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What Makes "Home," Home? |
| Posted: 16 Oct 2014 10:47 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliBilly and I have been living life on the road for over 2 decades. We’ve been in dozens of countries around the world, staying in hotel rooms, apartments, a fifth wheel trailer and we’ve spent time on boats. We have house sat or lived in other people’s homes in the States, Mexico and Guatemala. Some people say they could never do what we do and joke that we are homeless. Sometimes we banter back with them and say we are homeless by choice. But it brings up food for thought; are we really living life without a sense of “home?” What exactly makes "home," home? In the early years of our roaming - even though I was blissful that I was traveling the world - I had a niggling underlying anxiety, a repressed feeling that I “should” be settling down in one location. Isn’t that what people were telling me? Isn’t that what adults do? Surely there was something unnatural and unsavory about changing our cell phone number every time we changed countries. For some reason it seemed more acceptable when all my numbers and possessions jibed in one location. But for over two dozen years, that hasn’t been the case. Everyone has a different definition of home. Some say it’s when you have a mortgage, pay utility bills, have a pet to care for and a garden with which to watch the seasons change. Others think they can call a place home when they have a gym membership, magazine subscriptions, a routine of visiting friends for dinner or coffee, and have scheduled golf or tennis games. Certainly, having a sense of community can make a place feel like home with people you know and can depend on, restaurants one frequents and maybe a library card too. We have had this conversation with other world travelers and for them, the idea of home is not a fixed outside situation so much as it is an internal feeling: Home is where your heart is, where you hang your hat, anyplace where you are at the current moment. Certainly travel brings out this broader sense of what makes home feel like home. Wandering the world opens up our perceptions and causes us to come into contact with new ideas, like stretching the definition of “home.” Certainly there is no one-size-fits all. I would imagine that feeling comfortable, being able to let one’s self relax, having friends and people we trust, familiar surroundings and a cozy routine all contribute to the feeling of being at home. Being on the road hones that skill of making any place we visit seem home-like. In fact, just yesterday at a lunch with friends we were asked where we consider home to be. In our case we have several home bases from which we travel and we consider any of these places to be home. But mostly, we view ourselves as global citizens and ambassadors of goodwill wherever we go. How about you? Have you ever thought what makes “home” home to you? About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Five Tools for Retirement Planning Posted: 09 Oct 2014 09:37 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliRecently we were interviewed by Andrew Hallam for the Canadian paper, The Globe and Mail. As what happens sometimes, a retirement forum thread opens up to hash out the numbers quoted in the piece. Also, general conclusions of the article tend to run on both sides of the fence from “What they did was so foolhardy!” to “What an inspiration!” People don’t always agree, and I realize that we have placed ourselves purposefully in the public eye. This position requires that we take the slings and arrows along with the kudos. What is risky? But it also brought up a good conversational point with Billy and me – What exactly is a risky choice? And should we avoid them? These days, 50% of first marriages end in divorce and 67% of second marriages end up on the rocks. Yet people get married all the time. What sort of businessman would invest in a company with that kind of failure rate? Add children or blended families to the mix and the stress levels soar. Love makes the world go round, and no matter what the numbers say, people fall in love every day. Sure, some people sour on partnerships and won’t take the leap, but more people do than don’t. We were “lucky fools” Some forum members claim that we have been “lucky” or that it’s one in a billion that our retirement has worked out for us. Or that we had the wind at our backs with the market of the 1990s, but they forget that we were also invested during the crash of 1987, the dot com bubble in 2000, and in the latest crunch, the Great Recession. Some say if we weren’t “lucky” then we were fools to have made the decision to retire at so young of an age, and with less than 2 million at the time. And it is irresponsible of us to tout such a plan to others when failure is sure to visit the doorstep of anyone who follows. Seems everyone wants a guarantee when there are none in life. 5 dependable tools It wasn’t luck nor was it foolhardiness. Billy and I would like to share five tools which we used that will also help you achieve your retirement goals, regardless of what age or how much money with which you start your journey. Persistence Calvin Coolidge stated that persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. To keep on keepin’ on when others have given up will surely bring you the prize. Whether it’s saving for your financial goals, keeping your dream alive or just plain not giving up. Even Winston Churchill counseled to never give up. Ever. Commitment Being committed to a goal sometimes means that approaches to achieving that goal must change. Perhaps something must be cut from the plan or added. Maybe it will take another year to achieve the dream, or the house should be downsized, or the realization dawns that an opulent style of retirement must be replaced with something more reachable. Being committed doesn’t mean you never let go, it could mean that a flexible description could be your best option. Communication Ah, yes. The dreaded word… If you are working out your dream with a spouse or partner, then literally, it takes two to tango. If one person wants to travel and the other wants an organic garden