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Moving to Florida

Moving to Florida and Its Benefits

By Lifestyle No Comments

It is a fact that more and more New Yorkers are packing their bags and heading off to the sunny Miami. New York is not a lonely example. The wealthy people from California and Illinois are also exploring the benefits of moving to Florida or relocating to other states where they can save money, which otherwise goes to settling high taxes in their origin states.

The 2017 tax revision has impacted the wealthiest among the New Yorkers or Californians. The data shows that the inhabitant of New York who earns $10 million a year and owns a house or apartment of the same value, can save up to $1,2 million in case he relocates to Miami, for example.

The Advantage of Sun and Beaches

So, let us explore what Florida has to offer. First of all, the temperate climate is a prerequisite for cozy living. Everything is way easier when each morning the sun wakes you up, instead of a blizzard or rainy, gloomy weather. Even if there had not been for the tax reliefs, this is enough of a reason to consider Miami.

The beaches are among the most accessible and beautiful in this part of the world. Starting from the South Beach area vibe to Bill Bags Cape kind of atmosphere, you can find laid back people and lively, tough relaxed atmosphere. Miami beaches offer a chance to relax in the sand while being surrounded by luxury, on one hand. On the other, these places can also provide breathtaking views of the skyline and some of the rare, but historic points.

What many visitors like about Miami is the fact that it is a mixture of different, yet compatible traditions. Through decades, it has become the cosmopolitan area and synonym of all-American way of life. It has a life of its own and a character to go with it.

Taxes and Luxury Properties

Going back to the matter of tax advantages in Miami, and inspired by the report from the Business Insider, we explored the local expensive penthouses with a special attention to Fisher Island. Created in 1906, it appears that this 216-acre of land which is accessible only by yacht, is the best America has to offer when it comes to property. The Fisher Island sales tax rate is apparently 0%. The average yearly income there is app. $2,2 million.

With the mentioned income per year, there are plenty of luxury homes to choose from. For example, a 5-bedroom apartment of 8,242 SqFt costs approximately $24 million. The most expensive apartment reported is the $48 million triplex in Miami Beach. It features 11,031 SqFt and is located at the top of the Continuum Tower in the South of Fifth neighborhood. Do not get too carried away here. It is already taken. Namely, it belongs to Ian Bruce Eichner, the real-estate developer and founder of Continuum Company that build the Tower.

Naturally, Miami is also a home to many regular people who are not earning millions of dollars. However, it seems that the tax reliefs there are primarily affecting the wealthy in the most positive way.

The interesting thing we found out is that the large part of the ground where Miami developed into a luxury get-a-way is going to sink under water in approximately 80 years. The scientists say that this will inevitably happen due to the rising sea level.  Apparently, this fact has no influence over the desire of the wealthy to build or buy luxury property there. They have money now and wish to enjoy it as much as possible. Would you do the same too?

 

We are also looking forward to hearing your thoughts on whether there are any other downsides to living in Miami.

Suspicious mind

A Suspicious Mind Rethinking Trust and Privacy

By Lifestyle 2 Comments

I am present on all social media platforms and like to browse and be informed. I am very much aware of the fact that most of the info I receive is false, or at least not entirely true. Still, I persist. I post, I interact and sometimes I stay away from certain subjects. Probably because of a suspicious mind rethinking trust and telling me to stay on the safe side.

Privacy In The Past

First of all, I grew up in a world where the main lesson on privacy was not to talk to strangers. Our daily routine was based on trust. Consequently, I trusted my parents that they would protect me no matter what. They trusted me to do my homework and go straight home from school. We all trusted my teachers that they would teach me valuable things and above all – to teach me how to keep studying and advance professionally. Everyone trusted the drivers on the streets to keep their side of the lane. We all trusted our doctors with our lives.  People trusted their next-door neighbors to be normal, sane people able to look after the children if needed.  Therefore, there had not been any talks about psychopaths or any kind of maniacs luring around.

Privacy Today

What privacy entails nowadays, greatly differs. Hence, the exposure of the smallest details from our lives appears to be the danger to our privacy . There are a lot of fields to cover if we want to be fully protected. However, I honestly think that we have never been fully protected in the first place.

Recently, a man contacted me on Facebook after I left a comment on a post regarding education.  It appeared we shared common interests. He was polite, not at all pushy. and he looked normal. Nevertheless, I replied with a single phrase. I did not feel the need to get into details and start a conversation. I felt endangered. Why? The trust was gone. The trust in general.

