Some people do everything possible to save. I am one of them.

Like it or not, the end of this year is just around the corner again – the time considered to be ‘very religious’, where what each really does is choose which store to do their Christmas shopping at.

First I want to say that I believe the greatest wealth that you have is HEALTH… And that is not something that you can buy, but in the meantime, it’s something that can save us lots of money!

If it were possible I would economize on our youth too, by depositing it every month in the bank, in some type of savings account. Wouldn’t that be wonderful…?!

But unfortunately that isn’t the case…

Everyone knows that I believe in buying in resales, garage sales and thrift stores. My friends are amazed and delighted at what I find in these places! Things that are never used, never opened, with the label still attached and the largest and most expensive brand names. I say this because there is no shame in spending your money wisely! I strongly believe this. 

Right now, I have a brand new item listed on EBAY which I paid 50 cents for. Another person, last week was selling the same item – USED for $452!

Used! Mine is brand new!

So wish me luck to sell it! Because she sold the item for the $452 she was asking.

Besides what I mentioned above, keep your pockets full and happy by doing this:

- Send Christmas postcards, they’re cheaper.

- The largest garage sales in the country, are CRAIGLIST.ORG and EBAY.com. Search for what you need or want there.

On Craigslist there is a section where you find the most unusual things absolutely free! You just have to go and pick it up (and perhaps disassemble it first).

- Send boxes and packages by mail using a flat rate. Choose the option of sending 2 to 3 days (within USA), because then you pay a fixed price, no matter the weight of the package. For example, sending a box of 11 by 8-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches from New Jersey to Oregon will cost you $9.80, no matter if it weighs 25 pounds or 70.

- Do not use expensive wrapping paper. Cover your gifts with butcher paper, which costs $16 for 500 feet, instead of $30 for 30 feet, or use old maps (for male presents) comics and stories for children.

- Wrap your gifts with pretty ribbon and yarn. Don’t pay lots of money for ready-made bows for 1 yard (about 1 meter). Instead take home a box of 70 yards for $2 to $6 and have fun making lots of beautiful brightly colored bows  to contrast with the paper. It is beautiful and rustic!

- Buy wine in box(es) to take to each party and give the hostess. Many places offer good discounts and you can even mix different brands in the same box.

Afterwards I’ll tell you much more about saving this season.

For me a Merry Christmas is a lot of sincere hugs and kisses.

After a stormy Saturday, (see previous post), I was thinking about the french expression “Joie de Vivre”, and thought it strange that there is not a equivalent phrase to ‘Joie de Vivre’ in English.

The meaning of “joie de vivre” in English is ”the joy of living”, but in the American language, it lacks the energy and the happiness that is involved in the original that represents life, state of spirit, mind, attitude being present every second – things like that.

Look at the bird in yesterday’s photo, it was small and not very sharp, but I could see he was enjoying the moment.

Perhaps the 6-week vacation that the French are blessed with annually help the situation a little… Or maybe it’s the country with its culture, which values life as well as the ‘go ahead with life’… or maybe even a little bit more, and this is reflected the expression…

But back to the stormy Saturday here on our bay… After that, we had a ‘plage de temps’ (beach time) with the wonderful and welcome presence of Mister Sun. We cultivate our own ‘joie de vivre’ walking in the city parks, drawing out each and every one of the large and small pleasures this unique life offers.

Oh then, I had an “Aha moment …” Since we are in November, the month that America celebrates gratitude, appreciation… I offer the following:

I ‘discovered’ you can buy happiness, yes!

If you use your money the right way!

Not by buying shoes, clothes and things you don’t really need, but using it for ‘life’s experiences’ so-to-speak – taking a loved one to dinner, a special ride, a trip…

Spending on the experiences of life, satisfies much more, makes us much happier, much longer, and you also never get bored with the memories that they leave behind… Now with material things ….

Another “aha moment, kind of a ‘deja vu’, is that once again, I realize how much I need to stop being a perfectionist… What will happen will happen and neither I nor anybody else has immunity against it.

“Rest and be thankful.” William Wordsworth

Now raise your little hand, if you are old enough to remember the book about this bird called “Jonathan Seagull”. He discovered that boredom, fear and anger were the reasons that their lives were so short and with this thought he lived a long life…
(Richard Bach - JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL)

Near home, the symbol of our city, let’s get close, take pictures and don’t move.

Some times, we must be brave. Saturday was the day. The kind of day, we have to be optimistic, courageous, and let go of the fear that others ‘think’ that we are cowards…  

It was sooo cold! Especially after 6 months of a scorching summer sun… Also, more storms coming… up to now, the coldest day of the season, … But I had to put not only my nose out, but also my legs and go out walking as I do every day.

Sitting here is wonderful and warm, but it just makes me grow rounder… Urghhhs ….

And around the corner of the house, what do I see …? Just look at the clouds …

It made me ashamed and astonished. What courage these people have!

I understand absolutely nothing about navigation, but do I know that lean to the right and you fall, to the left and splosh. You get wet on both sides.

I think the exciting and thrilling thing about sailing or surfing must be about planning… But perhaps this is something very little used. I imagine that the sea does not like cowards, like me.

Oh no! To my greatest shame, here come another army of brave navegators! And look at the clouds.

Someone once said: “The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change and the realist adjusts the sails.”

Someone out there know who that was…? It’s pure truth.

Around here, people love fishing and water sports. A neighbor once told me: “There’s absolutely nothing more worthwhile than messing with your boat”. Can you believe that?

On land, many times, just living takes an act of courage.

I was just thinking… was the earth created to make room for the boats anchor…?

Not to mention sea sickness, one of the best cures for pride… temporary.

Ahhh … And Noe ‘? With his wooden ark? Courageous also for putting aboard a termite couple…. Have you ever thought about that?

Now, tell me: if God wanted us so much to be brave and fearless, why did he give us legs…? I think many have faked being brave by not running away…

And beneath this cloud there am I.

May your boat of life be light, with only what you need… A warm house, simple pleasures, one or two friends – those that are worth even worth being called that… Someone to love who you love also, a dog or cat, enough to eat, clothing… a little more than that for drinking. Yes, because thirst is dangerous.

We are all in the same boat.

It is Friday, which makes the workers of this great country and the world, happy. It gives them a sense of relief, makes them feel alive. While I fix my emotions I have rediscovered an old friend.

After not having seen her for 23 years , 2 days was short time for all we had to say, all we had to tell… and then the lesson that friendship is not a huge thing, but a lot of little things, and that it continues to grow despite great distances, many or long separations…

Her coming was unexpected, but very welcome. A big surprise, just as our lives are.

And my sweet coconut, or rather, my ‘Chocolate Cake’ has come to see that ‘aunt’ again, how tender young Brazilians reach out to the elderly. It’s so beautiful! This person with so many experiences, having traveled to so many places is so free in the quiet peace of being herself.

Here she is seeing Julia’s new clinic, ”Meadows Couseling Center“, thoughtfully bringing flowers to one of the country’s brightest psychologists! Is this her mother speaking…?

There is no land so distant that can lessen the friendship of those who are persuaded of how worthwhile it is to be a friend. Isn’t that the truth…?

Do you really think that the power of miles or kilometers can separate you from your friends…? Or you, wanting to be with someone who you like, love or miss, not cause you to be there…?

She lives in Holland, and has been here for 3 weeks on business and has only had good experiences here and left in love with the second largest state in America.

When there are long, great friendships, there are always wishes. And I consider myself really blessed to have had someone in which saying ‘goodbye’ was new, yet so hard.