and two dogs, you are being challenged to work this situation out. Find a win-win solution for the both of you. It is absolutely possible, and it doesn’t mean that one person gets to have their dream while the other person gives theirs up. Sometimes communication means you listen to the other side. Self-responsibility Carry your own water. Know what you are looking for in retirement. Know what you want to do with your time. Know where you want to go. If you are working with a partner then both of you should be contributing 60%, not 45-45%. Know your talents and what you bring to the table. Don’t whine because it’s too hard. Get a mitt and get in the game. Sense of Humor Keep in mind that it’s not just the destination but the journey. With all this heavy stuff remember to lighten up and laugh, recalling why you want to retire in the first place. It makes the path to your goal more joyous. About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Why we are taking Social Security at Age 62 Posted: 21 Aug 2014 12:38 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliWe have decided to take Social Security at age 62. We know there are as many ways to consider this decision as there are days in a year. And many experts advise against taking social security “early” so that you get a bigger check at full retirement age. It is hard to argue against that. We have always lived an unconventional lifestyle and the fact that so many experts agree on waiting for payment gives us pause for thought. Here is our logic. First, the S&P 500 index has averaged over 8% per year, plus dividends, since we retired in 1991. If we take social security early and invest it, we won't be losing the 8% per year the experts claim is the annual increase of waiting - although one is guaranteed and the other is not. Maybe the markets will trend sideways or go down or even up, no one knows. For the last 24 years we have lived off of our investments through up and down markets, and could easily make it another four if necessary, so investing the monthly check is definitely an option. More likely, we will just not spend our stash and look for opportunities in the markets as our cash positions grow. Plus we have control of the money at this point, adding to our net worth. Next let’s look at some numbers For easy math, say at 62 you are going to receive $1000.00 per month in benefits, but if you wait until you are 66, your payment will be $1360 ($1000 x 8% for the four years you have waited). Sounds great, right? However, you would have missed receiving $48,000 dollars in payments from the previous 48 months. How long is it before you make that money back? Using this example it would take 133 months or a little over 11 years ($48,000 divided by $360) and that would put us at 77 years of age, just to break even. In that time frame, the Social Security we will be receiving plus our investments should grow far outpacing the extra money received by waiting. For some people deferring until their full retirement age could make sense, especially if they do not have the assets to support themselves, are poor at handling money or if they are still working. However this is not our situation and therefore we have decided to take the money and run. It’s really a question of who you think can handle your money better; You or Uncle Sam? About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| An Alternative Option for Vacationing and Retirement Lifestyle Posted: 14 Aug 2014 01:15 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliDoes living in the States just cost too much?We realize that not everyone wants to own property even if they have the assets to do so. Some people might not want to tie up their net worth in real estate but they have cash flow upon which to live.Creating a comfortable lifestyle in the States can be costly. You might still have a mortgage, there are home repairs and property taxes, the price for owning and maintaining a car is high, and don’t forget about dining out, groceries and entertainment costs. For a modest-yet-comfortable home life you can pay three to four thousand a month easily. Go ahead and do the math. And these figures are the nation’s average cost of home and car ownership.But what if there was an additional choice in creating a satisfying lifestyle? What if you could live, vacation or retire more affordably? There has to be a better way.There is. We were introduced to a new concierge company that specializes in long term, mostly inclusive overseas upscale residences. We stayed in the one located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.The courtesy airport van transported us to our luxury lifestyle. Checking in at the desk was hassle-free as the clerks did most of the work filling out forms from the information in our passports. Up the elevator to the seventh floor we arrived at our spacious air-conditioned studio suite. Our 700 sq. ft. room was smartly decorated with black satin finish lattice work separating our large bedroom with its blistery white bed linens from the rest of the residence. Well-appointed teak and black colored furniture adorned the room and we had expansive floor to ceiling views of the city of Saigon on two sides. Black glass and marble set off the stylish bathroom. The kitchenette was well stocked with a hotplate, microwave, blender, large refrigerator and kitchenware. The living room had a firm, mocha-colored pressed velvet couch, a 42 inch flat screen TV with English channels and an efficient office area with an executive chair. Everything was here for us; all we had to do was unpack our gear into the full size closets large enough to store a golf bag, suitcases and more and then relax. Breakfast and lunch were brought to our room or we could visit their dining room if we preferred. Weekly massages, manicures and pedicures were part of the package and scheduled as we liked. Our laundry was cleaned and folded, air conditioning, cable TV, and Wifi in the room plus all housekeeping services as well as turn down service, were included in the monthly fee. We had a personal driver so there was no need for a car, and taxis cost $1-$2 depending on distance. Plans are for future developments in Da Nang, Vietnam, Panama, the