Scene One: The construction of the house I am at is typically beach side Hawaiian. There is a central courtyard aquatic garden, complete with fish, foliage, decorative rocks and occasional babbling water flow. The courtyard ceiling is screened, allowing in sunshine, rain, and nature with all her charm, minus the pests.
The louvered windows all around the house allows incredible cross air current flow, giving not only the impression, but also the fact of living outdoors. The sounds of rainfall, surf, are transmitted without muffle to all parts of the living space.
The miles-long beach Kailua beach is immediately outside the demarcation of the yard.
Yup, this is alright, as the Americans, or for that matter, anyone else would say, and this is the result of hard work, savings, prudence, and the will to act on “this is enough, and I am quitting at 42”.
My buddy, whose boat I take care of and whose advice I seek, is early retired. He now spends his days driving his kids to and from school, tutors them homework, plays with them in all variety of games and group activities, and gets the accusation from them “dad, you rock!”. The rest of the time he moves his assets around, amongst all manner of exotic and common papers. The TV screen alternately features CNBC and Quake III Team Arena.
I tested out the younger kid (age 8) …
“Is money good or bad?”
“Can be good or bad”
“Is more better than less?”
“Can be better or worse”
“Is now better than later?”
“Later is better than now”
“Why?”
“I have not decided what to do with it yet, and so better after I have decided, or I might lose it”
“Is in my pocket better than in your pocket?”
“Yours, because I do not know what to do with it yet.”
Answers were rather unexpected, but not necessarily wrong, certainly not for an 8 year old.
I tested out the older kid …
“Which car should your dad buy, the BMW M3 convertible or whatever else you think? The mini van? Because it can haul things? Well, OK, let me put it in another way, which car do you want your dad be seen in. Right, the M3. Settled then.”
Well, actually, maybe the LandRover Defender V8 softtop, used.
Car spending is still good, but for the fact that the dealer called repeatedly that the M3 is available because the guy ordering the car is not taking delivery.
There are also three unsold homes down the beach.
Chugs, Jay
Scene Two: platinum and gold
Message 15731778
Scene Three: money
Message 15731779
Scene Four: and less important matters
Message 15731781 |
