Day 51 (Thursday, November 18, 2021)
Costs for the Day are in the Table below:
Generally, I am fairly disciplined about my morning routine but today, I slept in until the soft morning light started to shine in through the bedside window around 8:30am. It felt liberating to know that I did not “have to” do anything at all. I just let my mind wander and bounce from thought to thought. Some about dreams or goals I have and others about interests or curiosities. The morning craving for a warm cup of coffee gave me the urge to get out from under the covers. The tile floor is cold now in November here so, while I would prefer to go barefoot indoors, socks are much more comfortable at this time of year. It’s interesting but since our apartment is shaded and the walls are thick concrete with no air conditioning or heating, it is actually much cooler indoors most days than it is outside in the sunshine. I’m not sure when it started, but the quite ritual of morning coffee and reflection is something I have come to cherish and look forward to. I like to do my run and calisthenics to earn my cup of coffee. For me, it’s a great incentive or reward in a way. But today, it was nice to wake up slowly and simply sit and think and sip my coffee in a thoughtful, contemplative way and listen to the sounds of businesses opening in the streets nearby.
At noon, we had a brunch/lunch scheduled with Sarah, Sylvia, and Anne so Bi went to the nearby SPAR for some groceries (Cost: 15.18 EUR) while I vacuumed the house and made some rice. Then Bi came home and started cooking but somehow the grocer failed to pack the garlic so I ran back to the SPAR and picked up some garlic. (Cost: 0.87 EUR). Bi made Soy Garlic Steak and Eggs and along with Avocadoes, Raspberries, Oranges, Tomatoes, and Granola with Pastries.
It was delicious and we had a nice conversation and some mint tea.
In the afternoon, Bi and I relaxed and I listened to a very interesting Tim Ferriss podcast #547 with Balaji Srinivasan. It got me thinking quite a bit on the future of the United States and China and world affairs. It made me wonder what will happen between China and Taiwan and if the US would deteriorate as a global power and what the world might look like in the future. It makes me consider safety and security and how to protect my family and assets. Should we make investments overseas to diversify our risk on a more global basis? (not just investing in international stocks but actually moving funds and investments to overseas banks or real estate) How sound is the US dollar? Is there benefit to gaining dual citizenship? What is the future of Decentralized Finance and will it change the financial system? It is interesting to consider these thoughts and try to project the world landscape in the next 15 to 40 years.
Heavy thinking my friend… but I cannot say those thoughts have not crossed my mind too. Cherish every moment in the “now”.. you’re on a good path
It’s a fast moving, dynamic world these days. Exciting advances in technology but also getting very polarized.
I do think it would be a good idea to buy something here in the Algarve. Especially if we will be here half the year, every year for the next 5 years. It goes by fast… Iām manifesting a 2 bedroom, ocean water view home on a dime budget š
Sounds good! Hopefully, our visas get approved and we can start looking.