Philippines, Costa Rica and other locations with complimentary usage of fitness centers and swimming pools. Some will have access to golf courses, and beaches nearby. What about an emergency or other activities?Believe it or not, within the first 10 days of my stay here I needed emergency dental assistance. Compass Living found me a dental office and sent a concierge assistant with me to help with translation, should I need it. My private driver delivered me and brought me back to the residence when I was finished.Did we want a restaurant recommendation? A city tour? The front desk service provided us with a tour guide and our private driver dropped us off and picked us up after we were done seeing the sites. All inclusives can be trickyNormally, deluxe accommodations and features such as these are taken only as a short two week vacation and the bill with unseen extras slams your credit card when you return home. Generally, all inclusives can be confining with options being limited and costs such as resort fees and tipping are added on. What if you could live a sumptuous lifestyle like this for months at a time? What if this all-inclusive living had built-in affordability and personal freedom?We were impressed with the simple system. There are no real estate or time shares to be purchased, no long term rental contracts, and no ownership headaches. Basically, month to month, one simply books their room and shows up. And once the other residences are secured and running, then you can go from property to property within their organization without charge (airfare is extra). So if you wanted a month-long golf vacation in Da Nang, Vietnam then a beach vacation in Costa Rica or Panama, your experience is seamless. If you do not want to own property in retirement, this could be an alternative for you as a travel lifestyle, vacation or retirement choice. Billy and I generally travel “close to the bone” and live locally but as we get older, comfort is gaining importance. And this couldn’t be easier. Everything mentioned above, minus the general hassle of travel runs about $4,000 per month for two people. And right now, there are discount packages available for military veterans. If you would like to find out more about this lifestyle, vacation and retirement option to see if it would suit your needs, contact CompassLiving at info@CompassLiving.com and tell Vivian we sent you! [Editor’s note: Billy and Akaisha do not receive any commission or referral fee from Compass Living. They think this is a good deal and wanted to spread the word. Photos courtesy of Compass Living.] About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Our Five Reasons to Retire Abroad Posted: 07 Aug 2014 01:11 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Recently we read a piece by Dan Barnabic giving 5 Reasons Not to Retire Abroad. In all fairness, we believe there are two solidly different camps: those who could easily move abroad and thrive and those for whom that decision would be a disaster. I doubt that the twain will ever meet and they don’t need to do so. Given that, we thought the reasons Mr. Barnabic gave were tired and bordered on fear mongering, which is silly. No one is pushing people to move overseas in their retirement and there is nothing wrong with someone who decides to stay in the States or Canada during their Golden Years. There are valid reasons for each side of the coin and plenty of room in retirement communities for everyone to have their place. All that being said, here are Our 5 Reasons Why We Love Living Abroad: Better weather Some people enjoy having four seasons but we haven’t spent time in snow country for decades. If we want snow or freezing temperatures, we can always visit mountains or the U.S. or Canada in the winter for a couple of weeks. We definitely don’t want months on end of frigid wonderlands and prefer the gentleness of tropical breezes. It’s easier on the wardrobe as well, and since we carry everything with us, it makes for lighter travel. One of our home bases is Chapala, Mexico, and National Geographic claims this town has the second best climate on the planet! And boasting the largest expat community in the world, mostly US and Canadian, residents tend to agree. Affordable and more accessible healthcare Sure, we live in countries where language could be an issue, but it isn’t. Doctors in Latin America and Asia are often U.S. trained and speak English and are able to communicate about health issues. To be able to walk in without an appointment is a huge benefit and we often do so and have same-day or next day service. From Thailand to Mexico to Guatemala we have had our share of medical experiences with highly positive outcomes. Better cost of living There are many reasons that foreign countries can offer better cost of living. Less regulation, insurances and government intrusion are just some of them. It is not uncommon to be able to afford maids and gardeners for your home whereas in the States the cost might be prohibitive. Dining out, entertainment options, even travel to the beach are all low cost compared to similar choices in the States. In Thailand for example a plate of stir fry veggies with chicken, pork or tofu cost $1.50, in Chapala, Mexico a fine dinner out for two at an Argentine steakhouse might set you back $25.00 and even less in Antigua, Guatemala. Public transportation and taxis are readily available so you may be able to get around without owning a car – another major savings. Camaraderie and Community When people move overseas, often times social stereotypes and cliques are dropped in favor of less pretentious friendships and community goals in the new location. Common interests and values replace judging a person by the address where they live or the name brands they wear. It’s freer, friendlier and much more open. Volunteer opportunities are everywhere and often there are dozens of special interest groups - from bridge clubs, golf, tennis, to animal rescue - which bring Expats together. There are celebrations and festivals constantly. Personal adventure and sense of freedom Every day is not the same ol’ same ol’ because even simple errands are being done in a foreign country and can be an