Stress...

Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow....

If anyone can say for sure that they live a stress free life then I would ask...what's your secret?  Arvid and I have faced many obstacles during our relationship and have survived them.  Of course not without lots of anxiety and stress.  Nothing most people have not gone through.

We have gotten to a stage in our lives where we have set everything so that we can live stress free.  Trust me there is no such thing yet we strive and work towards it everyday.  We work well together, we are in harmony with each other, but it is always some unknown factors that causes stress in a persons life.  

Arvid, like many of you, is the type of person who always likes to help everyone.  At least he has forever tried to please everyone by always going out of his way for them.   Good and bad.  Sometimes it gets to a point where people start to take you for granted, people expect from you all the time without ever considering your time anymore.  He is what I call the problem solver.  When someone has a problem, Arvid is the one they call.  When someone wants something taken care of it's Arvid they call.  Sometimes it has gotten to the point where I am fed up!


relaxed together





I always wonder why can't people manage their own lives, their own problems and their own everything.  Nothing wrong with helping out a bit, but sometimes it goes overboard.

Stress has many ways of showing itself.  In Arvid I know his entire body aches to the point where he is literally in excruciating pain, sometimes it causes him to have chest pains and this really bothers me.  This is when I would like to wring someones neck for causing him this.  Don't get me wrong, many a times Arvid is the cause of his own stress. 

All in all what I am trying to say is that life is stressful enough without having other people add to it.  One of the best stress therapies for us is being around Brutus.  Something to do with a cats ability to always be serene, calming and always so patient.

 Other ways we like to de-stress is listening to music, going away for a weekend with good food and drinks, and another favorite of Arvid's is turning OFF the phones.  Nothing relaxes him as much as when he is away from the phones and the computers... like they say, adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.

If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it....

until next time...

Hobbies...

A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.  My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence....

Like everyone Brutus also has a few favorite hobbies.  A few are listening to music with Arvid, chasing things around the house and best of all bird watching.  Everyday the birds with a little help from me, come out on the front yard.  I provide food to them twice a day just to make sure Brutus has something fun and entertaining to do.  He loves this time.  Anytime he sees me with the bread, he Brutus knows what's next...yes the birds flock to the yard and he is as happy as can be.  He spends hours perched on his chair in the mornings and afternoons.  After morning bird watching he gets tired and takes a few hours nap.

If you don't have a hobby, I encourage to find something that interests you.  Makes life a lot more enjoyable.  I have a few hobbies like most.  My favorite ones are Arvid and Brutus

Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto..

until next time..

Have A Good Weekend!...

Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless...

It has been a few long weeks, and now with the weekend coming along it sure feels nice to be able to just do absolutely NOTHING and to just RELAX for a change.  Said Arvid to me "Nothing in the world is more expensive than a woman who's free for the weekend" and then he said, "come on let's go celebrate.  That's the start of our weekend and I am sure looking forward to it...Brutus as you can see is on a constant weekend agenda.  His biggest worry is who is going to stand by him  and watch him eat.

Good weather all the week, but come the weekend the weather stinks. When the weather is too hot they complain, too cold they complain, and when it's just right, they're watching TV... 

until next time...

America's 10 Richest Zip Codes, 2011...

The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money...

The top 10's have been catching my fancy lately.  So here is another article, this time of the 10 Richest Zip Codes in Ameica for 2011.

The 10 richest zip codes in America according to Bloomberg Businessweek.  To identify the 50 richest areas in the U.S. for Businessweek data company Gadberry Group looked at all Zip Codes in the U.S. with more than 100 households and ranked them by the average income and net worth of their households. The area’s population change since 2000 was also taken into consideration, though only as a minor factor, and no areas with a decrease in number of households, where wealth might become less concentrated, were included. The results include many places around New York, Washington, DC and Silicon Valley, CA.

Here's America's 10 richest zip codes:
No. 10 Richest Zip Code: 90402
Location: Santa Monica, Calif.
No. households: 5,452
Average household income: $266,243
Average household net worth: $1,494,010

This section of Santa Monica has some of the most expensive houses in Los Angeles County. It includes the chic North of Montana neighborhood, known for palm and pine trees along its streets, attractive homes, and an excellent school system.  The median home value in 90402 was $1,995,300 in September.  The population is mostly elite couples and singles.

No.  9 Richest Zip Code: 94022

Location: Los Altos, Calif.

No. households: 7,103
Average household income: $256,476
Average household net worth: $1,563,480

This area includes Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Palo Alto Hills. Downtown Los Altos, a six-block triangle, has more than 150 shops and also hosts farmers markets and movie nights, among other community activities, says the Los Altos Village Assn. Many luxury homes in the Los Altos Hills overlook rolling hills and the South and East Bay communities. Elite couples and singles are the predominant population. Los Altos has the highest household net worth of all the Zip codes in this ranking.

