What is not to love about Wine and Food?

Fun with wine food pairing.... especially while traveling the world ... CHEERS!

in reference to:

"This particular adventure began about 10 years ago when our friend Viktor came to Florida for a visit. Viktor is from Hungary and lest you think we might have trouble communicating, you need to know that Viktor lived several years in Australia and perfected his English skills "down under" before he went back to his Hungarian homeland."
- Adventures of Wine Food Pairing!: Wine Food Pairing ... Fun from Florida to Vienna (view on Google Sidewiki)

Home for Sale Isles of Capri Florida

There are many homes for sale in Florida, but the tiny place called Isles of Capri is a real estate gem that should not be over looked. With only 500 homes, nestled between Marco Island and Naples on the Gulf Coast it will satisfy the "salt water" Lover in all of us!

There is one particular house for sale that I have been looking at ... Let me know what you think?
in reference to: Isles of Capri Florida - Home for Sale (view on Google Sidewiki)

Puppies and Dogs ...

Puppies and dogs bring so much fun into your life! You need a good resource to consult, though, when you decide to make that move .... http://puppies-and-dogs.com is the site to search out that important information ...

in reference to:

"Puppies and Dogs   Are you ready to be a puppy parent? Puppies and dogs are the cutest bundles of fur in the world, but if you aren’t prepared for this new member of your family it could turn your life upside down! First off, if you are thinking about buying a puppy or dog, be aware that this one small action will change your life … mostly for the better … and you need to be prepared, as this change will happen instantly upon bringing the new puppy or dog into your home."
- Puppies and Dogs - Puppies and Dogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

Best Places to Retire - Things to Consider

When you are looking for the best places to retire there are a few things to consider ...

Where to Live After Retirement

You can live in Phoenix, Arizona where .....
1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!

You can Live in California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4 You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought .



You can Live in New York City where ...
1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan.
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature,"
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn.
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.


You can Live in Maine where ...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco.
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for moose.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.


You can Live in the Deep South where ..
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3 "He needed killin'" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Sue, Betty Jean, MARY BETH, etc.


You can live in Colorado where ...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.


You can live in the Midwest where ...
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor or an Amish buggy.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"

AND You can live in Florida where..


1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you are often driven by headless people.

Affordable Retirement .. Try Home Exchange

When you are looking for the best places to retire, you should consider visiting the area you like and take the opportunity to "kick the tires" a bit. One of the best ways to do this is by swapping homes with someone . This is the latest way to actually find out what it is like to live in a different place. Staying in a hotel really doesn't give you that "at home" feeling like a real home does. This is the best way to find affordable retirement.

Whether you want to retire in the US or retire internationally, check this out!

Home exchange is a terrific way to do this for very little money!

Top 10 Places to Retire - Safety Harbor Florida

If you are looking for one of the top 10 places to retire in Florida, be sure to check our safety Harbor, Florida. Only a stones throw from St. Pete and the Tampa, Clearwater area, it is a rare gem, indeed.

One of the first things that you notice is that it has a large walking and bicycle community ... on top of that, they are quite dog friendly.

Safety Harbor enjoys a unique place in the history books and in the hearts of its citizens and visitors. Nestled along the northwest edge of Old Tampa Bay, the first inhabitants were the Timucuan Indians who called the area Tocobaga. In 1528 Spanish adventurers led by the explorer Navarez landed on its shores. Safety Harbor, located in Pinellas County, is the home of the historic Espiritu Santo Springs. Given this name in 1539 by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who was searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth, these natural springs have attracted attention worldwide for their curative powers.

The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on 22 acres of Florida coastline is one of the world's finest spa destinations and continues to attract health conscious visitors to the area. Safety Harbor was first homesteaded by Count Odet Philippe, a French surgeon in Napoleon's navy, who is credited with introducing citrus growing to Florida. Established in 1823 the Count's homestead is now the site of Philippe Park a 122-acre Pinellas County owned and operated facility that is very popular among the residents and visitors.

Safety Harbor was formally incorporated as a City in 1917 with a population of 200 persons. Today 17,000 persons call Safety Harbor their home. Primarily a residential community the City has maintained the character of a family oriented community while preserving the environmentally sensitive lands and revitalizing the historic downtown Business District.

When you begin your search for the best places to retire, you should definitely put Safety Harbor, Florida on the short list!

The Best Place to Retire - Pack Your 'Derm' for Tennessee!

The best places to retire ... everyone has a different opinion, but for this elephant and her best friend, Bella, a stray dog .... this is paradise!

To each his own!

Best Places to Retire - Bye Bye 2008!

