Search found 193 matches

by 64415
Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The most depressing financial newsletter ever
Replies: 38
Views: 6976

Re: The most depressing financial newsletter ever

I'm certainly not going to tilt my portfolio to overweight $8000 per acre Iowa farmland (or canned goods and ammo) based on his analysis. Farms have gone up quite a bit from the last time you looked. There was a 160 acres around here that sold recently for $200/CSR point ( CSR=Corn Suitability Rating). It had a CSR of 70, a good productive tract that will get 200 bushels of corn per acre, but certainly not a showcase farm. Purchased by a farmer who paid cash. No potential for residential or commercial development. If a farm has any prospects at being tilled, the minumum going price is $100 per CSR point. As an example, the most highly erodible ground with steep class D and E slopes that should be in CRP (Conservation Reserve Program, ie se...
by 64415
Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

Re: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse

You found a house you liked, you could afford it, and you bought it. You didn't make a mistake, you didn't make an error, and you didn't even make a misstep. You made your decision with the best information available to you at the time. So stop kicking yourself around. It is water over the dam, under the bridge and down the drain. It is time to move on. The decision whether or not to pay off the note has nothing to do with your "loss" on the home. It is an independent financial decision. If I were you I would be inclined to pay off the note as you intended. Buying a farm or other distressed property in an attempt to get even doesn't make much sense. It could work out well - or be another bust. Think about buyer's remorse the seco...
by 64415
Wed Jul 04, 2012 1:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone else fighting off urge to pay off mortgage??
Replies: 104
Views: 11552

Re: Anyone else fighting off urge to pay off mortgage??

Hi LH,

Have you considered going half way by paying off half the note balance and refinancing into a fifteen year mortgage?

I am in a similiar situation and that is what I did. I am now in a 3.375% 15 year note. The monthly payment is about equal to my property tax bill.


I agree, there is a strong urge to pay it off. Perhaps the Dave Ramsey effect, " Where the paid off home mortgage is the new status symbol". I just can't justify giving up such a low rate. Plus, if I really needed to cut my budget I would move to a home with lower property taxes ($11,000 per year, ouch!)

Sebastian
by 64415
Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: worth watchin...dr. burry ucla
Replies: 26
Views: 3502

Re: worth watchin...dr. burry ucla

I was familiar with Dr Burry from "The Big Short". After watching this video I looked at his other commencement speeches and TV interviews on You Tube. Some random observations and comments: He comments that he was in the 50th percentile of his med school class at Vanderbilt. In spite of his obvious genius, this mediocre performance in medical school doesn't surprise me given his Aspergers diagnosis. Most of the people with Aspergers I have known didn't seem to process auditory data very well, they were uniformly outstanding readers with photographic recall of any thing they had ever read. Processing auditory data is critical in medical school. The low social IQ that most people with Aspergers have would have also hurt him during ...
by 64415
Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign film night recommendations.
Replies: 124
Views: 10679

Re: Foreign film night recommendations.

Max Manus

Story of resistance hero during WWII. Very brave man. Had a major impact on outcome of war. Norwegian film with English subtitles. Saw it on Netflix. I am curious as to wether or not Norwegian school children are taught of his unbelievable bravery.

Sebastian
by 64415
Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you spend on groceries?
Replies: 134
Views: 18361

Re: How much do you spend on groceries?

CaliJim wrote:I suspect this thread will be subject to selection bias.... as in... I spend so much more than the numbers listed here that I'm embarrassed to say how much we spend at the grocery store.
Well, someone has to step up to the plate and be the outlier. We have a family of 6 and send $1600 per month. $300 per month goes to Similac hyperalimentum due to a soy and dairy intolerance, (breast milk was insufficient at 6 months).
by 64415
Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone else experience a gigantic loss in real estate?
Replies: 66
Views: 10621

Re: Anyone else experience a gigantic loss in real estate?

You are not alone. I purchased in 2006 as well. If I had to sell today I would incur a loss of 225K. Do I like it? No. Fortunately, most of my decisions in life have not been as stupid as those pertaining to residential real estate. Like you, I am not underwater on the home. I would do what you think is best for your family, and not linger on the sunk cost. I say move. I am staying in my home because it suits our needs as shelter and is in a convenient location with respect to work.
by 64415
Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many Bogleheads have newly bought gold in 2yrs?
Replies: 26
Views: 2430

Re: How many Bogleheads have newly bought gold in 2yrs?

