I originally started this blog for my own psychosis. However it has slowly evolved into something more as I try to reach out to others who read. As I continue to write I am curious to know who my viewers are. Please take a moment if you could to "follow" my blog to the righthand side. Don't worry, it doesn't spam your email or anything. Just let's me know who my audience is.
Thank you
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Waiting Game
After doing more research over the past few days on Europe I have found it very difficult to move the kids with us- no matter where we go.
Once kids are teenagers it is not advisable to move them to a foreign country (where they do not know the language) unless you plan on shelling out the dough for an international school- which can run in the thousands per child each semester. I mean we could possibly move to an English speaking country like Ireland or the UK but that would take away some of what we wanted to gain from this experience.
So, my initial plan of waiting until the kids are out of school looks to be in effect. By then it would be much cheaper for housing (as we would only need a 1 bedroom and possibly a smaller second for guests) and not have to feed 4 people or worrying about schooling.
An alternative would be to take the kids with us during the summer and spend about 2 1/2 to 3 months. That way the kids would get a nice little taste of living abroad without missing school and we could look into a house swap to reduce housing expenses. A house swap would mean that we live in a house over seas for the duration that that couple or family would live in our place here in the states. We have a nice enough place around Malibu that I am sure would be ideal for anyone doing this swap- it would just be weird having someone living in our place for a few months.
Either way, it now looks like I have a solid plan in mind of how to make this happen- now I just have to be patient enough to wait a few years.
Once kids are teenagers it is not advisable to move them to a foreign country (where they do not know the language) unless you plan on shelling out the dough for an international school- which can run in the thousands per child each semester. I mean we could possibly move to an English speaking country like Ireland or the UK but that would take away some of what we wanted to gain from this experience.
So, my initial plan of waiting until the kids are out of school looks to be in effect. By then it would be much cheaper for housing (as we would only need a 1 bedroom and possibly a smaller second for guests) and not have to feed 4 people or worrying about schooling.
An alternative would be to take the kids with us during the summer and spend about 2 1/2 to 3 months. That way the kids would get a nice little taste of living abroad without missing school and we could look into a house swap to reduce housing expenses. A house swap would mean that we live in a house over seas for the duration that that couple or family would live in our place here in the states. We have a nice enough place around Malibu that I am sure would be ideal for anyone doing this swap- it would just be weird having someone living in our place for a few months.
Either way, it now looks like I have a solid plan in mind of how to make this happen- now I just have to be patient enough to wait a few years.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Daddy's Little Girl
Ever since my daughter was born I was on top of the world. My focus went from me to we in an instant as I touched her little fingers and held her in my arms for the first time. I was so out of mind that I almost left the hospital with her before I was stopped at the side door by one of the nurses.
Over the years I have done my absolute best to raise her how I felt she deserved to be. Luckily I have been able to be a stay at home dad with my own business so I could see every stage of her growing up. From potty training to going to school for the first time- I am happy to say I was there for it all. There has always been one thing that has bothered me, however- the day she would no longer be daddy's little girl.
I've heard the stories... "Everything is good now but just wait until she becomes a teenager." Well I did wait, and next month she will be 14 and yet she is still there with me at every step. And she still copies me at almost everything I do. Not only is she following in my footsteps with her artwork (her drawings are amazing by the way) but her mind is so much like mine that it's scary.
Maybe I'm setting myself up for a heartache in the future but I feel she just may be my little girl forever. But you know what... that's an easy risk that I have no problem taking.
Over the years I have done my absolute best to raise her how I felt she deserved to be. Luckily I have been able to be a stay at home dad with my own business so I could see every stage of her growing up. From potty training to going to school for the first time- I am happy to say I was there for it all. There has always been one thing that has bothered me, however- the day she would no longer be daddy's little girl.
I've heard the stories... "Everything is good now but just wait until she becomes a teenager." Well I did wait, and next month she will be 14 and yet she is still there with me at every step. And she still copies me at almost everything I do. Not only is she following in my footsteps with her artwork (her drawings are amazing by the way) but her mind is so much like mine that it's scary.
Maybe I'm setting myself up for a heartache in the future but I feel she just may be my little girl forever. But you know what... that's an easy risk that I have no problem taking.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Part 2 (France)- Moving to Europe
So I've decided to keep record of my journey of moving abroad. Apparently it's going to be a tough road to accomplish and will require a lot of research and patience.