adventure. There is an overall new flavor to daily events. Regulation is noticeably less than North of the Border and that has its appeal. There are more choices and less taxes. Buying most prescription drugs is as easy as walking into a pharmacy and asking. No need for a script from a doctor. Having an adult beverage on the beach while watching the sunset is morally acceptable. Even smoking is permissible in common sense locations. While living in a foreign country is definitely not for everyone, there are plenty of reasons why living overseas makes for a rewarding retirement lifestyle. The only way you will know is to try it for yourself. Don’t let anyone else decide for you. About the Authors Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Posted: 30 Jul 2014 11:08 PM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliOne of the things Billy and I notice in our travels is how involved children are in providing for themselves or in bringing income to the home. Family businesses, no matter what they are, will find children right on the scene, contributing or growing up alongside. There’s no need for a baby sitter and family life goes on all around us and at every turn. As a child gets older, more can be expected of him. Maya culture has children selling wares when they are about 7 or 8 years of age, often with the mother watching close by. Often times, young children are utilized as wait staff in restaurants, especially if the restaurant is family owned. This young girl at a Mexican beach side restaurant took our order, told the cook and then delivered the fresh fish to our table. Even though they would be considered under age in the States or Canada, she also served us the 2 beers we ordered. The beers came with lime and salt. This young Maya girl sells stuffed animals in the plaza in the mountain city of San Cristobal in Mexico. Sometimes children will band together building friendships and keeping each other company while they walk the streets selling their items to tourists. At the night market in Luang Prabang, this young girl and her mother sell hand stitched pillow cases and aprons. The child speaks English, learned at school, and the older ones generally don't. The girl bargained for the sale just as her mother taught her, and because of her language skills, she was able to easily make connections with foreigners. This photo shows 3 young girls who are sisters and in each other's care. The parents are out somewhere working and child sitting is done by siblings. This helps spread child rearing duties over many hands. The young girls are probably in charge of doing some laundry and house cleaning as well. This man has a dozen pineapples and several melons to sell. He has brought his daughter along with him in the bicycle basket he drives through the market and neighboring streets. The girl will eventually be taught how to make change and to service customers. And then when she is old enough, this fruit route will be hers. Although we might not recognize it, this child is attending a Mayan school. Carrying her sibling on her back, she brings a lone cabbage to sell at the market. What she receives from the sale of that cabbage will feed both her brother and herself for the day. If you want only half or a quarter of a cabbage, she will scramble to find someone to cut it for you. If you do not have the correct change, she will find it. What may appear as harsh poverty to our eyes, this young girl, maybe 8 years old, is learning Mayan values: loyalty to family, determination, perseverance, ingenuity, the ability to sell product, physical strength – all necessities for survival in her world. Ten years from now she will bring value to her marriage from training such as this. Seeing young children such as the one in this photo always has me asking: “What is this child’s story here?” This young man sits on the steps in the market place – maybe for a rest, maybe because he hasn’t had any luck selling his plastic bags that morning, maybe because he is hungry and is discouraged. Regardless of the fantasy I might build around him, there is no disputing that he reflects unhappiness. His canvas tote bag is filled with plastic bags that he must sell, and if his tale is like other native children’s, what he sells pays for his meals of the day. To those of us who have had more comfort-filled lives and who have not had to worry about putting food on the table every day, seeing children in third world countries working like this might bring up uncomfortable thoughts. On the other hand, the skills they learn of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, perseverance and even connectedness to the community serve them throughout their lives. And those skills cannot be purchased, they must be earned. About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| How I Pack My Family with Me when I Travel Posted: 23 Jul 2014 10:57 PM PDT
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli When I began traveling the world 24 years ago, none of my family or friends understood why I chose this vagabond lifestyle. Other than my father, who wished he could have gone with me, most everyone else wanted a stay-in-one-place manner of living that focused on barbeques, Super Bowl parties, pets and gardens. I, on the other hand, wanted to visit exotic cultures, dream down dusty trails, and witness firsthand the wild variety that is humanity around the world. Initially on my journeys, especially since we began them long before internet, Skype or Magic Jack, there was this seeming disconnect. I was “long distance” and everyone else was together “back home.” Real time communication These days, things are different. Billy and I normally travel a year between our visits to the States to see our loved ones. That’s a long time and lots of celebrations between seeing our family and friends face-to-face. To bridge that distance in time, I call their homes several times a month using Skype and video. In this way, no one forgets what I look like, including my grandniece and nephew. I watch as the decorations in their homes change, their gardens grow and I’m there singing Happy Birthday or shouting Merry Christmas or Happy Anniversary as the pages on my calendar turn over.