As far as the actual type of bullion, I am debating between the Perth Mint pieces and American Gold Eagles. The serial number and signature of the assayer inside of a sealed case make the Perth mint pieces very appealing. I plan to store them at my bank in a safety deposit box.
by 64415
Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many Bogleheads have newly bought gold in 2yrs?
Replies: 26
Views: 2430

Re: How many Bogleheads have newly bought gold in 2yrs?

I just received my quarterly bonus and am going to buy some gold tomorrow. I think it is a terrible investment, and the amount I am putting into my globally diversified portfolio of passive equity funds will be twice what I am putting into gold tomorrow. I only want some as a portable form of wealth such that I can start over in another country with my human capital if the need arises. In essence, I am using it to insure my human capital. In terms of hard assets I would much rather own more farmland, but I cant take my midwestern ground on the plane to Australia or in my car to cross the Canadian border.
by 64415
Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is a Timber Investment?
Replies: 23
Views: 3160

Re: What is a Timber Investment?

Has anyone performed any due diligence on Roger Dickey in New Zealand? I know he offers direct timberland investment to the average retail investor in New Zealand. I asked for a prospectus a few years ago, but didn't take my research any further.
by 64415
Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Farmland as an investment
Replies: 39
Views: 6097

Re: Farmland as an investment

Farm prices are in a bubble right now I'm pretty sure. My family farms and there has been a huge influx of rich people from the city buying up ground. A land auction right next to us found land selling for $13250 an acre. Cash rent values are near $500 an acre. That is all fine and well when corn is $7 a bushel but when the price comes down in a year or two and is back at $2.50 a bushel that farmer will lose his ass and so won't the land owner. 13k plus an acre land is not an attractive investment when you are renting it out for $150 and acre. There will be a lot of sorry people, mostly non farm types. If you buy 13k a acre land you better plan on making your living off it, not renting it out. We are seeing similar rents in my area, $300 p...
by 64415
Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: med schools - prestige or economics?
Replies: 161
Views: 12270

Re: med schools - prestige or economics?

if one were trying to match into EM, then yes, school won't matter, because there are so many spots that the only real requirement is a mean-arterial pressure above 60.[/quote]

This behavior is why I would never practice in an academic environment. The egos are insufferable. It isn't a function of attending a prestigious medical school or residency or fellowship, most of my colleagues attended the "fancy" institutions, but in private practice if you disrespected a competent colleague with a horse sh.t comment like this you will be shunned. You have to get along well with others in a private practice environment.
by 64415
Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The role of Gold as portfolio insurance
Replies: 52
Views: 6553

I don't own any gold, but I do like the idea of having say 1% of my wealth in Krugerrands or Maple Leafs as an insurance policy. The most valuable asset I have is the physician skillset that took me 12 years to acquire. If there is a political or economic calamity that makes it difficult or dangerous for me to use my skill set to earn a living in the USA, then I would want enough wealth in the form of gold to allow me to move to another country and start over.

If gold ever drops below $1,000 per ounce I am going to buy some coins for this purpose.
by 64415
Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recommended reading on financial planning and frugal living?
Replies: 7
Views: 1324

With regards to frugal living, earlyretirementextreme.com is a good source of extreme cost saving ideas. The majority of forum participants seem to be childless generation X and Yer's. Living out of a cargo van was a recent thread which was very entertaining to read. I read it to serve as an antidote to the daily consumerism that I am bombarded with at work. I feel the exposure to the web site probably cured me of a recent urge to buy a new Ford F150.
by 64415
Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Payoff Mortgage vs Refi vs Investing
Replies: 29
Views: 3914

Manbaerpig wrote:
To some degree, not paying off the house gives leverage and power were the housing market to continue to decline
Could you expand on your point. Are you thinking of the benefit of having liquidity to pay cash for a larger home at a distressed price if the residential market continues to decline without having to worry about selling your current home first?
by 64415
Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice needed on how much to put down on house
Replies: 25
Views: 3263

hsv_climber wrote:
4. 32 year old should make financial decisions by herself (i.e. without parents intervention).
I am a long time away from having my little girls ask me for financial advice, but when the day comes I imagine I will feel good that they respected my opinion enough to ask for advice.
by 64415
Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

