Update:Do we really NEED a bank account????

Is your bank a pain in the ars at times? Mine was too. Here's
what I did


Hi! and welcome to The Global Community Park!  Last year on July 3rd, I has a lot of administrative problems with my bank.  One of the more frustrating ones was that I'd be vacationing and my debit card wouldn't work. I'd call my bank and they had put a fraud tracking on my account.  I don't mind it at times but, when they overprotect me from myself over and over again, it gets annoying.  Another time I tried to deposit 1,200.00 into the account and the bank teller would not let me deposit cash money.  They said I had to go and get a money order and deposit the money order. I replied, "I can't deposit cash??". She told me no, that I had to get a money order and deposit that. I left the bank, got the money order, and returned to the bank to deposit the money order.  I thought it was ridiculous! Those are some of the reasons I wanted to stop using banks.

So, I tried different types of account that would substitute for a bank account. One was a bitcoin account but the learning curve was ginormous! Another was a prepaid bank card. I received the card from Citibank but I quickly found out after they sent it that I couldn't recharge the card. Was told, after I put $2,000. on to the card that, once the money is gone they said, the card will be no good.  In fact, they told me to destroy it. So, the next thing I tried was a debit card from my stock brokerage account.  They not only sent a bank card, but they sent checks too.  I finally have a way to do banking without belonging to a bank and my life has never been so stress free (at least when it comes to banking).  Everything I can do with a bank, I can do through my online brokerage account.

So, it has been a year on July 3rd, since I got rid of my bank account and I don't regret it one bit.  The only reason I'd would get an account at this time would be to deposit my income into the brokerage account from my bank account which I now don't have.  The good thing about having my brokerage account be my banking account is that I can grow my account (and do grow the account) by trading in the stock market. When I make my money I take it out of the trading account and move it into my brokerage.  I love it. I feel empowered and in control of my finances.

I challenge all who are feeling like they don't control their financial situations to find another way that fits them better. With me, one of the best reasons I like this way of managing my finances is I can do everything online.  When I go shopping, that is when I get my pocket/purse money for the month.  I can also pay for my groceries with my brokerage card. When I go to the mall, I pay with my card as well.  I can control my spending and I'm not charged any monthly fees (also, I get interest for keeping the money in the account.  It's a win-win for me.

I'd encourage you to find your personal financial management program if you're unhappy with your money management situation. I don't know about you but I feel like less of an adult with other people are controlling my financial situations.

So, it took a year but I got my answer, we DON'T need a bank account.  After a year and 10 days, I am proud of myself for taking back control of my money and others are starting to do the same.  The banks had better be careful of all their customers may soon bail!

That's my thought for today.  I hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Now here's a treat for you!

Here's Crystal Dennis covering "MEXICO" by

Carrie Underwood

WHAT MILLENNIALS KNOW THAT BABY BOOMERS DON'T

Online Technology  Jobs/Social Media Outreach

Hi! and welcome back to the Global Community Park!  

Stealth Camping/Van Dwelling

Lately, I've been watching some Youtube channels featuring younger and younger people who are buying and living in RVs and vans (calling themselves Vandwellers). These young people know something that we older ones don't. There are so many places I wanted to go and so many things I wanted to experience but never did because I thought I couldn't leave my domain.  I stayed around my husband's job and my children's schools.

Now I know that, being a retired teacher and, at that time, very qualified to home school my two children, I could have moved anywhere.  

I had many ideas on how to start a teaching business as well. Many of my friends wanted me to educate their children once the education system started breaking down and the core curriculum took hold.

I considered moving near Beverly Hills and/or Bel Air, teaching special education and at risk youth because that's my area of expertise and my teaching passion. There was a need, there is always a need and I was very good at reaching that sector of students. 

When my husband died back in 1998, I again considered putting everything into storage and traveling with my children but, well-meaning friends, and my circle of support, fearing for our well being, convinced me that it wasn't a good idea.  In 2008, ten years later, I took my first extended traveling vacation. I moved to Vermont, to a very small town, and opened a novelty store on the main street.  Something I had dreamed of doing as a child when we would visit Vermont often. I stayed there for 3 years and made some positive local history, I will tell more of that in another post. 

Now I live in Mexico, on a beautiful stretch of beach front property.  I love it and have been here for a year.  Every morning I step out onto my patio to welcome the beginning of a new day, a new adventure, every sunset is a thing of beauty, and from my patio I smell a clean and fresh ocean scent.  I love to sit out there and clear my head after a long day of trading in the stock market which can be stressful at times.

I Love My Patio View!

My next extended vacation, after traveling more in the United States this year, will be in Europe. Centering my location in Brussels, I intend to visit Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. I'd like to stay for 3 months and visit them all.  

