Money on My Mind
Dear Friend,
I’ve been a bit negligent lately in posting.
Since we’ve been back home, I’ve had appointments everyday to try and catch up on business and medical matters that we had neglected while we were on the road. Not really exciting stuff to post about.
I had a nice talk with my eleven-year-old last night. He is already getting bored, as I am. And he said he was finding himself slipping back into the consumerist lifestyle – you know, gotta have this, gotta have that.
It’s hard not to backslide. Especially during the holidays, when everyone seems to be spending money that they really don’t have.
One of the newsletters that I subscribe to says that this is the time to hit Mexico. Bad press, combined with the slumping US economy has left them hurting for visitors. That usually means deals. And if things aren’t crowded, you can enjoy the best stuff for less.
So, that’s where my mind is. There, and on money, of course.
With this economy, it’s hard not to think about money. We own two homes right now, as our old home never sold after we moved out. I’m sure that many of you can identify with that.
Even when you believe that the numbers work, it’s hard to get comfy and relax about travel when you don’t have that cushion of security.
Nevertheless, my kids are getting older everyday, as am I. I will not let passing conditions, like economics, stand in the way of going forward with the life I was meant to live. Or the life they deserve to experience.
Plus, I understand that you can live like a king these days in a luxury resort in Mexico, Ecuador or Brazil for about $500 to $1000 a month. That pretty cheap for the good life. These aren’t dumps in some high crime area, mind you. We’re talking about high style, with a maid, three or four bedrooms, high speed Internet, and all the shopping that you need close by. Some of these places have beachfront views or are in perfect mountain environments where it practically never rains or gets too cold or hot.
Perhaps the Universe is acting like tired parents who want to kick us out of the house so we can finally get a life. Except the house I’m talking about is our sheltered world in Anglo North America.
I suspect that one of the results of today’s economic shock will be the movement of people overseas who, a few years ago, would never have imagined moving out of the States. Perhaps that’s a good thing, in the long run.
Anyway, I’ll try to get with you more frequently as these boring appointments on my schedule taper off.
All the best,
Hugh