Welcome to the club! I bought ours for 445K in 2006, putting 100K down. We put about another 40K into it (finished basement, landscaping, etc). We paid it off last year, and at best it's worth 375K right now. After realtor commission we'd net 350K, nearly a 150K loss. Do I care? Yes and no. We're not planning to move anytime soon. If we do, other houses are selling for less too....so it's all relative. I do enjoy pulling into my driveway and looking at our property saying "this is ours ". It's also gave me a new perspective on my job realizing that if I decide to quit or get fired, I'm not all that worried on covering expenses since they are so low. Thanks for your input. As others have said, we should be grateful we are able to ...
by 64415
Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

epilnk wrote:
64415 wrote: I need to work on my "glass is half full" perspective.
What you need is a good slap upside the head. Your glass is not half full. It is overfull to the brim and you are so terrified of spilling a drop that you can't enjoy the contents.
You point is noted and appreciated.
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

Re: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse

I am posting this to get feedback on the wisdom of my decision to pay off the note on my home that has declined in value from 715K to roughly 560-590K. I feel it is the wisest choice financially, but I am struggling with buyer's remorse. The fact I overpaid for the house makes me feel like a fool to send in a check to pay off the note. The other issue is the annual property taxes have gone from $7800 to $11,000 in 5 years. It almost feels like I am renting my home from the city, and mitigates the psychological benefit to paying off the note. How much is the mortgage? Let's say it's $500K to pay off the mortgage, and you have almost $3K a month in expenses. Rather than pay off the mortgage with the $500K, why not invest that money in income...
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

I know three people who faced similar decisions in the past and in each case decided they could out-earn the mortgage rate by not paying it off and investing the money themselves. Two of them have each lost over 75% of the money by investing, so are left with a house with a huge mortgage when they could have had a paid off house. The third lost 100% of his capital making investments using leverage, has had other problems, and can no longer afford the mortgage and is looking at bankruptcy. This after having had a free & clear house 'on paper' with the mortgage in one pocket and the money to pay it off in the other. Pay it off and don't look back. Mak, thank you for the anecdotes. They are a good reminder of what can go wrong when you tr...
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

jh wrote:I'm not sure why paying off the loan is a tough decision. You already have the loss whether you pay it off or not. Maybe I missed it in your post, but are you thinking about walking away from the loan? Is that what the angst is about?

EDIT:

Never mind. I see that you are not thinking of walking. So, the issue is that you want to invest the money in the best way possible.

Well, who knows what will be best? If you are unsure, I'd ask your wife about it and see what makes her feel the best. Sometimes people like having the security of a paid off house.

My wife most definitely wants to pay off the mortgage.
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

NateH wrote:Does it help to think that you sold you last home for an over-valued price, when you bought your current one?

it cuts both ways.
Very good point. I need to work on my "glass is half full" perspective.
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

Forget about the psychological benefits for a few minutes. Consider the opportunity cost of tying up ~600k in an illiquid asset! Even at 3.5% (the current yield on a 30 year bond), you're giving up $21k per year. So it is definitely a trade-off. What about a compromise. Perhaps you could refi (at a lower rate) to a 10-15 year mortgage. (You don't really have to refi to pay on this schedule, but I think you could do better than your current rate.) Then you are on a path to payoff in 10 years without immediately tying up such a large portion of cash. Thank you for your time and insight. I don't see fixed income arbitrage earning me any big money over time ( it is basically what I have been doing while looking for opportunities in farmland). ...
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

natureexplorer wrote:Take a walk.
Walking away from the mortgage isn't a consideration. You probably didn't intend that meaning.

I do agree that enjoying the outdoors is a great way to reaffirm what is important in life.
by 64415
Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

You found a house you liked, you could afford it, and you bought it. You didn't make a mistake, you didn't make an error, and you didn't even make a misstep. You made your decision with the best information available to you at the time. So stop kicking yourself around. It is water over the dam, under the bridge and down the drain. It is time to move on. I bought my present home in early 2003 before the market got cooking. The home subsequently doubled in value by 2007 - and is now worth about 2/3rds of what I paid for it. Yeah, I shudda sold in 2007, wudda rented, and cudda bought back last week. Shudda, wudda, cudda doesn't count for beans. I don't give it a second thought. The decision whether or not to pay off the note has nothing to do...
by 64415
Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse
Replies: 37
Views: 5449

Note payoff delayed by buyer's remorse

I am posting this to get feedback on the wisdom of my decision to pay off the note on my home that has declined in value from 715K to roughly 560-590K. I feel it is the wisest choice financially, but I am struggling with buyer's remorse. The fact I overpaid for the house makes me feel like a fool to send in a check to pay off the note. The other issue is the annual property taxes have gone from $7800 to $11,000 in 5 years. It almost feels like I am renting my home from the city, and mitigates the psychological benefit to paying off the note. My balance sheet is roughly as follows: Low 7 figure sum of investable liquid assets with an 80:20 equity:fixed income split. This is split 60:40 between taxable and tax deferred. Low 7 figure amount in...
by 64415
Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you pay for house-cleaning services?
Replies: 82
Views: 21236