When I visited the States a couple of years ago, I realized that no one there could relate to the perspective I had been nurturing for decades in my world travels. The U.S. is a developed nation so there were no donkeys in the streets, no indigenous walking the neighborhoods with their hair wrapped in hand woven textiles selling their wares. And there were no food carts where I could purchase fresh fruit or grilled shrimp on a whim. So I gathered about 300 photos of my wanderings, put them on a chip and purchased digital photo frames to display them. My family was amazed – or maybe speechless is a better word. Not everyone writes Not everyone enjoys writing letters, emails or sending postcards. However, every person I know likes to receive them. Since I am a writer - and always have been since I was a grade school child wishing I could find a pen pal - I have taken this responsibility on. And, it is one of the ways I keep in touch. Any chance I get, I write an email and tell a story about my life, and of course, I ask about theirs. Or I send a post card giving a full-and-in-color snapshot of where I have been. Gifts
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| Posted: 17 Jul 2014 12:04 AM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliWhen in a western country, finding table salt is no big deal. Any grocery store carries it, and usually in several varieties and brands. Easy to find. However, today I went looking for some table salt in Jinghong, China. In my pocket was a packet from the airline meal that was served to me a week ago. Arriving at our beer and bottled water store, I showed the owner of the store the sealed packet, with English on one side, and Thai written on the other. The thin young man shakes his head no. I open the packet, and pour some in my palm to show him. Again this cautious store owner says no. I taste it, and he still looks at me suspiciously. I put some in his hand and he is very reluctant about it, after all it isa white powder, we are in a communist country and I am a foreigner. In total distaste and with a bit of drama, he throws it on the floor. Walking around the store there are packages of items everywhere. Are any of them salt? I see a wall full of shelves with white powdered substances, all labeled neatly, but they are in Chinese. I don’t read Chinese very well. Actually, I don't read it at all! Choosing my bottle of beer, and 2 bottles of water, I put them on the counter, and point to my salt packet again, motioning around the store. This seemingly shy man says something vehemently in Chinese, of which I have no clue. I wander around some more, and he finally shows me a clear plastic bag of granulated sugar. At least I think it’s sugar. I say, “I don’t think so…” and I take my tiny ripped packet of airline salt and put it to some packages of peanuts, sunflower seeds, and miscellaneous items that look like they would taste good with salt. The idea dawns on him. He shows me a huge bag of what looks like MSG, ground fine like talcum powder. We are making progress, I think. Do you realize how many bags of powdered white stuff there are? Finding Morton’s “When it rains it pours” isn’t easy in a foreign country. Shaking my head no at the MSG, I say “don’t want any of that, thanks anyway.” However, the business man in him keeps shoving sugar and MSG at me. I say “no” politely, and point to the peanuts again, demonstrating the salt over them and touching my tongue. Bravely now, his hand is held out again, and I put a little salt into it. His tongue is brought to the tiny grains. Ptui! Ptui! He spits it out. Gosh. It could be American poison for all he knew. I go back to my beer and water, and resign myself to getting no table salt here... While aggressively grunting noises the man places the bag of sugar on top of the bag of candy. Yes!! We have finally made a connection here mentally. Yes, sugar and candy go together, salt and nuts go together... Allowing me to put a little salt into his palm once more, this time he actually tastes it. SALT! Adding up my items, I pay for them. Trying to make a sale he again points to the wall, but I say "no… too big, that’s ok… whatever..." He then takes a corner of an empty plastic bag and twists it into a triangle as if to show me the amount I am searching for, looks at me eagerly, now wanting to please. I say, “ok.” I mean, how much is something that big gonna cost me, even if it’s the wrong white powdered substance? Leaving the store with me in it, and all his cash and items unprotected, I wait. And wait another minute. I try to look innocent and well behaved. I mean, I‘m in a Communist country here, and they have police everywhere, even when you can‘t see them, right? The man returns shortly with a blue plastic bag seeming very proud of himself. I make a motion as to “how much?” and he thinks I want to