yellow-brick road in the end. And we can not bring it with us.

NB:
Our capital means me and wife. But i am the only one managing the money, since day one. Luckily for me my wife is not a spendthrift and by now of course she trusts me in managing our money. The proof of the pudding is in the eating kind of logic, you know.
Amen.

Hi Temperament,
TQ! But it's still too early to say whether I will indeed put action into it, and how it will pan out. But I will be definitely be on the look-out for that pot of gold! Come on everyone, come and join in and scoop up as much gold as your hands can hold!

I learnt a new word from you today - youngish old! Like that also can!!!

Anything (investment) is possible is also can!
What more can i say?
Hallelujah!
Amen.