We pay $170 per week for a once a week 7am to 5 pm visit by what would most appropriately be described as a household manager. Yes, she cleans the house exceptionally well, but she also does sundry other tasks to make our day function well. When my wife worked part time one day per week either from 7 am until 2 pm or 2pm until 9 pm, the "maid" would act as nanny to our three children (we now have four).There were numerous occasions when I couldn't get home until 8 or 9 pm because of an unexpected delay at work. I would call her and apologize for the delay and she would brush it off as just part of the job. The typical scene on my arrival was her supervising homework with the kids, having just finished feeding them dinner. She woul...
by 64415
Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: An Adventure
Replies: 26
Views: 3794

I would suggest a Katydyne Hiker Pro water filter for travel in South America and other developing countries. It is lightweight and effective. Cost is around $79. It will be your best defense against travelers dysentery.
by 64415
Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Latest interview with Bill Bernstein from IndexUniverse
Replies: 97
Views: 14011

I will jump in with my two cents before this thread gets locked. I am a specialist physician, practicing for 10 years in private practice. The surest way to control costs is for the government to employ physicians. Pay them a handsome salary, but end this fee for service nonsense. Like Charlie Munger says "tell me how someone's incentives are structured, and I will tell you how they will behave". The malpractice threat is also a definite part of the cost overrun picture. In my opinion, the greatest areas of cost overruns due to unnecessary procedures are back pain workup and treatment, cardiology interventions in the elderly ( think 90 year old metastatic prostate cancer patient who develops complete heart block and gets a pacemak...
by 64415
Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

If you might be in the market for a new van and wouldn't mind a European model (that last one is pretty iffy for most people) you could consider buying a new van in Europe and then shipping it here at the end of your vacation. The major European car companies have programs that do this. I have a colleague who did this and the cost savings (chiefly differences in duties) brought the net cost of using the car in Europe to less than half of what a rental would have been. I think the economics are less attractive than they used to be, but I don't know the details. I am looking into the European delivery programs. If I had a true need for a luxury European vehicle they really are a good deal. Mercedes gives a 5% discount off of MSRP (from my me...
by 64415
Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

$1200 to ship your minivan to Europe? Is this round trip? Or one way? Couldn't you rent a camping van in Europe and drive it for 3 months for about the same money? Seems that would be a lot less bother. The $1,200 was one way. Plus the costs of getting it from the midwest to a port on the eastern seaboard which I assume would be on the order of $500 each way for a total of $3,400. I just received a quote over the phone from an incredibly helpful guy in Portland who runs a European car and RV rental brokerage called ideamerge. He was a great source of info on how the rental/short term leasing/guaranteed buyback programs for cars and RV's works in Europe. For a vehicle comparable in passenger and luggage capacity to mine he suggested a 12 we...
by 64415
Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

FNK wrote:We drive the car into their terminal in New Jersey, hand over the keys and the paperwork and walk away. They put it into a container. Shipping time is a few weeks. We occasionally ship stuff in the vehicle, but it can involve additional paperwork. Also, there's some pain with the customs, like needing an EIN to export a car.

Between you being busy, the shipping cost being about $1000 each way, and being out the car for a few weeks on each end, is it really better than renting a van out there?
I am still investigating, but you may very well be right and the hassle of shipping will not prove to be worth it.
by 64415
Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

I just visited the Unitrans-pra website and called them. I see red flags. Any other recommendations?
by 64415
Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

FNK wrote:We use Unitrans ( http://www.unitrans-pra.com ) all the time.
Thank you very much for the reference. I am assuming you are satisfied with their service or you wouldn't have made the referral. How "turn-key" is their service? When I am at work it is an all consuming endeavor, so I need the process to be smooth without consistent involvement of my time. Did you do the "roll on, roll off" shipping method or did you use a cargo container so you could ship personal items with the vehicle?
by 64415
Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe
Replies: 11
Views: 1412