Firstly, I brought the idea to my kids who surprised me by stating they would be all in. They even brought up France as a place to live despite neither knowing a lick of the language. Now I know they have no idea what to expect but just to know that they have no problem with making a move like this is enough for me to feel comfortable looking at our options.
Secondly, through my research so far I have found that the best way to make this move is to have enough cash saved up to live off of for perhaps a year and fill out an application for a long-stay visa (which is also a year). Then I could fill out an auto entrepreneur form so I can start my own photography business there. The problem arrises on two fronts with this.
Thirdly, the good news is our kids would be able to attend public school for free (although they would have to learn quickly on the language). A private English school is definitely out of the question and the only other option would be to home school them which I would prefer not to do. The point is for them to learn the culture and make it our home for the time spent there.
Overall, there appears to be many obstacles that stand in the way but I feel it is very doable. It's all a matter of making it happen. I know we have the funds to live off of for a year but I don't want to come back to the States after that time with our tail between our legs with no money backed up. I wonder if I've decided to take on more than I can chew at the moment.
Firstly, I brought the idea to my kids who surprised me by stating they would be all in. They even brought up France as a place to live despite neither knowing a lick of the language. Now I know they have no idea what to expect but just to know that they have no problem with making a move like this is enough for me to feel comfortable looking at our options.
Secondly, through my research so far I have found that the best way to make this move is to have enough cash saved up to live off of for perhaps a year and fill out an application for a long-stay visa (which is also a year). Then I could fill out an auto entrepreneur form so I can start my own photography business there. The problem arrises on two fronts with this.
- I am not fluent in French. I have taken several years of the language in school but have lost most of it due to non use. I am positive I can pick it up again easily once I move there but don't know how fluent I can be with it or how long it would take to get there.
- My wife will not be able to work unless she finds an at home job and sponsored by an American company. Visa's apparently have strict rules on not being able to work and to get a work visa is quite hard if you don't have a job lined up already. With her not knowing the language at all I am sure it would be extremely difficult for her to find one in France.
Thirdly, the good news is our kids would be able to attend public school for free (although they would have to learn quickly on the language). A private English school is definitely out of the question and the only other option would be to home school them which I would prefer not to do. The point is for them to learn the culture and make it our home for the time spent there.
Overall, there appears to be many obstacles that stand in the way but I feel it is very doable. It's all a matter of making it happen. I know we have the funds to live off of for a year but I don't want to come back to the States after that time with our tail between our legs with no money backed up. I wonder if I've decided to take on more than I can chew at the moment.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The Next Great Script Idea
It's been about eight years since I wrote my last feature length movie script. I shopped it around a few times but mainly it has just been collecting dust on my shelf. Shortly after writing I had this awesome idea for another one but was too burnt out to write it. Lately, I have had that itch to at least get it started. I waited so long because it's a historical piece that deals with a ton (and I mean A TON) of research to get it right. I've always felt a bit intimidated I guess to take it on but the idea is just one of those once in a lifetime no brainers that I have to write it.
It is set back in the year ???? and deals with humanity as we strive to overcome the ????? ????????? and build ??????? back to how it ??? ?? ??. I don't know how I can be any more clearer than that.
The story line is simple but it involves real events which makes this the more difficult to write. But if I can just get the concept down and take my time on it then I feel this is definitely a movie that can be made. I already have a director in mind who would be perfect for it. It may take me quite some time to get this done but speed is not my objective. If it takes two years then so be it. I'm tired of this idea rattling around in my head. I'm just surprised that I have not heard this mentioned at all in the Hollywood circles and because of that I am keeping all of the details to myself. I already know this is a million dollar script and I don't need to tell anyone for reassurance. And even if the first or second draft sucks, I know the plot line would be good enough to gather some interest for a rewrite.
I don't know if I will ever consider myself a script writer, even if this does get picked up. But I have always had a knack for writing and storytelling so who knows. The best feeling is just having a goal in mind to accomplish and not let fear dictate my accomplishments. I've searched my life for that OH SHIT idea and now that it's in front of me I will not let it slip through my fingers.
It is set back in the year ???? and deals with humanity as we strive to overcome the ????? ????????? and build ??????? back to how it ??? ?? ??. I don't know how I can be any more clearer than that.
