 Do you ever feel like the world around you is causing you to over stress? Are there times when you just can't seem to relax? Do you think sitting by the ocean and watching the clouds go by would help recharge your batteries? Then see the videos below... There are Benefits for Being by the Sea - Here are 3... Read more Research shows that the sound of waves alters wave patterns in the brain lulling you into a deeply relaxed state. Relaxing in this way can help rejuvenate the mind and body. Also, floating in water means blood is diverted around from our lower limbs and pumped towards our abdominal region - the part of the body near the heart - because we are no longer standing upright. Fresh blood being pumped around the body brings more oxygen to our brain which makes us more alert and active. Fresh air for sleep If you've ever wondered why we always sleep more soundly after spending the day on the beach, it's because of the sea air. Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions also balance levels of seratonin, a body chemical linked with mood and stress. Which is why after a holiday you feel more alert, relaxed and energised. (Since we live on an island by the Sea, we keep our windows open 24 hours a day). Sun for feeling good and skin conditions When we're lying on the beach, the heat of the sun affects our endocrine system - the part of our body which secretes endorphins - the natural chemicals in our body designed to make us feel relaxed and less stressed. And, a certain amount of sun can be good for some skin complaints such as psoriasis - a chronic skin disease where scaly pink pataches form on the elbows, knees and scalp. Ultra violet radiation (UV light) is a common treatment for this skin complaint, says Dr Rodney O'Donnell, a doctor who is involved in studying the health effects of the Dead Sea. This is because a small amount of ultra violet radiation from the sun's rays helps dry the skin, making it flake off and allowing healing to take place. If you have psoriasis over a large area, your doctor may recommend phototherapy (light treatment). You'll stand under ultraviolet A light. And, to make the treatment work better, your doctor may prescribe psoralen pills to boost the action of ultraviolet A light. And other dermatologists who report their discovery in the Oxford-based medical journal Skin Research And Technology confirm that seawater is good for cases of dermatitis (an allergic skin rash, often caused by contact with household chemicals.) They bathed the skin in sodium lauryl sulphate - a salt compound to treat skin rashes, before bathing it in ordinary water or seawater, and found the results from seawater were far better, rapidly clearing up the dermatitis and helping the skin to heal more quickly than sodium lauryl sulphate. The researchers then analysed the effects of the individual compounds in seawater and said that two of them - salt and potassium chloride are the main healers. They seal the damaged skin and allow it to mend. The researchers also claimed that bathing in seawater increases the elasticity of the skin, and improves its outer appearance. I Can't Write a Prescription for Vitamin Sea, So Enjoy these Seaside Videos I hope these videos from our Lanai help you relax. I plan to have a video only page when I learn (from Rose) how to use my camera and her really cool video editing software. Share with Friends tags: island life, island living, retire early, early retirement, meditation, relaxing video, how to relax, how to reset, how to recharge, recharge your life, living in the Philippines, retire in the philippines, ocean view, ocean video,
 The US Presidential Debate - Trump vs Clinton So what are people who live on an 'undiscovered' island in the middle of the ocean saying about the US presidential debate? Let's see what expats have to say... What Does This Mean? If given a choice of the Republican Party, the Democrat Party, or the Island Life Party, then I will choose the latter. It means that we are focusing on bigger and better things in our lives. It means we are are enjoying island living. It means we are focusing on enjoying life. What's it worth to you having less stress in Your life? We asked ourselves this same question, and island life has been the solution. Also consider a Media Blackout (stop watching the news and The View). You'll feel much better, and your blood pressure will be lower. I had mine checked today and it's 100 over 80. Now if you can't let go of the hype and you are still feeling stressed over the US Presidential debate, then come back tomorrow. We'll have something to help you Relax