Anyone around here care to share their experience with their portfolios in previous downturns,

[raccoon]

such as 2000-2002, 1981-1982, 1974-1975, etc.?

I mean something like the following:


“…My portfolio is down around 7% this year. I've been down this road before (and worse) - 1990, 1998, 2000-2002. It isn't comfortable to watch your portfolio drop, but I have learned the value of sticking to the plan. I think it takes some experience in living through a drop like these to know how you will react. The mass hysteria you are hearing is people not reacting well to their first big market shock.”

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20616