No. 8 Richest Zip Code: 10577
Location: Purchase, N.Y.
No. households: 834
Average household income: $268,696
Average household net worth: $1,503,911

The headquarters of MasterCard (MA) and Pepsico (PEP), Purchase also is home to many commuters to New York City, about 25 miles away. Many residents work in health care, professional services, and finance and insurance.  Elite couples and singles predominate.

No. 7 Richest Zip Code: 19035

Location: Gladwyne, Pa.
No. households: 1,495

Average household income: $331,840

Average household net worth: $1,483,586

Once a summer destination for wealthy Philadelphians, Gladwyne, on the Schuylkill River has become a wealthy year-round community. Its many attractive residences had a median value of $800,500.  At publication time, the area’s most expensive home listed for sale was a $14.9 million mansion at 1211 Mirabeau Lane. The predominant group in this Zip Code is elite couples and singles.

No. 6 Richest Zip Code: 90077

Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

No. households: 3,553

Average household income: $290,802

Average household net worth: $1,531,147

The 90077 Zip Code refers to the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, home to celebrities and executives. The district has many expensive residences by the Bel Air Country Club and houses with views of the surrounding valley, according to belair-realestate.com. In addition to mansions, Bel Air has ranch-style properties. It is next door to the fourth-richest Zip Code, 90210. The predominant population in this the Bel Air area is elite couples and singles.

No. 5 Richest Zip Code: 94028

Location: Portola Valley, Calif.

No. households: 2,579

Average household income: $270,922

Average household net worth: $1,531,291

The town of Portola Valley is just west of Stanford University in a valley by the San Andreas Fault. It offers a trail system, scenic roads, open space, and natural views, according to the town. Elite couples and singles are the predominant inhabitants.

No. 4 Richest Zip Code: 90210

Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.

No. households: 9,245

Average household income: $278,757

Average household net worth: $1,504,166

This neighborhood near the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, made famous by the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, is dominated by opulent homes. Rodeo Drive, between Wilshire Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard, has an area of large houses referred to as the Flats, as well as a posh shopping district. Zillow.com estimates that in September, 90210′s median home value was $2,557,700. The area is adjacent to the sixth-richest Zip Code, 90077. The predominant residents of 90210 are executives and professionals in their 40s and 50s with no children.

No. 3 Richest Zip Code: 60043

Location: Kenilworth, Ill.

No. households: 810

Average household income: $323,588

Average household net worth: $1,558,833

The village of Kenilworth, about 17 miles from downtown Chicago and south of 60093, the No. 14 richest Zip Code, is the wealthiest area in the Midwest, according to Gadberry’s analysis. The average household income in this exclusive North Shore suburb is $323,588. Elite couples and singles are the predominant residents.

No. 2 Richest Zip Code: 11568

Location: Old Westbury, N.Y.

No. households: 1,047

Average household income: $282,981

Average household net worth: $1,547,866

On Long Island’s north shore, about 25 miles from Manhattan, Old Westbury is New York’s most affluent suburb, according to Gadberry Group. It is home to the Meadowbrook Polo Club, the country’s oldest polo field, and Old Westbury Gardens, built in 1906. The predominant group is elite couples and singles.

No. 1 Richest Zip Code: 33480

Location: Palm Beach, Fla.

No. households: 5,505

Average household income: $370,136

Average household net worth: $1,486,123

Glimpse of Florida lifestyle:)

The town of Palm Beach—in America’s richest Zip Code, 33480—is a 16-mile barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern boundary and Lake Worth on the west. High-end shopping and dining establishments can be found on Worth Avenue, and the island provides polo, golf, tennis, yachting, and deep-sea fishing. The predominant group is executives and professionals in their 40s and 50s with no children. The median age, according to 2010 census data, was 67.5.

The way I see it, it does not matter where you live...what matters is that you enjoy yourself and always be at peace with yourself.  Life is to be lived and to have fun doing it....Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View life as a continuous learning experience.

Life is the sum of all your choices....

until next time..

The Real Best Places to Retire in 2012...

Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it... 

I just read this article about best places to retire and I was surprised to notice that it did not immediately stress states with warmer climate. They generally recommend fleeing the North and heading for the Sunbelt to places in the Carolinas, Florida, Arizona.

