Note from JWR:

Today we present another Retreat Owner Profile, which will soon be added to the Profiles static page. BTW, we still have room for several more international profiles (outside the US). I am saving the last few slots in the US profiles section for people that have very unusual home/retreats. Perhaps someone that lives in an underground house, or someone that lives aboard a houseboat. If you decide to e-mail us your Profile, please closely follow the same format used in the the others. For your privacy, be sure change enough details so that your neighbors won’t recognize you. (You can …




Retreat Owner Profile: Mr. and Mrs. Dulce in Chile

70+ acre Chilean Retreat, plus a 1,500 acre cattle grazing permit. Ages: 43 and 41, and one child age 3 Background: Family is from upstate New York, dairy farmers. I grew up in NC, history major who went into the Army as an aviator. Spent time living, travelling, and working in over 50 countries. Separated from the army as a Major and went into investments. Retired to Chile in the 2000s. Why Chile? – Chile is the best kept secret in the world. A strong democratic country with five major political parties, Chile is very stable. Chile has lived thru …




Three Letters Re: The Savvy Barterer

Hi Jim: That first paragraph touched a nerve, because it was so truthful for me. My senior year in college everybody went to Ft. Liquordale. I went to Marrakech. Amazing experience. And boy did I get burned on some of the things I bought there. Some by as much as 1,000%. But the learning experience I came away with was priceless. The negotiation skills I learned there have become by far my most valuable business tool. That experience really made me think. On one hobby web site where I have collected much feedback my favorite one of all is “He …




Odds ‘n Sods:

Thanks to Mike C. for this article from Forbes: Abandoned Mine Exploration    o o o More Sturm und Drang from Cheryl: Fiscal Cat 5 Hurricane Warning — Asian Markets Drop — Dollar Roars Back As Global Debts Are Called In — UK Recession Fears Sparks Massive Sell-Off Of Sterling — Global Bank Lending Sinks To 30-Year Low — Demand For Gold Soars As Prices Tumble — World Markets On Edge — Credit Suisse Reports 670M Pound Loss — Nikkei Hits 5-1/2-Year Low — Wachovia Has $23.9 Billion 3Q Loss — Credit Crisis A Catastrophe For Auto Sales    o …




Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"If we find our government in all its branches rushing headlong… into the arms of monarchy, if we find them violating our dearest rights, the trial by jury, the freedom of the press, the freedom of opinion, civil or religious, or opening on our peace of mind or personal safety the sluices of terrorism, if we see them raising standing armies, when the absence of all other danger points to these as the sole objects on which they are to be employed, then indeed let us withdraw and call the nation to its tents. But while our functionaries are wise, …