“It’s true hard work never killed anybody,” said President Ronald Reagan in an interview in 1987, “but I figured why take the chance?” In the same year, he also said, “Tear down this Wall.” “When Soviet Leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev came to power in 1985,” writes Thomas H. Naylor in Secession, “who could have imagined that the Soviet Union would soon implode and cease to exist?” Who would have imagined America’s major cities would be on the verge of collapse in 2020? Running out of money, losing residents to the burbs, or other safer places in America? In speaking with a client yesterday, … [Read more...]
Island Life
In times like these, your safety tops the retirement survival checklist.
If you can live on an island (Newport, Key West for example) do it. Islands can be easily defended, period. Your island doesn’t need to be surrounded by water. I like the idea of a cul de sac or some high elevation retreat. You get the point: Easily defendable and easy to shut down access.
Making the thugs think twice is the point. They aren’t looking for “hard” targets.
If you own a waterfront home, or a mountain retreat, or some land with a barn not too far from the city, then you know their values are going up. I’m seeing it here in coastal Newport at every turn with license plates from NY, NJ, MA, and CT filling the streets—the secret’s out. But most have been dreaming about the “lifestyle” for years. They just needed a push to get in the game.
Read more about finding the "Island Life" in the posts below.
Smith Family Robinson in Live Free or Die, NH
Where should you live today? If you’ve taken an online survey, you might find yourself a perfect fit in any small town, USA. Combine this with your politics and you might find yourself living in 1776 or not far from Plymouth Rock with the pilgrims. Well that’s not gonna happen. So now what? Are you familiar with the Swiss Way? Or the Swiss Family Robinson? It’s a lifestyle. For me? I spend time at my log cabin in Live Free or Die, NH and coastal Newport, RI. We broke ground in NH for the winter skiing, but as the saying goes out west: “Visit for the winters, stay for the summers.” There’s … [Read more...]
H2O, Skiing, Hiding A$$ET$, Bitcoin, Ammo & More
In my conversations with you, you’re telling me the skiing out west is great. The liftlines, not so much. Turns out Covid’s a ski buddy. It’s not unusual to see chair, after chair, after chair, with one skier per chair, each from the same group, to social distance. Insane. At least the skiing’s good. You’re telling me from Park City/Deer Valley up to Big Sky and Whitefish, MT, it’s good to be outside. I hear you. We ventured out to the slopes here on the east coast between Christmas and New Year’s and had to contend with Covid liftlines too. The skiing? A little dicey. One run from the top … [Read more...]
What Living in Two Americas Looks Like Today
Buckle down, America, because finding your freedom is about the get a-whole-lot harder. With Warnock’s likely defeat of Loeffler, it’s clear we live in two Americas. As of this morning, it’s not clear if we live in a Senate controlled by Democrats. What is clear is we live in two Americas: Blue and Red. Whether it’s seated at family gatherings or a bird’s eye view from coast to coast, where blue is seated at each end, and red fills in the middle. There is a divide on all levels: state, county, and local. In my conversations with successful Georgians (anecdotal, of course) they tell me … [Read more...]
Great Reset, Swiss Way, and Living YOUR WAY
You’ve read about the Great Reset here, here, here, here, here, and here. And when the world’s elite gather later this month in Davos, they’ll be talking about you. They’ll be talking about how they can change your life and improve their world. Sounds pretty awful to me. Words that rule the Great Reset are: Climate crisis, globalism, inclusivity, equality, green energy, pandemic, and sustainability. Family is another, but not in the way you or I would define the word. If we’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that we miss our family. We miss our old life. And when a child looks … [Read more...]
Enjoying Christmas in a New Home Was Pricey This Year
When new home sales are falling because there isn't enough supply to meet demand, the only short term solution to balance the market is for prices to go up. It takes time to build new supply, but many of this year's home buyers are trying to escape the city now. They want to have Christmas away from the densely crowded, COVID-filled cities, and they don't care how much it costs. A combination of rising prices and short supply actually pushed down the number of sales in November. The Wall Street Journal reports: Homes sales slipped in November as the supply of properties for sale fell to a … [Read more...]
New Mexico Sheriff Stands Up for the Constitution
Fox News reports: "Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales said in a video statement posted to the department’s YouTube channel Friday that, compared to other state and local governments around the country, New Mexico’s COVID-19 response involves "some of the most restrictive measures which significantly impacted countless New Mexicans’ livelihoods, health and well-being." He said Bernalillo County, which is home to the city of Albuquerque, has seen "more than its fair share of personal hardships and devastation" and that "we all agree we must do better." "This year, my office listened … [Read more...]
How Can You Succeed When Politicians Treat Your Business Like Their Piggy Bank?
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio made official what most business owners in the city have known for a long time, his mission is to redistribute their wealth. Mayor Bill de Blasio: "Our mission is to redistribute wealth." pic.twitter.com/42Dv9tsRK0 — The Hill (@thehill) December 18, 2020 At The Blaze, Breck Dumas reports on what De Blasio told viewers of a press conference: The COVID era has taught us that so clearly, and we need to do better and we will," de Blasio said. "And that means a commitment to fighting disparities and inequality in every part of the life of New York City … [Read more...]
Fire Yourself Up: Financial Independence Retire Early
Are you familiar with the cool movement called FIRE or Financial Independence Retire Early? As the word Early implies, it’s taken hold of a younger section of savers looking to get out of the rat race. They’re looking for their island life, if you will, and it’s a lifestyle I support a thousand percent. For one, once you start thinking about living off your savings, you become serious about SAVING—a huge part of the process. But you also think twice about SPENDING and the benefit of deferred gratification you’ll FEEL. This pandemic put FIRE strategies to the test—especially during the market … [Read more...]
New Yorkers Flee to Suburban Islands in Droves
COVID-19 and a summer of rioting and looting have driven New Yorkers to flee to the suburbs where they are creating islands of peace. The NY Post details where they left and where they went: Where they fled from Top zip codes New Yorkers exited between March 1 and Oct. 31, 2020, with the number of change of address requests for each area: 1. Upper West Side, 10023: 3,368 2. Upper West Side, 10025: 3,000 3. Murray Hill, 10016: 2,889 4. Upper West Side, 10024: 2,708 5. Chelsea/Greenwich Village, 10011: 2,520 6. Upper East Side, 10128: 2,165 7. Downtown Brooklyn, 11201: 1,836 8. … [Read more...]