The Mayan Calendar-Is it the end?

There’s absolutely no way that I will claim to be an expert on this subject, but I couldn’t resist the need to weigh in on the subject of 12/21/2012…the date which the Mayan civilization indicates that the world will end via the Mayan Calendar.

First off, I have been aware of this date, and this prediction, since I started paying attention to Belize. This interest was born out of the passionate conversations I had with a good friend who was involved in the founding of a fabulous development in northern Belize, Orchid Bay,Belize. Since then, probably 5 or 6 years ago already, I have fallen deeply in love with the idea of living in Belize and will get there soon. It is a fascinating country, full of adventure…but I digress…

The Mayan’s calendar abruptly ends on December 21, 2012; what don’t know is what exactly is going to happen. If, as some predict, the world comes to an end, I regret that I have not yet actually visited Belize! But the Mayan’s apparently, are not the only ones with a patent on this dilemma…the Cherokee Indians had an ancient calendar which ends in 2012, the Zulu believe that the world will be turned upside down, the Hopi Indians predict a 25 year period of purification followed by the “End of the Fourth World and beginning of the Fifth” and the Hindu calendar matches the Mayan’s almost exactly. They all refer to a time of enlightenment, transformation and/or the beginning of the new Fifth World.

I frequently refer to song lyrics to help me with a variety of scenarios; so with regard to the Mayan calendar, my musings bring me to this question…Is this “The End of the World as We Know It” or is this “The Age of Aquarius?”

I will leave you with this cartoon (courtesy of Mexican Word of the Day on FB), depicting two ancient and obviously very wise Mayan Indians:

If these guys are right, and I think they are…I will post again to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If these guys are wrong...get yourself a nice tropical shirt, drink plenty of tequila and relax in one of our fabulous Caribbean Hammocks!

Quick Tips for Caribbean Trips

As the winter escape season is here (it's snowing and about 27 degrees out where I am in New England) I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on vacation travel...then Tiffany Mullins from Sandals.com sent me these tips on preparing for my Caribbean vacation and I thought I would pass them along:
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Quick Tips for Caribbean Trips
It can be easy to forget a few things during the hustle and bustle of packing. In order to prevent you from smacking your forehead in exasperation as you board the plane, we’ve put together a handy-dandy guide to make sure your all-inclusive Caribbean vacation sails as smooth as a catamaran. From packing tips to daily advice, we’ve got you covered.

Pack a Waterproof Camera
Sure, crystal clear water is ideal for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean Sea, but not so much when it comes to dropping your camera into the tide and losing your memories due to a case of the butterfingers. Bring a waterproof camera – it’ll put your mind at ease, so you can splash and frolic at the base of a waterfall with nary a worry in sight.

Bring Rechargeable Batteries
You’re going to be snapping pictures in all directions, so regular batteries just won’t do. Save the bank (and luggage space) by purchasing rechargeable batteries to capture every spectacular moment.

Include Hair Clips/Ties
If your locks are long, this must-have accessary will keep the salty breeze from wafting tresses directly into your mouth. Trust us - this makes a huge difference, especially when you’re windsurfing.

Don’t Forget Your Medications
As you’re packing up, it’s easy to get excited about those sandy white beaches and to forget your prescriptions. A few days before you leave, you should make sure your supplies are stocked and talk to your pharmacist to make sure you don’t need to bring anything else.

Footwear: Bring a Supply of Sandals
Packing light is always a challenge. (What if you need that bathing suit, too?) Rest at ease, you won’t require more than two pairs of sandals – one for dressy romantic dinners and one for more casual pursuits. Stilettos don’t fare too well in this sandy terrain.

Protect Your Eyes with Some Sweet Shades
You’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to splurge on those glamorous sunglasses. And now – it’s here! Not only will the specs fling UV rays away from your eyes, your pictures will be tres elegante, too.

Cover Up
Wardrobe changes throughout the day may seem glamorous, but the novelty quickly wears off. By packing a comfy, cute cover up you can keep swimsuit-ing in style as you sip mimosas by the pool or read a spicy novel on the warm sand.

Water, Water, Everywhere
Drink up! The Caribbean sunshine and flowing adult beverages will leave you thirsting for some good ol’ H2O. The last thing you want is to be dehydrated during your romantic getaway, as this can cause headaches and put a real damper on things. Try adding a few slices of orange or lemon to infuse your water with minerals and nutrients depleted during a day in the sunshine.

Apply Lots of Sunblock
You may have imagined coming home from your Caribbean adventure bronzed and beautiful, but sunburn can sap the fun right out of it. Apply sunscreen regularly to keep the smiles coming!

Make a To-Do List
Don’t leave your island paradise with regrets. Start working on that to-do list now. Zip lining? Horseback riding? That gourmet restaurant you read about? If you keep it on your phone, you’ll be ready to edit the list whenever inspiration strikes.

