Hi! It’s been a while since I’ve shared a personal update, so now seems like the perfect time. Life is GOOD. This year has been great, but time has flown by! My resolution to be more consistent with my blog has taken a hit, as you can see over at Make Money Your Way where I just published my income report for June, July, and August. Yes, I’ve been slacking.
Despite that, I’ve managed to stay on top of things, and overall, I’m happy with the direction I’m headed. I even bought a fourth website! The URL is still under wraps while the transactions are finalized, but I’m super excited about this new project, along with another freelancing gig I have on the side.
Recently, I attended the Financial Bloggers Conference in San Diego, something I was really looking forward to. My inner introvert wanted to hide in a corner, but I was thrilled to finally meet people I’ve been connecting with for over four years. We brainstormed, motivated each other, and bounced ideas around. The conference truly deserves a post of its own!
I rented a car and drove East to Denver, which is an amazing city. I’m even thinking about spending a few more months there soon. If you’re around and want to meet up, drop me a line!
So, what else is new? I’ve finally finished building my house, and the guest house is undergoing some preventive work in case we get another hurricane. Hurricane Earl hit hard in August, so I’m re-thatching the roof and installing stronger cabinets in the kitchen. It’s crazy how much wear and tear Airbnb guests have inflicted on my cute little kitchen. Things like using forks on non-stick pans, making sharp knives disappear, and leaving the coffee machine on for hours have taken their toll.
But thanks to the great income from Airbnb, I can afford to buy a few more things and make the kitchen nice again, sooner than I expected.
I haven’t been home much this year. I spent February and March in Patagonia, riding a bike to the southernmost tip of the continent. It was more about the journey than the destination, much like North Cape in Norway. Then in June, I visited Texas for the first time. It felt like visiting a new country, vastly different from the rest of the US. I was impressed with Texas and even considered starting a business there with a friend, but the complex investing laws for a business visa were a deterrent.
Then, I spent the summer in France. Like last year, I rode my bike around, visiting friends and family in the Alps and Provence. It was awesome. The bike gave me the freedom to visit people without them having to pick me up at the train station, and it provided much-needed alone time to recharge between visits. It can be intense for an introvert to talk non-stop before moving to the next place. I saw friends and cousins I hadn’t seen in years, and I really enjoyed my time there.
Home sweet home. I got some cool new hammocks.
The only stressful part was the hurricane hitting Guatemala, and on the same night, someone trespassed and shot my dog! He claimed Napoleon had chased his son who was on a motorcycle and bit him. After some inquiries, I found out the guy was insane and had previously shot one of my worker’s horses because he didn’t want to sell it to him. I think the true story is that his kid trespassed to steal some fruits from my garden, the dog barked, and the kid threw stones or tried to beat him, causing the dog to bite in defense.
Long story short, my dog was bleeding, and I was in Europe. My staff took him to the vet, who didn’t have X-rays to see the bullet (no exit wound). They took him to the children’s hospital where they saw the bullet wasn’t a threat. The vet didn’t dare remove it, so my dog is now limping but happy and recovering. He’s built flesh and muscle around the bullet, so it shouldn’t move. I diplomatically (as much as I could) went to apologize to the shooter for the bite without mentioning the shooting, just to keep the peace. Napoleon now sleeps inside my house, which he doesn’t like, but I make sure he gets plenty of exercise and attention.
The dating scene has been nearly non-existent, so I made myself a dating page. Go ahead, check it out and have a good laugh, but if you happen to meet my future husband, please share the URL! It feels vulnerable to put it out there, but if you want something, you should work for it, and people visiting the site are probably more in sync with my values and life goals than random online dating profiles.
And just like that, the third quarter is over. Wow, time flies.
Blog-wise, I’ve been writing a lot. Here are a few of my favorite pieces:
– Money Lessons From The French over at Haven Life
– How Much Money Should I Save Each Month? on Investment Zen
– I Saved $25k In College To Take A Year-Long Trip Around The Globe on CentSai
– Financial Independence Is Easier As A Couple on Retire By 40
How was your summer? What are your plans for the fourth quarter? Want to meet up in California?