taste it. I say ok. I taste it, and it is SALT!!! Amazing. Again, I ask in sign language how much is it?, and he waves his hand, generously, “it’s nothing” and is so gratified with himself for solving the riddle… and now I have some table salt to take home. Success!! Even the most common searches can become an adventure in China. About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Posted: 09 Jul 2014 11:55 PM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliContrary to what you have been told, confusion can be a positive state of mind. Sometimes, discombobulating events or circumstances can show us the places in our lives where we are outgrowing the old and calling for the new. Huh?! Just as in my previous post where I spoke about the Benefits of Fear, in this one I want to let you in on a valuable secret: Confusion about something can sometimes be a good thing. When we know the parameters of what to expect in our job, relationships, or health, we seem to breeze through life without anxiety, and we like that! Most of us would prefer the feeling of certainty and the comfort it brings rather than the disconcerting feelings that come with chaos. Except Life isn’t always so easy. Confusion can show us an open door Just as pain or fear can motivate us to make a change, confusion lets us know where there might be an open door or window to new opportunities. Turning a routine on its head is upsetting, but think of it as clearing the cobwebs out. Dust flies but the result is something newer and brighter. Examples Ok, so let’s say you are thinking about retiring but you cannot afford your current housing situation as well as having a second house in your chosen retirement location. The entire situation has you uneasy because perhaps you don’t really want to sell your place anyway, and besides, the current market for housing has been sludgy. Perfect. Pair of what? What you might require is a paradigm shift. Those are fancy words for “considering your options.” Take a piece of paper and on the left hand side write the word “Housing.” Draw a line down the center and on the right side of the line begin to brainstorm anything possible to solve your situation. Move your mind from the “problem set” and walk into the “solution set.” Even if an idea seems a repeat, or seems obvious or might even be something you don’t care for, don’t stop listing. Keep the momentum going until you run out of steam. Sample Solutions Doing a house exchangeHouse sitting in a new locationRenting your house out while you travelRent just a room in your home for the extra incomeIf you have a bi-level, rent out one level to cover expensesConsider becoming snowbirds as an optionRenting in the new location instead of buyingThe above possibilities are just starters. What else can you think of? Perhaps you want to retire or even semi-retire, but you don’t feel that you have sufficient funds. Get out the piece of paper again with the word “Money” on the left side, and Options on the right. Sell your dogHave a lemonade standPart time workTeach English as a second languageMake money from a hobbyPare down to one vehicleTry ride sharingConsider non-financial exchanges for services given or received Write as many outlandish or common sense ideas that you can come up with and keep that list growing. The next step Now, on a separate sheet of paper take any of your possible solutions and list all the reasons why it couldwork. You might already have resistance to some of your responses – so go ahead and write those down too, but on a different piece of paper and place that sheet aside. Here on the solution page, you are trying to build up the reasons why your possibilities could actually be implemented. Play devil’s advocate If you have a spouse or a good friend whom you can trust, take turns playing devil’s advocate for why these are goodideas. We can all find reasons why something won’t work. You want to find ways to substantiate why your ideas can be feasible. Clear that mental dust away. At the end of this exercise you should have a list of viable alternatives to your previous conundrum and you won’t view your circumstances in the same light. Sometimes it might take a combination of these options to have a workable solution, but at least now, you are not grabbing at air. You have solid choices. Going through new doors is scary, but it’s the way to create the life you want. As long as your confusion continues, proceed with the above exercise to generate ideas. Welcome confusion as holding a key to a future that you create yourself and which better matches your needs and wants of today. About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. | ||||||||
| Posted: 02 Jul 2014 09:17 PM PDT Billy and Akaisha KaderliNo one enjoys being afraid. But I bet you have never considered that you can capitalize on this uncomfortable feeling.
