I just got back from a long weekend, driving 888 miles around the state of MN in my Jeep. I was continuing my quest to reach all 68 of the state’s parks – I’m now up to 55. Along the way, I also stopped at a variety of roadside oddities, historical places, and interesting sights. It’s the 7th trip I’ve taken like this since I … Continue reading “Completeness”
If you spend any amount of time in Florida, one thing jumps out almost immediately: lawyer ads everywhere. On TV. On billboards. On the sides of buses. “Been in a car accident? Call now.” It’s hard to drive five minutes without being reminded that someone is ready to sue on your behalf. That observation stuck with me when I started comparing car insurance premiums between … Continue reading Florida Car Insurance
When we’re at our vacation place in Florida, it’s hard not to think about what the weather is like back home in Minnesota. Our son is there, our families are there, and our friends are there. Right now, the weather in MN is brutal. This morning will be -22° F. The afternoon high will be -10° F. Saturday will be only a little bit better. … Continue reading Snowbird ROI
Since this is the week of the Vice Presidential Debate, our Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, will be in the media spotlight. While he was just picked by the Harris campaign in July, it has seemed as if he was campaigning for a bigger office for some time. He and Florida Governor & former-GOP Presidential Candidate, Ron DeSantis – who we also have a first-hand view … Continue reading Sparring States
They say that in Spring, “hope springs eternal”. I wish I could be so optimistic right now. Spring is frankly my least favorite of all the seasons. Particularly this time of spring – from mid-March to the end of April. In Minnesota, this time of year is still cold, wet, and desolate. We get a few nice days in April, but generally it’s not ‘outside’ … Continue reading Spring Showers
We’re shuffling home to cold Minnesota today from our new vacation place in sunny Celebration FL. We’re heading from a place you can walk through a tropical paradise – sunny & 80-degrees – to a snowy landscape with temperatures in the teens overnight. We’ve been gone a full 74 days, so we’re excited to get home. Everyone is asking us when we will be back … Continue reading Two State Shuffle
Our home state of Minnesota regularly shows up at the top of the list of states with the highest taxes in the USA. A few years ago, Kiplinger’s named Minnesota – not California or New York – as the country’s “Least Tax Friendly State”. As many Minnesotans have left the state for low taxes & warm weather in Florida, many have suggested we join them. … Continue reading Department of Residency
We’re back in Florida for our fourth year snowbirding from cold Minnesota. We toured models at the giant Latitudes Margaritaville/ Daytona Beach development yesterday. A weird thing happened when they asked us where we were from. Being from Minnesota, we had to sign an “Out-Of-State Non-Solicitation Affidavit” to acknowledge that we arrived “voluntarily”. What? Yes, apparently it is against Minnesota law for a Florida developer … Continue reading Wait, Sign What?
For the most part, we are living our lives during the CV19 ‘Lockdown’ without a lot of issues. We are blessed. Fortunately, most of the activities that we enjoy this time of year are outside and that’s about the best place you can be to stay safe and keep others safe. Everyday, in my Facebook ‘History’ feed, I see pictures pop up from great trips … Continue reading Minnesota Getaway
We’re having a very snowy month in Minnesota. We’ve gotten over two and a half feet in the last couple weeks and have cracked the list of the State’s ‘Top Ten Snowiest Months’. This is still with 8 days left in the month and two snow systems lined up to come through in the next week with more wintery fun. Flashback: Frosty, Frigid Fun – … Continue reading Plowing Through Time Wasters
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