in 1 Minute. Click the RSS Feed below to get a real simple reminder. If you are watching this video, then you are a thousand times better off than any of these people. My name is Greg. With my wife, Rose, along with lots of our friends, pay it forward and help out those who are less fortunate. We open our hearts to help those who cannot help themselves. Learn what poverty is and appreciate how fortunate you are everyday. Helping those who cannot help themselves is our objective. Teaching them to care for themselves and each other is our goal. Let us know if you want to help or visit our website and Join Us @ www.LikeWinningTheLottery.com Please Share Tags: island life is awesome, like winning the lottery, paying it forward, pay it forward, island life, island living, outreach, helping the poor, help people, philippines, tablas island
Metropolis has Superman. Gotham City has Batman. And we have... Well, we have a girl who dresses like a Super Hero, but not because she wants to be a crime fighter. It's for other reasons. Keep reading.  Today Rose is helping a new farmer who is completely oblivious to the trade of farming. To help out this newbie farmer, she is delivering a new worker, a dog, supplies and some Island Life experience to help our friend Scott's farm flourish. So why the costume? It's not really a costume. It's actually for a practical purpose. Islanders like Rose know that to many hours in sun at a latitude of 12 degrees is going to cause burning of the skin, and premature wrinkling. When you damage your skin with to much sun, you are actually damaging the bodies largest organ. Yes, your skin is an organ, and its the bodies largest organ. So when Rose & the other islanders are dressed like super heroes, it's partially their sense of humor, but it's also for a practical reason - to protect their bodies. (Oh... and most importantly - to prevent my wife's skin from premature wrinkling). Personally... I'm going to ask her to dress like Wonder Woman next time :-) Tell your friends... Island Life is Awesome! tags: life in the philippines, island life, island living, like winning the lottery, living in the philippines, retiring in the philippines, super heroes, helping farmers, farming in the philippines, making money in the philippines, earning money in the philippines, how to move to the philippines
When you live on an Island, then there must be a beach. And if you have a Beach, then you must have a BonFire. If you have a BonFire, then you must have Marshmallows. If you have Marshmallows on a Bonfire, then you have Fun. Therefore, if you Live your Life on an Island, then you Life will be Fun. Come and Enjoy Surreal moments like this. Island Life is Awesome! Who wants to Join Us for the Next BonFire? tags: island life, living on an island, island living, philippines, life is awesome, like winning the lottery, expats, expat living, expat ideas, bonfire, beach life, beach living, how to move to the philippines,
 Retiring Early in the Philippines... Offers several advantages that can be capitalized on, such as its warm climate, caring and friendly people, low cost of living, natural tourist attractions, fantastic beaches and outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling. Since I didn't have any guidance when I decided to move to the Philippines, I decided to try semi-retirement.  The Philippines is the only English speaking country in Asia. The Filipino culture is known for its hospitality, beautiful beaches warm, and friendly people. You can experience a high quality standard of living at a very low cost. And that means with loyal live-in maids & helpers, cheap taxis, fine rental homes in quality neighborhoods with reasonable rents. There are several Philippines cities (such as La Union, Cebu, Davao, Makati, Angeles City, Dumagete) that have a wide range of entertainment from exciting nightlife to golf, international restaurants to stunning resorts beyond compare. There is always a colorful Fiesta, pageant, street festival, and open public events going on. Lush with bountiful natural resources, retiring in the Philippines gives you the chance to enjoy the numerous beaches, resorts, golf courses, and play just about any sport, except snow skiing. Scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing are among the sports which draw the most number of expats to the rich aquatic offerings. The larger cities have many intangibles to bring you joy for no money at all when retiring in the Philippines. Ask any of the expats (expatriates) living in Cebu. On a $1,000 a month in some places you will feel like a millionaire and be treated as one, a strange experience for some. Depending on your comfort level, it's possible to live in a small city or town and have a good life on as little as $500 per month. And, if you insist on eating at a traditional Western restaurant, there are KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Buffalo Wild Wings, TGIFridays and other fast food chains. You will find excellent world class, upscale but inexpensive, international restaurants as well.  