So, to answer the question, what millennials know that baby boomers don't? They know that they shouldn't wait to retire before they seek wonderful adventures in the world of traveling and exploring. They also know that by using technology, they can live or visit anywhere in the world and still hold an online 9 - 5 job.

Kali, of Kali and Josh on their Youtube channel, The Freedom Theory, summed it up best.  Kali's father passed away last year. She and Josh have been touring in an RV and seeing the country. They both work online so they can travel and work. Kali shared on her Youtube channel, that her father died 5 months into his retirement. This was her validation to do what she always wanted to do, travel. That's what her husband and she are doing now and, with her late father's professional camera left to Kali, they share their journey with all of us via Youtube.

I also had a friend, Sam, who worked 30 years for JCPenney, Inc. He saved enough money and retired where he always wanted, the Phillipine Islands. Around 9 months into his retirement, Sam also went to his reward after having a heart attack due to the extreme heat.  These examples are a life lesson to us all.  Find what you want to do, then pursue that dream, don't wait.  This world is rapidly changing, international borders are changing. Some places we once traveled freely, we now can't and places we couldn't travel to in the past, are now open to us. 

Still Loving My Beachfront!

Millennials have learned not to wait for the perfect time. Just do it, they say. I love the way the Millennials think, the ones who are traveling and defining their own American Dream.  Some marry but, some don't.  Some raise children, but some decide not to. I admire them, they make me wish I had been born later.

Just wanted to share that. Have a wonderful day and enjoy this awesome song from Crystal Dennis!

Crystal Dennis Music-Youtube Channel

"Lady Days" - Original Artist - ENYA

WHY AM I SO SELF INVOLVED?

Hi! It's Kiki! and welcome to the Global Community Park!

Is it just me? or are we all becoming just a little too self involved.  I realized that when my enthusiasm for helping my singer get to Chicago to do her recording session didn't matter to anyone but me, and her, I got very depressed.  I thought that my belief in her talent would be infectious and others would want to help her to realize her dream.

Crystal Dennis - Professional Singer

Now I know that the only thing that really matters is that she loves to sing and many people like to hear her sing and that should be enough.  But that is just the beginning. I also discovered that I had been misjudging people. When they wanted to know about my life (I'm referring to the people around me, not those reading my blog). I thought they wanted to be friends but I soon found out that, once I answered their questions (giving them the information they needed to tell to their friends), I didn't see or hear from them anymore.

The Coronado Islands, CA as seen from my Patio

For example, a new acquaintance wanted to know how I made my income.  I told her that I traded in the stock market.  She showed up at my house 10 am the next morning with the excuse that she was on a "long walk" with her dog (about a 2 mile walk), and just decided to drop in.  I told her I was working, and during the hours of the market I don't leave the computer until all my trades are done, which I also told her when she first asked me. I also mentioned on that evening that  I can't teach her to trade as I am adjusting to the psychological side of trading myself and it just isn't a good time to add teaching to that equation (I know fellow traders understand what I mean). 

When you feel life is against you, volunteer!

I haven't seen her since that day.  I know that she was having problems paying her bills, she had pawned her car and her timeshare was foreclosed on for nonpayment of her HOA fees. When you have that much debt looming over you, it's not a good time to begin trading in the market.  When I trade, I trade with extra passive income, not bill payment money. Living here in Mexico has allowed me to be able to save more money. I use some of that extra $ to trade with.  Anyway, haven't heard from her, nor seen her. I think she left Mexico and abandoned her one year lease on her house so she won't be back anytime soon.

I feel sorry for her or anyone else who is having money or housing problems in this economy. It's been hard on lots of people, I know that. Hopefully a new President in the U.S. will help to turn things around.  People still need to scale back and start downsizing in order to save money. But I digress.

I LOVE the sunset!

Selfies, vlogging, Youtube channels (I watch them too, so I'm not judging, well not too much anyway), blogs (ok I get it, I'm guilty), and self proclaimed superstars.  We are bombarded with the hype people are giving themselves.  There are even companies that make money by promoting those too shy to indulge in their own brand of shameless self promotion. For a fee, they will promote you like a superstar before you even get out your first song!! Few stars get famous on talent anymore, it's mostly hype (Kim Kardasian is a great example of that). 

So, what do ya think? Are we too self involved? or not enough.  I remember being taught that when I get "down in the dumps", get out and volunteer. Sometimes I think I go overboard with self inflection, but I try to tell myself that it's just different times we live in.  I just love the accessibility of everything but on the other hand, I are we building another Tower of Babel (or should I say tower of babel fish?)  Since we are all communicating on our self involved wavelengths, is it time to separate us again?

