Carpe Diem

When I was just a kid I watched “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and saw this one episode with Ron Rice, the founder of Hawaiian tropic. I never forgot it. Ron's philosophy (and I’m paraphrasing) was: “Live where you want to live first .. "Then" build your life/business”.  Easy for you to say Ron.. Most of us 'have' to live close to where the bread gets baked. Ron moved to Daytona Beach..  I stayed where I was and worked odd jobs for the next 10 years..  Yet that line always stuck with me.

I was bobbing up and down in the pool this afternoon thinking about how incredibly blessed I am to live in these islands. The Caymans are the perfect spot geographically.. safe, crime free, racially harmonious and just rough enough around the edges to remind you that you’re alive. I love it here and I’m probably never (permanently) leaving. When I first moved here more than half a decade ago I was really worried. “How am I going to live without civilization!?“ Shops.. malls.. etc, etc, etc. "My wardrobe is going to suck in 5 years". Well, here I am and my wardrobe is fine thank-you.

The power of Fedex is amazing. I went to a local BodyShop and bought some Vitamin E oil and a candle for my wife this PM. It was easy and fun. No parking garages, or grumpy underpaid valets, no long corridors and mall Chinese-food smell.  I love it here.. I now hate malls. The Internet has brought Ron Rice’s pipe-dream to the masses. How much more is it going to be like this in the future? I see a day when bedroom communities near cities start shrinking and vacation spots start growing (much more than they are now). Site influence is going to be more and more important as the brightest and even the partially-dim like me start to figure out that they don’t have to live in this place or that place anymore.

How many people in this business, reading this right now are still living in a spot they don’t like all that much, just hanging on because that’s where their parents lived or sister lived or because it’s what they know? Well I’m the most complacent guy you’ve ever met and I moved. I thought about writing this post as I leaned over that edge of my pool and I almost didn’t .. Then I thought of you .. perhaps you, reading this now could be stirred to do something dramatic, to change your life in a way that will make you happier, as I nearly didn’t so many years ago.

If you’re on the fence, I encourage you to call Remax (or somebody) tomorrow and seize the day, because life is truly short… Most of us only live 50 or 60 years as adults (where we're not sucking tapioca pudding through a straw in a nursing home)..  Take this time to make your years all they can be, because you're a good person and you deserve to be happy.  :)

Comments

[Your loving wife ...]

You just can't beat the weather, healthcare, flip flop lifestyle or mango mojitos.

Thanks for the Vitamin E oil babe (kiss, kiss). I love you.

xoxo m

[IDNebook.com]

Great Post !

[Rob Sequin]

Hey, I'm happy to say that I did what you say Ron suggested. My family took us kids to Cape Cod while we were growing up. I graduated from UCONN and drove to Cape Cod and haven't lived anywhere else for 22 years.

My wife was a friend since we were in high school (but never dated till she graduated college...go figure). Anyway, I had my share of odd jobs but always had the pleasure of Cape Cod with fishing, boating, golfing and going to the beach.

Now have a nice house one house off the golf course and five houses off a boating river.

Hopefully we'll move closer to both!

So, work at home domain business and living where I want to and will always live.

Yes, there is something nice about that but it's not easy. BUT, I get to live where I want to live and that is worth more than money.

[Peter]

Good advice. I am seriously thinking about it.

[Omar]

Frank,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. With this blog it's like you're a neighbor :)

You are really forcing me to think hard about what choices I want to make in my life. Right now there is enough cashflow in the business that I can live wherever I want. When I see fellow domainers living in exotic, interesting places I think to myself: "Hmmm...maybe I'm missing something here".

I think what I learned from your post is to listen to your gut and take chances in your life while you still can.

Thanks Buddy!

[verno]

soon come

[marcia lynn]

great post franky :)

i met ron rice last summer when we interviewed him for our TV show -- he seemed every bit as personable as people say --- a very gracious, down-to-earth, nice guy who acts like any other local at the beach.

***FS*** Wow! Great story Marcia .. thanks!~

[Tim]

That's the spirit, Frank, great post! I think you should cc that to the local papers as well - I think, from time to time, people forget what a great place we live in here. Of course, I grew up here, travelled around a bit, and came back. No reason to leave!
But you know what really cracks me up about your little story? Guess who was sitting at the next table over from us a couple weeks ago at Papagallo? Robin Leach!!! Enjoying a little Cayman r&r himself!!

[Jack Green]

I've read your blog since day one and have been tempted to write but, this post has brought me out. We preach from the same hymn book Frank. We all, should feel so blessed to have the chance to wake up each morning and embrace what life has before us. Granted, there are many factors to assess while considering a move. I am in Grand Cayman twice a year and can understand the attraction - exclusive of the nonexistant personal income tax :) Will be back down there around the first week in May. How truly blessedd we really are my friend. How truly blessed.......

[coconut]

That's a ditto Frank on how nice it is to live in the tropics...and for six months a year (we're nearing the end of our season now) you become real good at weather watching: our Pacific island equivalent to your http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Wicked Wind Blowin'? link is http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/20036.txt

[Tia Wood]

I'll have to agree with you. I used to live in Tampa, Florida. Now I live in Missouri and the change is relaxing and refreshing. I like being able to go out for a drive and not waiting 20 minutes for a spot to pull out in the road. :P

[rhart]

Since my toes finally thawed out after nearly two decades in the Chicago suburbs, I moved and moved again several times, but always within a driver and a 5-iron from a major resort. My career suffered but then again a career would have made me miserable. I did learn however that island (Hawaii) living was not for me. Nice place to visit but I'm a mainlander. But a mainlander that needs to live in places with incredible scenery.

Frank, there was something missing from your piece...photos. Anyway to show us your pad, view, pool, etc without invading your privacy?

[rhart]

OH...on second look, I just realized that was you in your pool. I thought it was a stock photo. Nice!

[C_Sivertsen]

Great Post Frank,
I escaped, err.. moved away from Buffalo, NY where I was born & raised and where my family still resides. I didn't see a future or even optimism about the future there and decided I had to get out, early on.

Next month wil make 15 years in California -- LA & SF amazing places to live, which easily spoil you from moving to many other places. I daydream now of less people and a lower cost of living, but perhaps I'm not prepared to sacrafice my "California Dream" just yet.

[Tia Wood]

Hi Mrs. Schilling! *waves*

[Adam]

Family first, friends second. Infinity pools, mansions, beaches, and all of the luxuries don't mean much if you don't have family and friends to enjoy them with. I reckon many people stay put because of family and friends.

In 1997 I moved back to Illinois having lived in the caribbean (BVI) for close to a year. go figure

***FS*** The important thing Adam is that you're happy :) .. move to Fargo ND if it makes you happy. Illinois is pretty.