If you choose to enjoy Island Life with an early retirement, then you will likely have more expat close friends here than in your hometown since they tend to meet regularly and form a rather close bond. Angeles City, Cebu, Davao and Manila have almost all of the amenities found in a large American City and far more than small town America. Anything you can find and buy in the U.S. you can buy here. ATM machines, cable TV and an internet connection makes you feel right at home. And in Angeles City, Cebu & Davao, violent crimes against expats are rare. A lot of expatriates have been dumbstruck by the hypnotic lure of the Philippines. That's nothing new, though. The islands have attracted retirees since the first American GIs set foot here during the Spanish American War in 1898. It continued to entice them to stay -- even after U.S. forces started pulling out in 1991. Today there are thousands of Americans, Europeans, Canadians, Australians and others retiring in the Philippines. Catch them on any given day and most will say they'll never leave. What draws them? One of the reasons is the low cost of living. For example, as of 2016, a good meal costs about $3.90. Haircuts are $1.50 and movie tickets $3-4. An ice-cold beer to chase away the tropical heat is $1. While a root canal is about $50. Car insurance can be as little as $70 a year. And a ride across town in one of the colorful "jeepney" buses that abound is less than a dime. Rent for a three-bedroom home might be less than $350 a month. Add to that the cost of utilities and fees for a gardener and maid and it might be less than $440 a month. Not a bad deal for retiring in the Philippines on a fixed income. Most of the early retirees love the lifestyle. And they can live on their pension and not have to work. A pension or social security check is pretty good money over here. You might not be rich, but you can live well. (But if you need an extra income, then I have a section called ISLAND LIFE INCOME where you can operate a good earning international business from your home office). For most retirees its the kind of life they have always dreamed about.
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 For those of you who haven't seen these videos on our Facebook page... Enjoy the scenes of our 'Undiscovered' island in these videos. In this next video, Romblon is the region of islands that we live in. The island we are on is Tablas Island. Please Share with people who need to Dream
 Yesterday, I had a Facebook discussion with a blog follower, and he asked my why I didn't write about the level of crime. I explained that it's for a few reasons:
But there is Crime in the Philippines and I will address what the major crime concerns are and what we do to avoid being a victim.  CRIME CONCERNS IN THE PHILIPPINES According to Numbeo.com - a data collection and dissemination center for vital statistics on crime/cost of living/ quality of life/ traffic/ Pollution/ Health care / Property prices - The level of crime in the Philippines is LOW. Here is what people are concerned about:
What is interesting is that the crimes that people worry about at the MODERATE love, are somehow tied with people involved in DRUGS. Therefore, by eliminating the dug problems through law enforcement and rehab programs, these crimes will be reduced. This may be the same thinking as the current president of the Philippines, and why the call for stricter enforcement on drug criminals.  WHAT WE DO TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM How do we avoid being a victim? We follow simple rules that I learned while serving 22 years in the military. This process works anywhere. So if you are in your home in the USA, Canada, Australia, etcetera, then you can do this too.
 IN CONCLUSION Yes, there is crime in the Philippines. If I said there wasn't, then that would be foolish to believe & I would be dishonest to you. As I mentioned, the CRIME LEVEL here is LOW, and by following the basic precautionary steps that we use, your travels can be much happier and safer. NOTE: We feel safe here & we will live out the rest of lives being Happier than a Millionaire. Island Life is Awesome!