Some emotions can be disquieting, jarring us from an absent minded focus on our lives – anger, fear and grief are such emotions – but none of these feelings are a waste of time. Not if you know how to utilize them to your benefit. Fear wakes us up and tells us to reorder our priorities. Without fear, perhaps we would remain snug in a situation, not paying attention to an area of our lives that is getting away from us. Another choice The common reactions to fear are fight, flight or freeze. You can get angry that your portfolio has diminished in these turbulent markets and blame the government, your broker, or your spouse. Maybe you pretend that your expenses are not out of control and nothing uncomfortable is happening or everything will work out for the best one way or another. Or you might want to avoid looking at your 401k statements and your credit cards when they come in, because you feel immobilized and you don’t know what to do. But there is another choice. You could pay attention to what is going on in your life, the choices you have made financially and personally, and make a change.
Fear is here to help you take notice that something isn’t working. It is a lifesaving gift. If you have found yourself afraid of your financial future, try a couple of these suggestions to get yourself moving. Look at your expenses Where could you cut down or trade off in your financial outlay? Could you bicycle to the store on occasion instead of driving your car? Could you pack a lunch a few days a week instead of going out each day? Pare down on your cable channels? Stop a subscription? Spend less for a gift? Buy a gourmet coffee treat once or twice less a month? Take a look at where your money goes and see where you can save. Add up the savings amounts then go back and look through your list again.
Do you have an extra room in your home? Could you consider a student or a roommate as a source of extra income and to share expenses? If your home is located near Mayo Clinic or a famous hospital, it could be a godsend to someone whose loved one is hospitalized or receiving weeks of care. Does your home town have tourist attractions nearby? Tourists often want to be close to natural features or cultural events at a better cost than vacation lodging and this could be a rewarding way to meet new people. With a little thought and preparation, your spare room could offer you more than a storage location.
What you pay for your vehicle maintenance, repair and fuel is in the top 4 categories of any household expense. Perhaps you could carpool a few days a week, share car expenses with a neighbor or friend or join a carshare group in your town. This idea has been catching on for years now and offers you ways to save considerably in this area of your financial outlay. Take a moment Before chucking any of these ideas out of hand, consider your possibilities. Feeling stuck is a side effect of fear and you don’t have to give in to it. Fear is asking you to reorder your priorities and if you want to move forward with your life, even a tiny step is better than none at all. Useful websites Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/ Easy Roommate http://www.easyroommate.com/Let's Share Housing https://letssharehousing.com/about-lets-share-housing/Cost to own a car http://finance.yahoo.com/news/most-expensive-state-own-car-163221619.htmlGetAround http://www.getaround.com/Living Car Free http://www.carfree.com/ About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirementand Your Retirement Dream IS Possible. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||
| Posted: 25 Jun 2014 08:54 PM PDT Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Due to our restaurant background, one of Billy’s and my greatest joys in traveling is the eating of street food. We can’t imagine going to faraway locations where everything is pulsating with life and exotic new flavors and only eating off a sanitized menu at a name brand hotel. Why limit ourselves and our experiences out of an exaggerated sense of caution? We aren’t being careless about food and water choices; rather, we have two decades of world travel experience and want to share our perspective with you on this topic. The basics No matter where one travels, even from NYC to Los Angeles, there are different bacteria in the water, air and food than what we encounter “at home.” Our bodies react to these as if they are invaders and we could develop headaches, nausea, lack of energy or extra activity in our intestines.
It doesn't always mean the food, ice or water isn't clean, it might have more to do with someone's personal immune system and their response to the introduction to different bacteria. If one is traveling and finds themselves in windy weather, one can develop stuffy sinuses, a headache or an upset stomach. Again, this may have nothing to do with the food at all, but rather has more to do with what is being blown around in the air. This is especially true if there is livestock nearby or if there are a lot of street dogs in your vicinity. Some countries have the custom of people spitting in the street so you also have that to consider. So to be clear, windy weather is a contributing factor to intestinal distress. If you do choose to eat at a street stall or sidewalk café, it’s important to find one that is busy and one that cooks what you want right on the spot. This will assure you that the food is being turned over regularly and isn’t sitting around becoming cold.