Ever shipped a vehicle to Europe

Does anyone have experience shipping a vehicle to Europe from the USA. I am tentatively planning an extended trip next summer to Europe. The duration of the trip would be roughly 12 weeks. I need space for 6 people. We will be doing car camping at European campsites. I have one quote so far for $1,200 to ship my minivan. Any positive referrals, or shippers to avoid would be greatly appreciated.
by 64415
Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any Bogleheads Give it up to a Financial Advisor?
Replies: 85
Views: 10518

So, those of you who are paying for an advisor... How much are you paying? OP, how much are you paying? I was paying less than 40 bp for a full service DFA advisor. Rates went up to 50 bp now, and will be at 60 bp next year. I am contemplating DIY, but I like the expert TLH that takes a 5 second email out of my day and I also have a spouse with zero interest in finance. My taxable account is quite a bit larger than my tax deferred space and I like the DFA TM core and vector funds in the taxable space ( I use the component funds in the tax deferred accounts). I have a .4/.4 tilt and 40% foreign allocation, so the DFA international funds are quite appealing to me as well. If I early retire or semi- early retire I am definitely going to DIY. ...
by 64415
Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Extended family-friendly trip abroad: Where to go?
Replies: 33
Views: 3506

Hi, I would recommend Uruguay if your goal is to learn spanish. It is the safest country in South America (Chile would be #2, Columbia #3, Argentina #4). It has a very strong European culture. The people are friendly and the exchange rate is favorable for an American (Chile is quite expensive for an American). My recommendation is based on a trip to Argentina we took with similar goals to yours. I would definitely start the foreign language education at home for at least 6 months prior to departing for the foreign country. Your kids will then hit the ground running and maximize their daily learning opportunities when interacting with the Spanish speakers at the markets and playgrounds. I would also consider developed Europe. You could explo...
by 64415
Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

Hi Valuthinker,

We are not planning on spending any time in whichever (Marseille, Nice, Toulouse) Provence city we fly into. If we fly into Nice, is it feasible to see Aude and Auche?

After watching Rudy Maxxa's video on Provence, I have put a stay in either Bonnieux or St Remy and probably both as a priority. If we extend our Provence trip from 4 to 5 nights do think we could cover both the Bonnieux/St Remy area and Aude/Auche before heading on to Paris for 3 nights?

Thanks for everyone's input, it is being put to use.
by 64415
Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

I also found the reputation for Parisian rudeness to be unfounded. It's the same in France as it is everywhere: If you make at least a small attempt to speak a little of the local language, and if you don't just bluster around like the stereotypical "ugly American" expecting everyone to cater to your culture and language, then most of the time folks will be welcoming, helpful, and friendly. Anyway, I'll toss in a vote for Switzerland. Worth a day or two if you can make it out that way. The Bernese Oberland is flat-out beautiful. Interlakken would make a good "base", for example... http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/images/interlaken_delta.jpg Thanks for your advice. I think we are set on Provence/Paris for this trip si...
by 64415
Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

From my wife (and I concur): You could fly into Nice or even Marseille.....most of the stereotypical beautiful villages in Provence are further west than Nice. Nice is magnificent, however, and just driving from Nice westward is lovely. Driving in Provence is a pleasure, and going along the coast from Nice is nice. You could end in Avignon and take the easy TGV back to Paris from there. Some really memorable markets were Vaison-La-Romaine, Lourmarin, Apt and L'isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Here is a list of Provencal market days http://www.provencelive.com/practical/daily/market/market.html All of those towns are charming enough to stay in. Depending on where you stay the hotels will nearly always recommend good places for dinner. Also check the &qu...
by 64415
Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

My wife and I have lived in France for over 4 years now (originally from New Jersey) - all of that time except for the last week in Paris (now 20 minutes away by train). The Paris / Provence trip sounds great and a good time of year to go. (That is the first trip we did to France many years ago using Rick Steves' books (we still use him when we can). Loire Valley and the chateaux are pretty spectacular too. We have found the French to be very polite and helpful but like everyone else they have their habits / norms. Please - when you walk in a shop or sit down in a restaurant make the first word you say bonjour and when you leave merci, avoir. Waiters here do not work for tips so you will not find one saying Hi my name is Pierre and I'll be...
by 64415
Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

One concern I have about Paris is the potential for unpleasant interactions with the service staff such as waiters, store clerks etc. I have heard this isn't so much of an issue in the countryside. We should be unlikely targets for this type of arrogant passive aggressive behavior as we try to behave as travelers and not tourists. Still, it is a concern. I wouldn't worry about this, as I think the issue of rudeness in Paris is overstated. I've been to France many times, don't speak more than a couple words of French, and have never experienced any problems with this. As long as you are polite, people will generally be polite to you. I would definitely second the idea of spending, say, 4 days in Paris, then another 4 somewhere else. You cou...
by 64415
Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

