The date’s been set. We leave Chicago and start our adventure on October 1st. Once we’re doing this full time, we’ll be more disciplined about bringing you regular posts and interesting content. Aside from the typical travelogue, we’ll have a few regular features: Lessons learned: in the hopes that you can learn from our mistakes, or at least laugh at them. Today’s would be something along the lines of “beggars [...]
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And just like that … we’re homeless. It’s wonderful. Boy, real estate ownership isn’t exactly a cakewalk. We learned some important, expensive lessons. photo credit: cdsessums | You can’t leave. Your home needs to appreciate by (at least) 10% for you to break even Yep, 10% — maybe closer to 8% in some cases. And by “break even” I mean get the money you put in when buying your home [...]
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It’s here: closing day. Our muscles are tired, our storage closet is full, our wonderful friends are letting us crash at their place. Life is good right now, and it’s going to get better in a few hours. More to come later. It’s tough to keep a blog up-to-date while working a full-time job and packing and moving boxes every evening. Phew. That part’s over. Thank goodness. If everything goes [...]
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We’re nomads in 4 days. 4. Four. Fore! Watch out. It’s happening. And while it didn’t seem like it’d come together after Saturday’s move-a-thon, it did. Sunday went well. Everything not sold, selling, or traveling is in storage. Almost. We’re 99% and that’s going to work. Now, let’s figure out where we’ll live in September. In October, we’re gone. After we buy a van, of course. photo credit: Living in [...]
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We have a buddy visiting Chicago the day we [are scheduled to] close on our condo. Here’s what I replied when he asked how things were going: In September, we will be in either Wrigleyville, Old Town, Logan Square, or near O’Hare. Hopefully, we’ll find that out this week. As of today, it looks like we’re definitely closing 9/2. And by definitely, I’m mean probably. And by probably, I mean [...]
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My buddy Joe showed me this article in the early days of Dappered.com. He always thought of the last line when watching the numbers rise in Google Analytics, “Go, You Fucker. Go.” And I can’t help but think about it as we go through showing after showing, waiting for a person to buy our place. Sell, you fucker. Sell. Our condo is a great place. It’s the best 2 bedroom [...]
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I read the other day that reporting on the cost and casualties of war can sometimes lead to increased support and investment, because people don’t want the investment to be for naught, and the first thing I thought of was all my stuff. Not joking. Here’s why: People don’t make rational decisions. We’re influenced by a number of things and one of the most powerful is our aversion to loss. [...]
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We just made it over our second biggest hurdle — we sold our Merit 25 sailboat. It took months, and it’s done. We are no longer boat owners … so can I still wear boat shoes? This is a question I must now answer. Here’s how it went down: The engine went first to a J/24 owner in the northern suburbs. He wanted something with reverse for his boat. The most [...]
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We recommended the movie 180° South to a couple friends the other day … and now they’re considering an extended trip and maybe even a drastic lifestyle change. We couldn’t be happier for them — if they move someplace exotic, it’s one more fun place for us to visit. Here are four of our favorite sources of travel inspiration. 180° south, @180south Definitely watch this movie if you feel a little [...]
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Be prepared — that’s the Boy Scout motto. Luckily, I only made it through Cub Scouts. Being prepared means different things to different people. Remember Captain Lone Starr in Spaceballs? “I said to bring only what you need to survive!” To which Princess Vespa responds: “It’s my industrial-strength hair-dryer, and I can’t live without it!” Luckily, Lisa’s not a Princess Vespa. Be Prepared The Boy Scout motto, as I was taught, was [...]
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