This era will be defined in the history books, What will it say? Only time will tell.

Stay safe and selfie strong!

TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES

Hello again and welcome back to the Global Community Park.

A BOTCHED UP JOB!
Yeah, it's me, Kiki and I know that it's been awhile.  The last time I posted I'd come back from taking my singer to Chicago record a tune and was celebrating the holidays!  

Well the holidays went just fine but, the recording never got finished. The person that was doing the mixing and such, quit without  finishing the job.

Visit Crystal Dennis Music Channel on Youtube

It was a great disappointment but it taught us that we cannot trust that people will do what they say. If we didn't have other business in Chicago on the same weekend, it would have been a wasted trip. We plan on returning to Chicago this September for a music convention and this time we'll be able to explore the city (we couldn't the last time because our non-business time
was occupied with the recording session).

PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS ALREADY?

Christmas in Leavenworth,WA

Another trip we plan to take this year is to Leavenworth, WA. We are going there to start the Christmas holiday season. The town goes all out for the season with trees and Santa and all kinds of cool stuff and it's very crowded.  We are flying into Seattle, WA and taking the Polar Express to Leavenworth.  Actually, it's a wonderful shuttle train where they entertain us with singing carols, and mulled apple cider and more.  It's a Christmas Fest!

SUMMERTIME IN SOLVANG

The third trip this year will be to Solvang, CA via Rancho Oso Resort in Santa Barbara.

Solvang, CA

I want to find out if I can rent a car without a credit card or a bank account to drive up there. 

Remember, I gave those things up, banks that is, not cars.  

OH! and I've found an alternate method of spending cash, one is by using actual cash and another is by using an ebank account that I attached to my online brokerage account.  I just requested some

checks and a debit card to use for shopping.  Ahhh, where there's a will there's a way.

PLANNING NEXT YEAR!!!

My next travel venture will be to travel through Europe next year and live there for a few months (all politics remaining the same).  I hoping to sublease my beach house here before I leave. 

Well, Sorry I've not posted in a while. But, I've done all the pouting and feeling sorry for myself that I'm gonna do.  I'm blogging with a new attitude. I know it will show through my new blog entries.

As for all of you, I hope you have a wonderful Summer and watch for my new posts as I take you along on my travel adventures.
I'm still enjoying Mexico and plan on finally doing the tourist thing this summer. Come along with me! For now,  enjoy this original song by Crystal Dennis.

The 12 Days of Christmas! Day #1

Hi! and welcome back to the Global Community Park! 

Today starts the 12 days of Christmas and I get into full holiday mode (if you can believe that it can get any worse (LOL). 

This year I've been doing a lot of DIY decorating. I started with making a candy jar from coffee bottles and then I got carried away.

All of my throwaways began looking like Christmas decorations.  I began looking at my neighbors discards as well and it just got, well, really weird! I picked up some of their cut off tree branches, sprayed them with gold metallic paint and they're now adorning my end table. I'm finishing up the decorating this weekend. I haven't done everything I wanted to but, the decorations look fine. 

Hope everyone's having a wonderful holiday season!! Yesterday, I baked cookies. I included some Hanukkah designs with my Christmas designs. 

I also like to bake cookies that look like a winter wonderland. I added frosting, coconut, and pieces of starlight mints! YUM! I LOVE this time of year! 

Today, I'll be looking for more holiday recipes so, if you have any to share, pass them along. What do you like to bake or cook around the holidays. Are there any holiday drinks among your favorites?

Here are some wreaths I made for the armoir (sorry about the spelling). Total
cost of the materials? $2.00 USD

Well, signing off for this post. Let me know 
what you do for your 12 days of Christmas!

and until the next time! Adios 'til my next post!

Angels ARE Among Us!

Me, In La Jolla, CA at the pier!

Hi! and Welcome back to the Global Community Park! 
HAPPY HANUKKAH TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE THIS                                   WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!

pic at the right in black n white

US Bank Christmas Tree

FOR GOOD SAMARITAN STORY, READ ON:
I went into downtown San Diego and walked through Little Italy, looking around and take pictures of some of the Christmas trees and decorations that beautified the city this holiday season. Here are some pictures for you. You'd be surprised at how much fun it is just walking around and seeking out cool decorations around the city. 
Like these here:

S.D. County Offices Tree

The tree at 401 W A street

GOOD SAMARITAN STORY, BELOW:

Nutcrackers on the street corners!

I just had to chime in here and share an experience I had while visiting San Diego, CA.  I rode the trolley while in San Diego and stopped in Little Italy to walk around a bit.  On the way back, on trolley there was a fight between 2 gang members. I must say that I ride the trolley a lot while in San Diego and this doesn't happen often, I usually feel very safe. 
But this time, it did. 