According to the author, hese articles rely on statistics such as the cost of living or winter temperatures. But they miss the most important thing--the human element. Here are the real best places to retire according to the author of the article:

Stay home.  As we get older, moving, making new friends, and acclimatizing ourselves to new surroundings gets more difficult. Don't underestimate the value of your current community. Think long and hard before you cut those connections to go off to get a sunburn.


loves his birds


I really think there is a lot of validity in this. For instance using myself as an example, we live in Florida where the sun shines almost forever, but all my family lives elsewhere. Sometimes just getting together becomes difficult, what with coordinating schedules and the sort. We love our life, but ocassionally I long for having my family closer. Miss my sisters and families and my parents.

Move near your children. According to the author, his brother-in-law spent most of his career working around Pittsburgh, Pa. After he retired, he and his wife gathered together all the brochures and ultimately decided to move to Massachusetts. Their daughter lives outside of Boston and their son is in Rhode Island. They moved from a four-bedroom suburban home to a two-bedroom bungalow in their daughter's town. Their yard is smaller, just right for Grandpa to keep an eye on the grand kids while he relaxes on the patio. They've met new friends through their daughter, and they love their new life, in an area often billed as cold and expensive.
 



I have no children, but I have lots of sisters, nieces, nephews and my parents scattered around and it would be very nice to just get in the car and drive over to one of their homes, or meet somewhere for a cup of coffee, just talk face to face...thery all live about a 12 hour plus drive.  Arvid and I do the drive often, but not often enough.

Follow your friends. Friends are an important part of ones live. My best friends are also scattered around in different states. We do have a few good friends not far from home so this is always an enjoyable time spent together. Lots of laugh and fun. Friends sure have a way of making life enjoyable.

Move back home. Sometimes you live most of your life in a place that's not really home. All of a sudden tragedy or some uncertainty strikes.  I know the feeling because I lived these circumstances.  There was a time I lived in beautiful sunny California.  Life was beautiful.  I had all I could want and I was happy.  All my family lived far away.  At the time this was OK.  Suddenly without any notice (always this way) I find myself a widow.  What seemed like the perfect place before no longer was.  I wanted to go away from the memories, and the pain.  I needed my family and to be surrounded by the familiar feeling of home...for me the choice was simple.  Just remember everyone, no matter where you end up in retirement, remember that relationships are more important than the weather. The warmest climate can be found amidst the safety and security of family and friends.

   

Basically Arvid and I are kinda retired, but I have to say we cannot sit still and are constantly on the move.  We have to always be doing something or life would be just plan boring otherwise....Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to that's our motto.

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family, There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained...

until next time...

Kitty Wisdom...

You know who's not happy with their lives,when their busy discussing yours..

I just could not resit this kitty and his message.  

People by nature love to poke their nose in other’s affairs. Most of the people are more concerned with what others do, what his neighbor does for a living, what car he drives, why he is sad, or why he is happy. They just don’t want to mind their own business only.  Kitty is so right.,, the less you tell the better off you are and happier also.  Another good rule to live by...

He seems pretty contented with his fat stomach and many secrets he holds...

Honey, if it ain't your tail, don't wag it...

until next time...

Picture Of The Day...

Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there...

In this amazing moment, a lizard springs into action to grab his cohort by the arm and save him from falling off their perch.  Such a simple action, but what an amazing story it tells.  I'll be there when you need me....Have a good weekend everyone and remember what they say practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty, that's what life is all about...

true friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient; it's about being there when it's not...

until next time..

10 Most Expensive Places to Visit....

 A good vacation is over when you begin to yearn for your work.  A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.

Thanks to the struggling economy, the word "vacation" has become taboo in all honesty, there are some cities that are, in one word, expensive.  Suggestion: it is always a good idea to be prepared before planning a vacation, do some research, find out which favorite destination of yours will require more of your hard earned money.  Planning ahead can sometimes save you a lot of unpleasant surprises.   Based on the Prices and Earnings report, here are the 10 cities most likely to devour your travel budget. 

10. Singapore

Average Hotel Price: $204 per night
While the U.S. and Europe are battling an economic crisis, Singapore is flying high. This destination in southern Asia -- which was ranked No. 24 back in 2009 -- snags 10th place on the current list of most expensive places. This steep price climb correlates with the increasing strength of the Singapore dollar. Although you can still find cheap eats and the occasional bargain hotel, don't expect that to last.

9. Toronto, Canada  Beautiful, clean and with the gorgeous Niagara Falls.  Awesome place, plus my aunts, uncles and cousins live there.  So did my grandmother.
Average Hotel Price: $133 per night
It used to be the case that Americans living near the northern border would hightail to Canada to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate, but over the past few years, the tables have turned. Now that the Canadian dollar is roughly on par with our greenback, Canada's price tags have become increasingly cringe-worthy. Toronto is an excellent example: Since 2009, the metropolis has climbed from No. 31 to No. 9 on the Prices and Earnings report's list of the most expensive cities.