Re: Trip to Europe in September

Hi, My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe the last two weeks of September. We plan to have two days of air travel and 8 nights of vacation. This is an anniversary trip without the kids. We would like Boglehead opinions on which European destination would be best in terms of weather, and taking advantage of diminished crowds since we would presumably be traveling in the shoulder season. Currently, we are leaning towards Paris. Maybe four nights in Provence and 4 nights in Paris. Four nights in Rome and 4 nights in another rural Italian location are also being considered. Thank you for your suggestions. My responses may be delayed as I will be starting a 48 hour work session in a few hours, but I should have intermittent breaks to repl...
by 64415
Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

You didn't mention how important the cost is but if the destinations you were considering are a bit high for your budget with the current exchange rate, then an inexpensive alternative would be the Greek Islands. I was at the Greek Islands in late September two years ago and the hotel prices drop off sharply then and the weather was still good. On most islands we were able to get a nice mid-range hotel for maybe $50 to $75 dollars a night. For example this is one of the hotels that we stayed at for several days. It was just a couple of minutes walk to a great beach. http://www.expedia.com/Naxos-Island-Hotels-Agios-Prokopios.h2836014.Hotel-Information?c=d0496f98-f67d-47de-a405-b4cdb4afcc31&chkin=09%2F18%2F2011&hashTag=default&hw...
by 64415
Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

Raybo wrote:Another option might be Vienna and then the train to Prague or visa versa. There is so much to see in Vienna, you could spend all 8 days there. But, 4 or 5 days in Vienna and train ride to Prague (several hours) and then 3 days there would be a very nice trip.

Ray
Thanks Raybo. What time of year where you in Vienna and Prague? I have no experience in either place. Will the crowds and weather be OK in late September?
by 64415
Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Feels Good Man
Replies: 17
Views: 2571

Thanks bluemarlin. The answer to your question is difficult. A counter insurgency is different than what people think of when they think of war. There will be no treaty, no surrender, no official it is over day, and I think that is what people have a hard time grasping. We (the US), and our partnered allies of 30+ nations are in Afghanistan at the REQUEST of the Afghan government. Our mission there, is to provide stability and give the people belief that their own government will work. Of course, we run into the issue of insurgents who do not want us there, and do not want a legitimate effective government ruling Afghanistan. Is it working? Well we kill EXPONENTIALLY more bad guys than suffer casualties. Is even one American life worth it?...
by 64415
Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

chaz wrote:Four nights in Rome and then Venice. Ideal.
Thanks Chaz. Have you been to Rome and Venice in late September? How were the crowds and the weather?
by 64415
Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

I just looked at Rick Steve's website. For a seven day French itinerary he recommends Paris, Versailles, Normandy, and the Loire Valley. I forgot how far north Paris is, it would be quite a travel distance to incorporate Provence into the trip, unless I did an open jaw ticket with a flight into France and flew back to the US from somewhere in southern Europe.

He also has a nice seven day suggested itinerary for Rome with a few easy day trips to nearby sites.
by 64415
Sat Jun 04, 2011 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6153

Trip to Europe in September

Hi, My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe the last two weeks of September. We plan to have two days of air travel and 8 nights of vacation. This is an anniversary trip without the kids. We would like Boglehead opinions on which European destination would be best in terms of weather, and taking advantage of diminished crowds since we would presumably be traveling in the shoulder season. Currently, we are leaning towards Paris. Maybe four nights in Provence and 4 nights in Paris. Four nights in Rome and 4 nights in another rural Italian location are also being considered. Thank you for your suggestions. My responses may be delayed as I will be starting a 48 hour work session in a few hours, but I should have intermittent breaks to reply...
by 64415
Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tressel resigns
Replies: 111
Views: 11992

Take the good with the bad - don't gloss over his failings. Punching reporters, destroying yard markers, and punching players is not just a different way of doing things. It's not a midwestern attitude. Don't justify that behavior. Agreed. I don't see how a grown man acting like that can be chalked up to the values of his time and place. I think that is doing a disservice to everyone else, no matter how good a coach or how much his players loved him. Although I have no connection to OSU (I received my training at another Big Ten school), I feel Woody Hayes is the shining example of what a football coach should be: a teacher and molder of young men. If you do even a cursory bit of research into the man's life you will see example after exam...