We are constantly being told that this world is full of psychos. Therefore, we learned quickly that drug dealers, murderers and other criminals are on the streets, just waiting to claim us as victims. We are being threaten by other humans. The evil ones.

The Outcome

The result is clearly visible. We keep our accounts private. Above all, we take all safety measures to ensure our loved ones are secured. We take self-defense lessons. We do not share our thoughts openly as we used to.  We are binge watching crime series, taking pleasure in a fact we are not the characters in it. We are unconsciously preparing for that something bad to happen.

While doing this, we are also alienating from people who are close to us. I bet everyone here reconsidered the kind words someone uttered. Maybe even made a false impression in his or her own mind by twisting the words and giving them the new meaning, quite different from the original one.  Sometimes, we do not know how to take a compliment. Being suspicious at  altruistic gestures has become reality.  It appears that we are on the verge of completely losing the foundation of all human connections – the trust.

I read it somewhere that if a child learns at the very young age that there are people he or she can rely on, that child will be trustworthy in adulthood.  It seems that majority of issues with trust happen unconsciously, although we have built the trust based on conscious experience.  Finally, will we let the circumstances we live in take their toll on us, or will we fight back?

We are dying to hear whether you feel unsafe in any given situation.

Beach rules

Beach Rules

By Lifestyle No Comments

It’s summer and many of us will take some time out to bask in the sun and forget about all our daily routines.  This is the time to indulge our senses and absorb the nature. In case you are spending your vacation at the seaside, there are unwritten rules to comply when on the beach. Here we go…

Know the Local Rules

Knowing the local rules is the number one priority of beach etiquette. By “knowing the local rules” we do not just mean “reading the signs”, although this is helpful as well. What we think is a smart thing to do is asking around and complying with the way locals see the swimming and sunbathing. When you take a trip to a foreign country and to a culture which differs greatly from your own, knowing the rules can save you from many inconveniences. For example, in some countries it is prohibited to show too much skin or to take photos. In others, it is forbidden to bathe in a swimsuit while enjoying on the nude beach. Additionally, there may be requirements regarding carrying a towel in case you are sitting in shared areas.

Also, rules change from time to time. For example, Spain was long considered one of the countries where nudity was not prohibited. Nevertheless, they now have the law against nudity and semi-nudity in the streets. Pay special attention if visiting Barcelona.

Furthermore, there are countries where it is forbidden to drink alcohol on the beach, especially in open containers.

Checking the visible signs is also a smart idea. Taking a plunge on a wild beach can be a wonderful experience. However, for your safety, it is always recommended to visit the designated areas for swimming. Also, make sure that you know the limitations regarding the swimming routes.

When checking the signs, pay special attention to whether there are signs allowing pets on the beach. Not everyone is keen to having someone’s pet mingling around.

Respect the View and the Sound of Nature

Everyone is there for some relaxing and finding piece. Although you may share the same preferences as the person right next to you, it is only fair to let him or her choose their own way to enjoy.

There is nothing more irritating than being forced to listen to the music you do not like, instead of, for example, listening to the sound of waves or seagulls. The same goes for being forced to look at someone’s tent in front of you instead of looking at the horizon. Therefore, do not do to others what you would not like others do to you.  Wear the earphones and make sure you take enough space for yourself, but to leave enough room for others as well.

Keep an Eye on Your Kids

Although this should go without saying, we have witnessed kids running wild too many times. Yes, the beach is fun, and it should serve as a relaxing spot. However, it is not a playground and it cannot replace the kindergarten. The same way your kids are enjoying the beach, the other visitors do the same. Respect that and make sure no one is treating your kid badly and no one is being treated badly by your kid. Keeping an eye on your children also keeps them safe.

Lastly, always remember that everyone comes to the beach to enjoy. This simple fact can get you a long way. It can be the first thing that you share in common with the person next to you. You can use it as the starting point for engaging in a conversation. It can also initiate good deeds. All visitors of a beach are put in the same context and weather conditions. They should, therefore, help each other out in possible cases of emergency.

Do you think everyone should mind their own business at the beach, not paying attention to what others are doing?

 

 

 

 

How We Value Money

How We Value Money

By Lifestyle No Comments

Money is one of our favorite words. It speaks the universal language. How we value money is another matter.

You may have never thought about it, but money is an invention of our mind. Due to the need to interact and exchange goods in order to survive, mankind has invented money. Naturally, the evolution of money went through various stages to become the money we know today. However, one thing has been constant: money means value.

We relate the value of a service or goods to certain amount of money. Nevertheless, money has a greater dimension – a psychological one. The values of both aspects of money can be measured in different ways.