 I actually had a friend tell me that he wouldn't move to a tropical island for 2 reasons:
We actually have 2 satellite TV dishes so we can max out our football coverage for Rose and me but, April needs her cartoon fix as well. The unfortunate thing about our satellite TV is that it can still pick up undesirable TV programs. Like: US news, The View, Kathi & Hoda, soap operas, and other worthless mind melting programs. But luckily we have an super easy fix for that. It's the 'OFF' switch. With 1 touch, the hypnotic series of flashing lights and sound are extinguished, and now we can enjoy Living in Paradise. Who wants to go out and through the Nerf football in the pool?  CAUTION - THE CONTENT IN THIS ARTICLE IS SOBERING FOR THE UNPREPARED This article is a little more hard hitting than my other articles, but some of you are asking. I hope you find your sobering answers inside my article - 5 Hard Hitting Facts How Moving to the Philippines can Help People Live a Happy Quality Life.  Even in the best of times, saving for retirement is often a monumental and difficult as - especially with the middle class opportunity shrinking, economic “cliffs” and personal budget tightening measures - it's not only daunting... it's scary. As a results, many Americans are starting to look at options to make their finances for retirement more assured. Here are 5 hard facts on retirement and how living abroad can provide viable solutions. Americans live for approximately 19 more years after retirement (and living with more happiness & less stress, this leads to an even longer life). This represents 20-25% of your entire life and further, approximately half the population will live longer than average life expectancy. Many Americans (especially baby boomers) have realized that apart from declining middle class opportunities, a potential bankrupt social security system and other economic disasters and woes, their savings are simple not going to last. Many have discovered that living aboard can significantly increase their odds of having sufficient money in their Golden Years. With the 2016 presidential election on the horizon, Social Security is getting a lot of attention, and not all of it positive. Americans will have to wait and see how things shake out in the coming years.  Real estate values. Many retirees are expecting to cash in on their number one asset, their home/property. The survey conducted by the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association for FICO found that home prices in the United Sates are unlikely to recover before 2020 and mortgage defaults will persist for years, says a survey of bank risk managers. The report, Emerging Trends in Real Estate from the Urban Land Institute, predict above-average growth for South East Asia, well ahead of that for the United States and Europe, and other survey’s from across the global predict South East Asia and specifically the Philippines, will see significant growth in real estate value, as more and more investors jump into the largest emerging market on the planet. Luckily for many, the real estate values have recovered in many parts of the country, though foreclosures are still happening. And affordable real estate is readily available in most of Central America.  Medical costs will continue to rise, as well as your need for medical attention. It is a well known fact that US medical costs will continue to rise as will insurance costs. The aging population in US will also require more medical treatments as they age. It is also a fact that medical and dental treatments and procedures in places like the Philippines will save you from 30% to 85% compared to the USA.  Currently, the average Social Security retirement payment is just $1,220 a month. How far does $1220 go? Not far in North America. There are several areas in South East Asia, like the Philippines, where $1200 covers your monthly cost of living expenses, rent utilities, food plus leaves a little extra. For example in the Philippines, when outside of the densely populate urban centers or tourist traps, a nice 2 or 3 bedroom house is around $400/month, utilities including cable and internet will run you around $150/month, food is $300/month approximately. While it may be possible to live on $1,220 per month in the Philippines, it will be increasingly more difficult as time goes on. Also, be aware that $400/month will get you a fairly simple house, probably unfurnished, and you probably won’t be able to afford a car and will primarily use public transportation (not necessarily a bad thing).  The average cost of an assisted living facility is approximately $40,000 a year in the U.S. Projections estimate that about 3 million US expats will join the million+ already in South East Asia, Mexico, and Central America within the next 10 years. Other estimates place the number closer to 10 million by 2025. That, added to the shortage of affordable assisted living facilities in the US, creates a huge opportunity for investors and developers. When you search the news online you can find numerous investors, developers and existing assisted living facility businesses already moving away from the USA to take advantage of cheaper development costs, lower cost of living, less expensive but still highly skilled labor, and the growing number of baby boomer expats becoming expats. Living abroad for retirement has become a reality for many Americas and it is projected to become a major consideration for the baby boomer population which are now hitting retirement age at a rate of 10,000 per day in the US. Assisted Living Centers is still a largely untapped market. The Philippines currently has thousands of nurses who are looking for work. Many expats have hired nurses and care givers to live with them in their homes so they can get high quality care. Much better than what one can expect in many places around the USA, Canada and Europe. I hope this sobering information is helpful for your planning purposes. When you are ready to make the change from living in the USA (or wherever you are on the globe), then consider learning from my expertise on this matter. Soon my new book/video series will be available - The Rat Race Escape Manual: The Easy way How to Move to the Philippines  It looks as if my wife Rose is either a mermaid, or she is on the flotsam from our shipwreck that landed us on this 'Undiscovered' Paradise Island. Nevertheless, we are enjoying our fantastic lifestyle, while many of you have been asking lots of Good questions. So many Good questions, that I have decided to:
If you have any topic suggestions, please contact me and let me know. I will do my best to add them. ISLAND UPDATES  Lots of you are asking me about the Cost of Living here. Obviously, this number is going to fluctuate daily, but here is the latest and greatest set of figures for you to compare with your expenses where you live. Cost of Groceries:
Other Expenses
I guess my next question to you is, 'What does it cost you to 'exist' where you are? I say 'exist' because many of you are not 'Living' and enjoying Life. So... my question to you: What is it worth to you to begin Living & Enjoying Life?  NEXT POST: 5 Good Reasons to Consider Moving to The Philippines or Abroad 
Upon waking up Later than normal today at 7:30am (we got to sleep in this morning because April’s school has a holiday - the birthday of Mother Mary. - back to the story) we learn from our nanny that April has a fever and has just began vomiting . Rose immediately checks April, and we decide to take her to the medical doctor in town.
