Leveling Up & finding signal in the noise...

I will turn 65 this week.

We assume that if we just add more achievements, more recognition, more experiences—eventually the life will feel complete. But I find that way of thinking breaks down, especially in the second half of life. Satisfaction is less like a canvas and more like a block of jade. The work of art is already there; the task is not to add more, but to remove what does not belong. You chip away what is unnecessary, distracting, or driven by ego, and what remains is closer to who you actually are. For many of us, frustration sets in when the canvas is full but life doesn't feel any better. Satisfaction returns only when the work shifts from accumulation to refinement.

Talking about removing what does not belong, I'm sad to share via another blog post where I talk about my disenchantment with AI and why I just quit a AI related Discord server that I had enjoyed for the past 1-1/2 years.

I'm also slightly disappointed I've decided to skip "Avatar: Fire and Ash" because like I mentioned last week, some reviewers conclude it's brainless fun, a visual treat, and a mindless escape.

GDP vs. Quality of Life

In 1987, Sting sang “I'm an Englishman in New York”. This week I stumbled upon the highly entertaining yet informative YouTube Channel of Evan Edinger, an American who has lived in London for over a decade. His perspective highlights a major cultural "noise" we often ignore: the trade-off between corporate interests and everyday quality of life.

In the US, we often prioritize headline GDP numbers and higher salaries. But at what cost? We add the "noise" of car dependency because our cities are built for vehicles rather than people. We add the stress of insurance approvals and high healthcare prices. Evan notes that in Europe, universal healthcare is a baseline feature of an advanced society—a signal of security that removes the constant background hum of financial anxiety.

Even our food regulations in the US focus on waiting for "definitive proof of damage" before acting, whereas European agencies often focus on preventing potential harm in the first place. It’s about choosing a lifestyle, not just a paycheck. Many in the US are drawn to Europe not because they romanticize it, but because they long for basic freedoms: healthcare security, time off, and walkable neighborhoods where you don't need a car to buy a loaf of bread.

Finance:

I just wrote a separate blog post when I talk about the dollar declining, real cost of wages, a better book review on "The Art of Spending".

That post includes a couple of actionable tips on finding remote jobs in people analytics (US & UK) and resources that inspired a CEO.

A Finance Podcast I watch is The First Million. This week, they had the "2025 Milly Awards".

One of the inspiring people mentioned in that video is Kristin Berman, CEO and co-founder (with Dan Ariely) at Irrational Labs. Kristen wanted to live near their friends, but they didn’t want to sacrifice their privacy, so they started their own intentional community where you can choose your neighbors and eat together but still have your own home. Today, in Radish, their one-third-acre lot in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are 20 adults and 4 babies living in 6 buildings with 10 units.

Radish is a real-world response to modern loneliness.

Radish led me to ponder retirement near family or friends.

Eileen’s sister retired from Miami to Davenport, Florida, 25 Miles from Disneyworld.  She has been telling us to visit, that it's really nice there and to maybe consider relocating.

We don’t really enjoy the winters at our age, especially snow shoveling, so I am wondering whether to buy a second home in Davenport, either be a snowbird (live in the winter there), or to retire there. Hoping to visit in the spring next year.

Newer homes, 3 bed, 2 bath, can be had for under $350K in Davenport - https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Davenport_FL/type-single-family-home/baths-2-2/price-200000-350000.

My main criterion is a good internet connection, Eileen wants warm winters, and we both want a good medical facilities nearby.

In Florida taxes are very low. Drawbacks are hot summers, and the risk of hurricanes, and different political viewpoints.

Christmas Greetings

An inspiring person I learned about in 2025 Milly Awards is vegan UK marathoner Fiona Oakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Oakes who races and wins awards to provide for rescued animals. She exemplifies the Christmas-spirit by living for a higher purpose.

"As I celebrate my 65th and look toward Christmas, my wish for you is not that you receive more, but that you find clarity in what you already have. Merry Christmas to you and your families."

Also, a Happy Xmas Birthday to newsletter subscriber Tony Silva.