The fight started on the platform and when the trolley arrived at their stop, they jumped onto the trolley and continued the fight. Just then, one of the passengers shouted for the two men to stop the fighting. One of the men had taken out a switchblade and cut the other behind his neck. The passenger, who was riding with his 2 year old daughter and his wife, physically pulled the men apart and told them to either get off the trolley or separate and stop fighting.  

They decided to ride. While they were on the trolley the "angel" stood in between them. He told them to get home and deal with their problems later. Then the guys started shouting back and forth at each other cussing and swearing at each other.  The "angel" told them again to shut up because there were kids on the trolley and they didn't need to hear the bad language. Can you believe it? They stopped!

The "angel" stayed between them the whole way.  I know the situation would have been a lot worse if that "angel"of a guy wasn't on the trolley. I can't believe he put himself in harm's way to de-escalate that situation. 

When we all got safely to our destinations at the final stop, I thanked the man for what he did. These are stories that you won't hear on the nightly news report.  I COULD mention the nationalities of the "angel" and the riders on the trolley but, does it really matter? The fact that anyone would stop a fight like that was amazing. It reminded me that there are "angels among us", God watches over us all. and I thank Him for having that man on the trolley at this time. He probably saved a lot of people from getting hurt. By the way, I thanked him for what he did. I told him without his intervening, the situation could have gotten a lot worse.

I don't know who he is and I probably won't see him again but, how wonderful it is to know that there are people like him in the world.

Wanted to share my experience and then say, San Diego's a beautiful city and.......

ADIOS TIL MY NEXT POST!

THIEVES IN PARADISE?

Our humble abode!

Hello and Welcome Back to the Global Community Park!

When I started this blog, I mentioned that the name came from my memories of taking my children to the community parks located in neighborhoods in the United States. My first visit into this Global Community Park can carry similar consequences.  Just as the parks in the states are not always trustworthy as far as thieves are concerned (you leave your belongings and they COULD be stolen), neither is it safe here, in paradise.

We have an outbreak of break ins here in the Community Park. Our November newsletter reads like this.

Alleys are very quiet

 "There were two reported break-ins this past month.  One occurred while a resident was in the home and her car was stolen along with a computer and some personal items.  The thief is believed to have known his way around {our complex} and knew the movements of the local residents and planned his escape.  Apparently, he drove the car down our beach ramp (which makes a case for having the beach ramp closed after dark) and made it to {the neighboring complex} where tire tracks disappeared.

The second incident involved a young couple who broke into a home looking for a place to rest.  They were detained by the security team until the police arrested them.

A neighbor also reported a strange man walking on Roca street.  When the security team approached him, he took off running and was detained and removed from the community."

I mentioned that, for the past 6 months, I've felt like I could leave the door unlocked here. Well, that secure feeling is gone. I also noticed activity going on here the night of Thanksgiving. I swore I saw a person on a rooftop with a flashlight. Now I think it was one of the break ins.

Does that mean there is no such thing as "paradise"?  Is there really a paradise lost? As I type this, I'm looking for a new community to live in starting January. I'm looking forward to moving for all the reasons I mentioned in my previous post  http://globalcommunitypark.blogspot.mx/2015/11/im-pissed-off-nobody-enjoys-being.html   and now this newsletter has sealed the deal for me. 

This community is empty most of the year. It's full of luxury vacation homes. Right now, there are 8 large homes around my humble abode that are not being lived in. Most have 4 and 5 bedrooms. It's strange that, with so much homelessness in the world today, these beautiful homes stay empty. 

Most of the year, these homes are empty!

Well, many residents hire a cleaning and repair staffing company to prepare, repair, and clean their homes before they come down. I think some of those workers did a return visit to break into these homes. Like the newsletter stated, the break ins where done by people who were familiar with the area and they knew when the owners were not going to be home.

After experiencing my first 6 months here, I think I prefer to live in a security/doorman occupied apartment building near the beach. There are some down here that seem safer. At the very least, I'll feel safer in them. These apartments also have a phone inside the unit that calls downstairs to the guard's station and to the doorman's desk. Even if it cost a little more, if you get the peace of mind, it's worth the price.

The beach still ROCKS!

Well I'm going to end this post now. I just wanted to follow up my last post with this new info I've found out.

The moral of these posts are "DO YOUR RESEARCH" before you jump.  I got off good with my situation but some are a lot worse. I'm glad I took this chance and opened up this opportunity for myself. I've learned how to research before I move into something and to leave it when it stops working for me.

Lots more to say, little space to do it in. Next post will come soon.

Til then ADIOS!