‘April, what seems to be the problem?’ asks her doctor. April replies her symptoms to the doc. The doc then looks at Rose and I and informs us that Zika is not a player, but typhoid and dengue are possibilities - a low probabliliy - but it is a possibility. The doc then completes his examination, gives us medication and instructions, plus reschedules us for a follow-up appointment. So throughout the day, Rose (being a nurse) dispenses the medicine, charts April’s symptoms, and ensures she is eating and resting. All is going well, but before April’s bedtime, Rose looks extremely concerned. So I ask Rose, ‘Is April doing ok, or is there something wrong?’ ‘I know the medication is doing its job because her temperature is down, she’s no longer vomiting and she is resting well. But I feel that she needs to see a hee-law-tee-ler.’ 
‘She needs to see a hee-law-tee-ler? What in the world is that?’
‘Not a hee-law-tee-ler. (and the pronunciation becomes more distinct). A Hilot Healer. They are medical massage therapists that rub the sickness from your body. My grandfather, the witch doctor, used to do that for our tribe when I lived in the jungle. I heard there is a Hilot Healer in the valley below us. Can we have her massage April?’ Rose’s pleading eyes flutter to hold back the concerned tears, ‘I think it will make her better.’ I nod. Immediately Rose fires off a quick text message, and tells me we need to go get the healer. Minutes later I find myself sitting in the passenger seat while Rose is bounding down a bumpy dirt road into the valley below. ‘It’s a good thing we have our 4x4 truck so I can get to the healer’s village. I would hate to drive this at night on a motorcycle.’ I look over smile at Rose while she sits on her booster seat and expertly navigates the 4x4 truck through coconut trees to a small grass house called a ‘buhay kubo’ - a native house. ‘I think we are here.’ Rose get’s out, walks past a small tiki torch, knocks on the bamboo door of the buhay kubo, and is greeted by a tiny, white haired, older woman. No pointy hat or nose warts, so it’s not as bewitching as I expected. But the feeling of surrealness is overpowering. Rose helps the lady climb into the truck and we are about to go when I joke, ‘Do we have everything we need? I mean, does she need to bring any chicken bones, shrunken heads or special herbs?’ ‘No, she has her Hilot Healer potion. It’s in the bottle she’s carrying.’ I look back, and the little lady gives me a semi-toothed smile while showing me her bottle. I don’t ask, and we head for home. An hour passes, and Rose and the old lady come out of April’s bedroom. ‘She’s sleeping now, and the healer says she will make a full recovery.’ ‘I am glad to hear you say this, but I already have confidence in the modern medicine she is taking’. ‘You do know that modern medicine comes from products derived from the jungle? And don’t forget… My grandmother saved YOUR life one night. So don’t doubt the benefits of our healers.’ Rose is right. Over 70% of our medicine is derived from plants and products from the jungle. If you doubt me, consult your local witch doctor. Island Life is Awesome… It’s Like Winning the Lottery.  UPDATE - OCTOBERFEST IN THE PHILIPPINES IS OCTOBER 22 @ BINUCOT BEACH RESORT.