Enjoy Your All Inclusive Vacation
Finally, don’t forget to smile (although all of the awesome times you and the love of your life will have makes this tip a bit of a no-brainer). Discover more ways to maximize the fun during your stay at your all inclusive Caribbean resort – we’ll see you soon!

Copyright © 2012 Sandals.com

Guest contributor: Tiffany Mullins from Sandals.com

The Trouble With IRA Custodians

Since this blog is based on mostly tropical things and my affliction with JBS (or Jimmy Buffett Syndrome), and with the presidential election behind now for another 4 years, I wanted to share this note I received from my friend Thom over at IRAAssets.com; because in my mind, using any way possible to achieve a tropical lifestyle (even if only a few weeks or months out of the year) is worth passing along.

There has been a great deal of interest, and I'm certain there will be more interest now, in utilizing your retirement funds to own property, or other tangible stuff...Thom's web site has a great resource for the ins and outs of how to self-direct your retirement account...so here is the note I received yesterday from Thom...do with it what you will...but if you speak with Thom (and I recommend it) please let him know that SkipJack recommended you contact him...

Bob,
 
Self Directed IRA custodians aren't getting a lot of love from their clients lately, based on the calls I've received this week.
That's unfortunate because without them, we'd be stuck with holding nothing but paper assets like mutual funds, CDs or annuities in our retirement plans, instead of real estate, precious metals, mortgages or pre-IPO stock in our retirement accounts.
I consider some of these IRA custodians my friends, so when I get a call asking for our Custodian List because the investor has had it with the high fees or lack of friendly service, I realize that for every investor that's pissed enough to take action & transfer their account elsewhere, there must be 10 more that feel the same way.

No one is ever happy when the occasional mistake occurs that delays our hard earned profits from getting into our retirement plan. It makes you wonder if your custodian really values our business at all.

Today the problem is two-fold. Custodians are being hit with wave after wave of new regulations since they are trustees for your retirement savings, while at the same time they are watching their customer base double every few years.
Most of them tell me their biggest challenge is constantly hiring and training a larger staff.

The alternative for many investors is to switch to what is often called a Check Book IRA or 401(k) plan where the account owner takes over much of the custodians work and manages their own funds. Click here watch the recorded webinar on Check Book Retirement Plans.

Basically, you become the record keeper for your retirement plan as well as hold your IRA-or-401(k) funds at your local bank, so you are the only person having check book access to your retirement funds.

Let me know if this was helpful.

Best regards,

Thom
Publisher:
Diversify Magazine
IRA Assets News.com
800-914-2689

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune ~ Jim Rohn

Expats with Savannah Jane Buffet

Having grown up sailing on an old 34' sloop on the Great South Bay (the south shore of Long Island, NY), then moving to land-locked Nashua, New Hampshire about 20 years ago, I've been feeling severely land-locked! So, I've taken to reading about sailing and following a few potential opportunities that might help me get my sea legs again. Since one of my mottoes is "If you're going to think...may as well think big" I'm working towards this 50 footer!

But, since I'm not there yet, I thought I would find a way to live vicariously through someone else who is there! Then...like manna from heaven (really from my FB friend RumShop Ryan) Ryan posted this video episode of the Expat series on Youtube! If you have ever even thought about escaping to the tropics...this is a must see! It is about 24 minutes long, and is part of a series hosted by Savannah Jane Buffett (yup! Jimmy's daughter), so take some time out and enjoy this guys story! By the way, he is a fellow New Englander...or was!
Check out new Chillin' Like a Villin' page for some relaxation techniques (okay, so they're hammocks)...more to come!
Almost forgot to mention...Savannah is a pleasure to watch...I'd love to meet her!

Developer Sponsored "Discovery" Tours

When you think of a developer sponsored "discovery" Tour, some cannot help but think about the days of old when you were sucked into a 90 minute timeshare tour...this is NOT the case AT ALL!!! At least not with the folks at Orchid Bay in Belize with their "Insider's Tour", nor is the case with the folks at Seaside Mariana with their "Discovery" Tour in Nicaragua.

These tours are designed, and well executed by these developers, to help you discover their little piece of paradise. But let's face it, my particular spot in the sand and sun may not jive with what you have in mind...so they have designed these tours to be tailored to making the best of your trip, and to provide you with as much information as possible to help you with your investment...which is why you are going in the first place.

Tours in both of these locations consist of seeing the property of course, but you also get to experience some of the local culture, meet some of the local people and really get a feel for the place before making any kind of commitment.
SkipJack's recommendation...take them up on their offer...it is generally a very good one! And a great way to explore and discover a new place...a place you might be calling home soon!

Both of these properties can be purchased and owned using your self-directed IRA...click here for more info.

SkipJack