The story line is simple but it involves real events which makes this the more difficult to write. But if I can just get the concept down and take my time on it then I feel this is definitely a movie that can be made. I already have a director in mind who would be perfect for it. It may take me quite some time to get this done but speed is not my objective. If it takes two years then so be it. I'm tired of this idea rattling around in my head. I'm just surprised that I have not heard this mentioned at all in the Hollywood circles and because of that I am keeping all of the details to myself. I already know this is a million dollar script and I don't need to tell anyone for reassurance. And even if the first or second draft sucks, I know the plot line would be good enough to gather some interest for a rewrite.
I don't know if I will ever consider myself a script writer, even if this does get picked up. But I have always had a knack for writing and storytelling so who knows. The best feeling is just having a goal in mind to accomplish and not let fear dictate my accomplishments. I've searched my life for that OH SHIT idea and now that it's in front of me I will not let it slip through my fingers.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Moving to Europe- The Dream Has Begun
Yesterday I may have planted the seed that will forever change my direction in life. Moving overseas.
I was looking at housing prices in the LA (Calabasas) area and realized why. I only have about 5-7 more years before my kids are in their 20s and most likely on their own. If I were to purchase a 3 bedroom home now I would probably be upside down on it 5 years from now paying mostly interest to begin with and be worse off then renting. Not to mention I wouldn't need a 3 bedroom at that time anymore.
Then the thought occured to me. What about moving to Europe (even for a year or so)? So I brought this info to my wife and suddenly we were having a real discussion about it like it could actually happen. Of course I was talking about 8 years down the road but we were surprisingly open to the possibility of it being sooner if things happened that way (bringing our kids along with us). The funny part is that I'm not scared of it at all. So where would we move to?
I have always thought about retiring to Tuscany Italy (Around Florence area). Having a really cool base to travel wherever we wanted as well as living a simplier life in a foreign land. But I am not even thinking of retiring yet. So then I thought about France. Paris could work for my photography, however I would have to become stronger on my French speaking and my wife knows none of it. Strasbourg was an awesome place to visit and seemed like home- not to mention driving around to all the nearby wine towns was a neat experience. And they cater to English speakers much better so that may work as well. But if our kids go then we have to think about English speaking schools.
My other thoughts were of the UK and Ireland. I think London would not really be ideal as I wanted to be more in an old world atmosphere (and not a mega metropolis). If I wanted that I would simply go to NY instead. So that leaves me with Ireland- the home of my ancestors. Even though it's expensive as hell I could definitely see us living there.
What it all boils down to is a combination of where work would be and where we would want to go. Something I will have to do plenty of research on before it becomes fact. The cool part is- the dream has started.
I was looking at housing prices in the LA (Calabasas) area and realized why. I only have about 5-7 more years before my kids are in their 20s and most likely on their own. If I were to purchase a 3 bedroom home now I would probably be upside down on it 5 years from now paying mostly interest to begin with and be worse off then renting. Not to mention I wouldn't need a 3 bedroom at that time anymore.
Then the thought occured to me. What about moving to Europe (even for a year or so)? So I brought this info to my wife and suddenly we were having a real discussion about it like it could actually happen. Of course I was talking about 8 years down the road but we were surprisingly open to the possibility of it being sooner if things happened that way (bringing our kids along with us). The funny part is that I'm not scared of it at all. So where would we move to?
I have always thought about retiring to Tuscany Italy (Around Florence area). Having a really cool base to travel wherever we wanted as well as living a simplier life in a foreign land. But I am not even thinking of retiring yet. So then I thought about France. Paris could work for my photography, however I would have to become stronger on my French speaking and my wife knows none of it. Strasbourg was an awesome place to visit and seemed like home- not to mention driving around to all the nearby wine towns was a neat experience. And they cater to English speakers much better so that may work as well. But if our kids go then we have to think about English speaking schools.
My other thoughts were of the UK and Ireland. I think London would not really be ideal as I wanted to be more in an old world atmosphere (and not a mega metropolis). If I wanted that I would simply go to NY instead. So that leaves me with Ireland- the home of my ancestors. Even though it's expensive as hell I could definitely see us living there.
What it all boils down to is a combination of where work would be and where we would want to go. Something I will have to do plenty of research on before it becomes fact. The cool part is- the dream has started.
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