It has been a tradition for beer drinkers to celebrate Oktoberfest each year. The highlight of each Oktoberfest is, of course, the overflowing amount of booze. But aside from that, organizers give beer drinkers and party goers other reasons to enjoy the celebration with fun games, musical performances, and authentic Bavarian food like sausages and pretzels. And it's no secret that the Philippines is no stranger to these kind of celebrations. So if you’re into the Oktoberfest mood, you might want to head over to Binucot Beach.  For the last 76 years, the largest beer festival in the world has also been celebrated in the Philippines. But where did it all begin? Oktoberfest first started as a German tradition. Back in 1810, King Ludwig I of Bavaria invited the public to celebrate his marriage to Princess Theresia. It was not common practice back then but it sparked a trend. That snowballed into an annual festival celebrated around the world marked by beer drinking and merry making. But the festival has also spread to countries that have adopted Oktoberfest as an occasion to drink beer, play music and have a good time. This includes the Philippines, of course. Oktoberfest Filipino style The Filipinos like to put our own twist to things. Declared as an official Philippine tourism event, Oktoberfest has always been known to provide only the best entertainment to delight its customers.  This year on Tablas Island, expect something new as Binucot Beach Resort holds this year’s Oktoberfest in Binucot Beach. Festival goers will enjoy their ice cold beers, cocktails, food & music while listening to a mash up of legendary rock bands, mainstream OPM and traditional German music. Of course, we can’t let you celebrate Oktoberfest without an Island Survival Guide, can we? Whether you’re a first-timer or a frequent festival-goer, here are some tips to make your Oktoberfest experience one for the books: 1. Go early So what if you’re the first one there? They may call you an eager beaver but beating the weekend traffic and the long lines are way better than spending half of your night waiting to get in or get your beer. 2. Pace yourself Ice cold San Miguel beer makes gulping one glass after the other very tempting. But since you’re outdoors and amongst a large crowd, please be responsible and take it easy. It would be better to remember the things that happened that night, right? 3. Go with your friends and make new ones A festival is best enjoyed with friends but then again, every one who will be there loves the same things as you – beer, OPM music, and fun. So make it a night to remember by coming with your barkada and leaving with new found friends. 4. Dress the part Dress like a German. There are plenty of great tailors for men and dress makers for ladies in the Philippines. Rose & I already have our Oktoberfest costumes (click here to see Rose’s), (click here to see my lederhosen). Our additional accessories are here: (Fedora) (German Beir Stein). 5. Have fun and leave with new memories Oktoberfest celebrations may end up a blur but remember that other people came for the same reason as you: to have fun. So mark your calendars for October 22, 23 and make sure you come with an open mind and the readiness to go all out. Come back to www.LikeWinningTheLottery.com to get updates on Oktoberfest on the island. We don't want you to miss the Fun! Tags: island life, living in the philippines, moving to the philippines, expats, german oktoberfest, german octoberfest, oktoberfest philippines, philippines oktoberfest, philippines octoberfest, retiring in the philippines, philippine festivals, german food, german party, tablas island,
 Today I want to share with you a story from my friend, Nadine Hays, in Costa Rica. Nadine and her husband Rob, are 2 Chiropractors who sold everything to get off the hamster wheel of life. Move to Costa Rica, or Move to the Philippines. You can't lose either way. Enjoy Nadine's post... Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: 15 ounce Country Crock margarine — $3.33 It’s been just over five years since the official release of my book, Happier Than A Billionaire. Some things have changed, while others have stayed the same, and this may cause some confusion to many who are new to our story. This post is a short recap to clarify why we started this journey, how it has changed along the way, and where we hope it will take us. So why did I name my first book Happier Than A Billionaire? After working seventy hours a week in order to live the American dream, we were still stressed out and miserable. We had no time for each other or anything else outside of work. We started to suspect that more stuff was not the key to finding real happiness. Studies prove this, and it is evident by stories like those of the Tyco executive who stole his company’s cash to fund lavish parties, complete with Jimmy Buffett playing guitar and an ice sculpture of Michelangelo’s “David” urinating Stolichnaya vodka. The executive was later convicted of embezzlement and spent six years in jail, where I’m certain his urination issues did not involve vodka or ice sculptures. And our suspicions were correct. We moved to CR with a few suitcases and started living the happiest times of our lives. We were not billionaires, but happier than the ones we read about. Happier than a Billionaire is about making the most of our resources and being grateful for everything we have. It was never our plan to be “living in a van down by the river”although we did live near a river, where Rob tested our handgun that he had just set on fire after hiding it in our fireplace. He shot into the ground, blew out our water pipes, and at that point, I’m sure our landlord would have preferred we lived in a van down by the river. So what has changed and what has remained the same? From the very beginning, we had the dream of owning our home in Costa Rica. While we were very happy renting, that dream never died. Even when it took a heavy hit years ago as we lost most of our money in a bad real estate investment. I discussed some of the problems with that property in Happier Than A Billionaire: The Sequel. It took eight years and four books to recover those losses. But we are back on track and proud to say we do in fact own a home in Costa Rica today. So our adventure took us to The Happier House. A place where we can share what we have learned from living here, as well as assist others in their quest to explore this amazing country. Our dream was put on hold while we saved and struggled and rode our scooter to get back on our feet. Rob still rides it today. A friend recently said, “I think I saw Rob riding his scooter with ten bags of dirt between his legs. Is that possible?” “Did he also have a mango tree balanced on the handlebars? Because if so, that was definitely him.” We still live on a tight budget of around $1400 to $1500 per month and the two of us manage as many aspects of house maintenance, as we can (cleaning, gardening, and preparing for our guests). We still own our red 1998 Mitsubishi, and the good news is that the parts are not glued on anymore. The bad news is that they have all fallen off, one by one, at a time when there is positively no room in the budget for a new car. But Rob insists he can keep it running, and he did so by hitting the battery with a hammer the other day, which surprisingly started the car. I’m always amazed by this and think it is an excellent approach to mechanical repairs. Some of this behavior is by necessity, but some of it is because we have become accustomed to it. We enjoy getting things done in most inexpensive, least wasteful, and most productive way possible. It is safe to say we have learned a lot, and respect immensely, the ways of the local people. In the end, the struggle was worth it. Writing about these adventures and debacles has created the strong connections I have with so many of you. It turns out that Rob and I were never alone in this struggle. We had all of you behind us reading our books, sharing our story, and emailing us with encouraging words the entire time. Although a few things have changed over the years, so much has remained the same. The love and optimism of my husband continue to be my foundation, and my unrelenting neurosis insists that I record all of our hijinks down on paper. We look forward to making more of our shows, songs, books, productions, and hopefully in time Happier Than A Billionaire the book will become Happier Than A Billionaire the movie. If this ride ends today, we are happy knowing that this journey has taken us further than we could ever have imagined. We often say we have lived more in the past eight years than we had in the previous thirty, and we believe that with every bit of our hearts. So a huge hug and thank you to all who have followed us on this quest from the beginning, and to all who are new to this story we have this simple message: No matter how impossible it may seem, follow your passion to the end of the world if that is where it leads you. Never stop believing, because truth be told, there are more non-believers out there than there are believers. And all those non-believers are eager for you to RSVP for their annual Rain On My Parade Party. It’s a delightful event that includes parlor games like: “You are going to fail miserably,” “Have you lost your minds?” and my favorite, “You’ll be back in a year.” The door prize is regret and trepidation. So if you have an idea to start a sushi and scooter repair stand in Costa Rica, give it a shot. It can’t be any worse than spending your life doing something that makes you unhappy. It’s going to be a transition, but no matter what your dream is, don’t let anyone try to convince you it’s not worth it. I know it is, and I’m Happier Than A Billionaire for following mine. |
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