In normal circumstances if there is going to be an uncomfortable reaction to a new place it happens within the first 10 days to 3 weeks of being in that new location. For lower intestinal activity, taking a few Imodium should solve the problem. If not, then antibiotics generally do the trick. I'm not a doctor and am not prescribing anything but we have found pharmacists to give Norfloxacin or Nifuroxazida 400 mg tablet over the counter and that normally will take care of the issue of stomach pain or diarrhea in a matter of hours or a day or so, tops. Other considerations We learned years ago that a course of over-the-counter Albendazole or other amoeba and worm pills every 6 months will take care of miscellaneous creatures trying to find a home in our bodies. Even name brand hotels serve salad or fresh vegetables rinsed in water and if you are concerned that you might pick up a bug, these pills can allay that fear. We also recommend washing one's hands as often as possible, and bringing those moist toweletts or baby wipes with you. They are very handy for this. If you are taking public transportation, going on tours or even visiting museums, this will put you in contact with the general public. Keeping one's hands clean will add to your overall protection from getting something that will upset your stomach.
Some people like the idea of using SteriPENswhen they travel so they have access to purifying their own water while traveling through bus stations or while out in the boonies. You can also use this pen when you are staying in hotels and this will allow you to drink from the tap after you have used this pen to sterilize your water. This might be a little more adventurous than you had in mind but at least you know it’s an option that is available. Enjoying your trip On a personal level we would rather do the above than miss the exciting opportunities to experience the street food and flavors when traveling. It is just too large a part of our journeying pleasure for us to give up due to fear. As a matter of course we always drink bottled water, but in general, if you are in a civilized city or town (like Saigon, Vietnam, Paris, France, or Guadalajara, Mexico) the ice and water served in restaurants are fine. They are not going to serve something unclean to their clientele and expect to stay in business. There could be the odd time that food poisoning happens - but this occurs anywhere and everywhere in the world, including the United States. So is eating street food safe? We think it is, if you follow our suggestions above. We hope you find this information useful, insightful and helpful and hopefully it will reduce the fear factor you may have over eating exotic food in foreign countries. About the AuthorsBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their popular website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible | ||||||||
| Where there's a Will - 'Twitters from the Atlantic' Posted: 25 May 2014 02:23 AM PDT Several of our friends have died this year. It comes to us all eventually; death, that is. As the old adage goes, ‘the two certainties in life are death and taxation’, and the death of family and close friends certainly concentrates the mind. Without being too morbid about the issue, I guess the only way to deal with it, as it is a certainty, is that we had better ensure that we make a good job of it, and not create too much of a burden for others after our passing. A few days ago, I received an email from a recently retired British couple, who had moved to Spain and needed a will to cover their new property. They asked if they could simply update their UK wills, or whether they need to have new ones prepared especially for their new assets in Spain? There seems to be considerable uncertainty amongst many expats, who think that as they have a will in the UK, there is no need to have one in Spain. I still even meet expats who boast over their gin and tonics that they have no written wills at all, and that Spanish inheritance laws will deal nicely with the issue when the time comes. Maybe this is the case, but only after considerable expense and distress for those that they leave behind. This often-held view about inheritance laws may be partly true if the transfer of the estate is a simple one; for example, from husband to wife. However, it is not without considerable expense and delays for heirs if there is no Spanish will and executors have to rely on a UK will. The reason is that Spanish inheritance laws are very different from those in the UK, and that there is no guarantee that assets will be distributed in the way that the deceased had intended. The message is clear; it is important that expats with property or other assets in the country make a Spanish will. Having a Spanish will does not mean that your UK will is forgotten. However, your UK will would be concerned only with those assets that you still own in the UK, whilst your Spanish will would deal with your Spanish property and assets. Needless to say, it is very important that you continue to update both wills should circumstances change, such as separation, divorce or death of a partner. It is important to remember that if an update to your UK will is required, your Spanish will is not revoked in the process. The best way to overcome this issue is to ensure that the first clause of your UK will has words to the effect of “I revoke all my earlier UK Wills, but not my Spanish Will”, or words to that effect. In many of the expat destinations in Spain there are a number of people who will offer to prepare your Spanish will for you. Be careful with this one; my best advice is to have it prepared by a suitably qualified Spanish lawyer, and registered at the Central Wills Registry in Madrid. You can find our more about Wills and Death in Spain on the ‘Expat Survival’ section of The Canary Islander website (www.thecanaryislander.com). About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands to launch and edit a new English language newspaper. He enjoys life in the sun as a columnist and author, and continues to write a series of popular novels, books for expats, as well as designing mobile apps and websites to promote the Canary Islands. If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: http://www.barriemahoney.com and http://www.thecanaryislander.com or read his book, ‘Letters from the Atlantic’ (ISBN: 9780992767136). Available as paperback, as well as on Kindle, iBooks and Google Play Books. iPhone/iPad and Android Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle and CanaryGay now available. © Barrie Mahoney |
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