Just where are the best places to retire? I guess this is a question that has a different and unique answer for everyone .... as we say goodbye to 2008, this is a question that is being asked by many.

The economy is in the toilet, many of you are worried about your nest egg and others have already lost it .... YIKES ... what are the options? How do you make the right decision based on all of these issues.

First off, there be many correct answers. It is up you to do your due diligence and explore all the options available for your personal and financial needs. Get out your paper and pencil to make a list. Where have you always dreamed of living if money were no object, then work back from there ... you will be surprised that you may be able to come closer than you think if you are willing to make a few concessions.

Have you always wanted to live on the water? Perhaps you can't afford to in the most exclusive seaside community, but there are many lesser priced water areas that will give you the same enjoyment of living on the water. How about a mountain chalet at a posh resort? There are mountain homes all over the world and most of them do not carry the ridiculous prices tags and will allow you to have an affordable retirement.

Over the next few weeks let's explore some of the new options for 2009 ... real estate prices have dropped, circumstances changed and the time is NOW to locate the best place to retire!

Austria - a Great Place to Retire!

2008 Hot Air Balloon World Championships Austria!

Ecuador, One of the Best Places to Retire Internationally

If you are looking for affordable retirement, perhaps you should look south to the equator and the small country of Ecuador. Bordered by the Pacific ocean, Columbia and Peru it is possible to live on a small retirement budget of $1,200 a month, even less if you are frugal. Of course "cheap" isn't everything if the quality isn't there.



There are many places in the world where you can buy inexpensive property, but you wouldn't want to live there, let alone, retire .... but Ecuador is different. Retirement in Ecuador means living well.



Their are many reasons for retiring to Ecuador, but one thing's for certain, this is an affordable and desirable retirement location. It also offers a high quality of life. Ecuador is not an isolated country, in fact, it has turned into a land of opportunity, where a solid middle class is forming. After waking from a long economic slumber, Ecuador is preparing to join the global economy. The Quito airport has recently been revamped and now has new jet ways, a renovated entrance and a new waiting area.



From snow-capped volcanoes to dense Amazon jungle, from sun-drenched Pacific beaches to the famous Galapagos Islands, this is a place of astounding natural beauty. This tiny country is home to 10% of the world's plant and animal species, but its real treasure is its people.




Ecuadorians live in jungle river towns, coastal fishing villages, isolated cattle ranches, ancient haciendas, and large colonial cities. Its small size makes it possible to experience many of these different lifestyles in a single day.




It is one of the few places where a foreign resident or visitor can blend easily into the community, being welcomed into a new circle of friends and a new way of life with relative ease. As a foreign retiree in Ecuador, you'll be treated with respect, and the people will be eager to get to know you.

During the last decade, Ecuador has gone through many changes, but today the country has emerged as a welcoming haven for those wanting to retire or invest here. The real estate market offers significant bargains. A comfortable lifestyle can be enjoyed in Ecuador on just a fraction of what you'd spend in many parts of the world.

Ecuador is one place right now where the U.S. dollar is not losing value, which makes Ecuador one of the best places to retire.



Nearly everything is affordable in Ecuador. From the cost to hire a housekeeper to the price of food or dinner in a nice restaurant. You will be surprised at how low the cost of living is in Ecuador. You may even want to retire early! In the major cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, you will have first class conveniences. Several makes of cars are even made right here in Ecuadorian factories. Cell phones and Internet connections are common.

It's easy to retire in Ecuador on a small retirement income and you can live a comfortable lifestyle. Many foreign residents have their main home in the city, and also have a country home, a beach property, or even property in another country.

Although Ecuador is the smallest country within the Andes mountain range, it has attracted during the past decade foreigners from all walks of life mainly through the welcoming natures of its people. The favorable climate, it has several micro climates, and sheer diversity are just two reasons why retirees have taken to the quieter life away from the more industrialized West.

Eco-tourism has also attracted in a number of foreigners who today run everything from eco-buses across large stretches of land to biking companies who specialize in jungle tours or bike rides down the country's infamous volcanoes.




The rural towns of Baños, Vilcabamba and Otavalo have attracted a great many foreigners who specialize in natural life styles from Vegetarian restaurants, to a variety of homeopathy and massage healing techniques in addition to organized tours including trekking, bird watching, Rafting and many others.
For a real treat, click on the Galapagos tortoise and watch a youtube slide show of the exquisite Galapagos Islands .... enjoy!


Ecuador has a lot to offer. It has manage to fly under the mainstream radar screen for many years, but take a look at it and it may be your best place to retire!