8.Helsinki, Finland
Average Hotel Price: $163 per night
So far, Helsinki has remained relatively untouched by Europe's economic crisis, clocking in at No. 8 on the Prices and Earnings report's list of pricey places.

7.Sydney, Australia
Average Hotel Price: $172 per night
In 2009, Sydney was ranked 38th. Since then, the city has skyrocketed to seventh place, and that's due in part to the Australian dollar's steady rise in worth. Although the Aussie dollar is relatively on par with our own, Sydney's currency has strengthened while the greenback has struggled.

6. Tokyo, Japan
Average Hotel Price: $163 per night

The bright lights of Tokyo come with shiny price tags. Like Singapore, Japan has weathered the global economic crisis fairly well -- in two years, it's fallen only one spot on the Prices and Earnings report. Although visitors can find plenty of ways to fill their bellies with affordable local cuisine, a convenient hotel will consume a good chunk of money.

5. Stockholm, Sweden So far my favorite city of all Europe.  A must for anyone interested in a beautiful European city.  Would not mind going back.

Average Hotel Price: $190 per night
Unlike its neighbor, Finland, Sweden has trumped Europe's recession. Stockholm's strong economy has not only allowed the country to weather the storm, but also to rise from the No. 16 spot in 2009 to fifth place Bargain travelers beware: Sticker-shock is a common side effect of a Stockholm vacation, while the unfavorable exchange rate only fuels the fire.

4. Copenhagen, Denmark   We had a very nice time here during one of our summers.  What I remember the most was the cost of a cup of coffee at the airport.  Super expensive.  Loved the city and the shopping was something else.
Average Hotel Price: $174 per night
Like Helsinki, Copenhagen's price levels haven't been affected by the European recession. Prices and Earnings most recent report shows that Denmark's capital dropped only one place. So while you may find this city's antique shops, intimate restaurants and cozy coffee bars comforting, your wallet sure won't. Travelers will find rates at their highest during the summer months when the weather is ideal for sightseeing. Discounts can be had in winter, but make sure to bundle up.

3. Geneva, Switzerland
Average Hotel Price: $268 per night

Switzerland seems to be vanquishing the Eurozone crisis, with Geneva bumping Copenhagen from the No. 3 spot in the past two years. Unlike the Euro, the Swiss Franc has remained a strong currency throughout the recession, and the city's residents benefit from their country's high wages. In fact, according to the Prices and Earnings report, Switzerland doles out the bulkiest paychecks in the world; Geneva's price tags reflect the residents' hefty buying power.

2. Zürich, Switzerland  Arvid and I were here many years ago, from what I recall it was very cold.  We were there during the winter.
Average Hotel Price: $224 per night
Zürich's residents also welcome Switzerland's generous salaries, surpassing Geneva by a few points on the expensive meter. Unfortunately for travelers, Zürich doesn't offer as many opportunities to nab deals. Prices jump during the summer as people pour in to savor the comfortable temperatures and enjoyable activities on Lake Zürich. During the winter, there's not much of a price break, as snowy weather draws skiers to the nearby Alps. Rates slump briefly in spring and fall, but not by much.

1. Oslo, Norway   This is a must for us every summer.  My favorite place in all of Norway.
Average Hotel Price: $169 per night
Oslo's prices may be staggeringly high, but at least they're consistent. Norway's capital has held on to the No. 1 spot on the UBS Prices and Earnings report's most expensive list since 2006. And it's not just hotels that will gouge travelers' pockets: In 2009, the New York Times noted that a bottle of water costs roughly $6 USD. Money-saving tactics -- like visiting in July or August when most residents are on vacation -- do little to curb the expense of an Oslo trip.

Vacation used to be a luxury, but in today's world it has become a necessity...When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money...

 

until next time...

Live For Today....

Life is too short to start your day with broken pieces of yesterday, it will definitely destroy your wonderful today and ruin your great tomorrow....

If I allowed myself to dwell on the past, life would be so miserable and so unfulfilled, that's why I try my best to always look for the positive in people and in situations.  I try to not dwell in the past, but to concentrate on the present moment.  As it has been said, the past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.

Sometimes you have to forget what's gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what's coming next. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future...

 When the past calls, let it go to voicemail. It has nothing new to say...

until next time...

Just For Fun....

Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion....

Hollywood, known for its beautiful people and glamorous lifestyle.  As it's been said before, "Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul"  They say that in Hollywood you can see things at night that are fast enough to be in the Olympics in the day time.

Last night was 2012 Golden Globe Awards: Did Anyone Care?  I sure did not, but it was interesting to see the dresses the stars wore.  If you want to see the entire ensemble check out the link:  Best and Worst Dresses of 2012 Golden Globe Awards  

I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're beautiful. Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic....

until next time...