Money Means Security and Power

In most parts of the world, money means security. It may be a myth imposed by the society and media, but many people believe that without enough money, their reality would come crushing down. There are scarce societies worldwide that survive with far less than the average American. Furthermore, members of those societies display closeness and devotion to their “tribe” incomparable to the one seen in our civilization. Above all, they have a strong will to defend their group . We can agree that this is extremely rare, but it makes us wonder how far we have drifted from our own purpose and nature.

On the other hand, the reality we live in tells us that we can be taken care of in case of emergency, if we have enough resources. Also, the message we received a long ago was that our kids would be better educated if we are well-off. If we have enough money, we can afford better houses, quality food, higher living standards.

And if we can afford all this and more, we feel powerful, right? There is no greater feeling than the feeling of power. It makes us able to do whatever we want. Power means independence and immense possibilities.

Having all this in mind, it is only logical to be in constant struggle to earn more. Overthinking about money has some beneficial effects too. It can make you plan your spending better. It can also keep you away from falling into debts.

Money Means Freedom

Apart from providing security and making us feel powerful, money also means freedom. In my personal opinion, freedom has become the most overrated word nowadays. From the universal concept of the highest value ever, we have come to regard freedom as our own private thing. We make our own micro freedoms thanks to its highness – the money. The level of freedom is valued when ranking the happiness index, for example.

Money means freedom if you can plan a get away to an exclusive spot, whenever you want to. Money also means freedom when you can be your own boss or chase your own whims. Money provides freedom when you can choose the projects you are interest in to work on.

The value of money, although obviously stated, is different for everyone. This is why there are people who talk about the money in a spiritual way. Regardless of how much you earn, you will spend the money in accordance with your own values. If you look at it that way, your spending habits can tell a lot about yourself. And this is the point where money becomes more than means of payment. It becomes the other dimension of ourselves. The picture of us which we should take a closer look at from time to time.

 

What is money to you?

 

commencement speech sharing values

Commencement Speech Sharing Values

By Lifestyle No Comments

The time to give or to receive a commencement speech and sharing values has just ended. It made us think how seldom we go back to the words of wisdom we heard at that certain moment. Reminiscing can be rewarding, if we know how to interpret the values and remember them every now and then.

Graduating is an important time in a persons life. The best among us are usually invited to share their thoughts, advice, and pledges in the name of the entire generation. We stand there, proud and eager to take a plunge in life. Once it happens, the circumstances and paths we take lead us far away. Sometimes, they make us forget the essence of our beliefs. We experience difficulties remembering the way we were. The ideas we believed in. The dreams we had.

Without any pretension to sound too wise, this is just a short collection of what we believe should be the most important lessons to remember in life.

It Is OK to Fall, As Long As You Are Not Afraid to Get Up

Regardless of what your job may be, or your purpose in life, learning to “get up” is one of the most important lessons anyone should learn. This is probably the advice your parents have given you. If not, you must have experienced it yourself.

Fear is what usually makes us incapable of reacting properly. Facing fear and believing in yourself is what can pull you through.  This is a process that can last a lifetime. However, the sooner we realize that we have a certain power to create the circumstances the more self-confident we will be. Furthermore, our lives would be more fulfilling. Or, as Bill Nye said:” As we say in the theater and on television, take that fear and turn it into excitement.”

Another positive aspect of this small wisdom is that by accepting the fall, we accept our own imperfections. It may sound strange but being humble and aware of your own deficiencies can make you a better person. Additionally, the only way to advance in life is to pursue the skills and knowledge you are lacking. But, first, you need to be aware of what you are lacking.

Each Experience Is a Lesson

There is no great wisdom here, although this is completely true. Especially if you read between the lines. It is not about the experience itself, rather about the context of your own way of living. A lesson learned through experience can be different for anyone. It depends on how you interpret it. It also depends on what your moral grounds are. Either way, each experience is a lesson.

The toughest experiences make the toughest characters. Sometimes you will realize that you wasted your heart on a wrong person. Other times, you will see how deeply rewarded you can be for learning to be independent or to connect. There are times when experiences can teach us how to be patient and invest in the future. There are also times when we are faced with circumstances beyond our control. These are usually the moments when we test our faith.

Life is difficult, beautiful, hectic, romantic, tough. What we do with it, it is up to us. However, the only way to make this life a joyride is to take a break every now and then. Resetting can be healthy in the modern-day dynamics. Stop and smell the roses. Remember the important things and people in your life. Give them a call. Undo the wrong you may have done. You can feel better.

 

What is the most important advice you stick to?