100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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I have been traveling. This past week I was in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota. It snowed. I realized the last time I saw snow was in Finland last winter. It wasn't in NY. Winter is fine and even snow is ok, but I am remembering that early snow in Winter (or late in Fall). It is a bit depressing and certainly the last snow in April will not become a holiday anytime soon.

Some of my ducks are back. I am again working on them to be less fearful with bribes of food, it seems to work.

I bought a new car. I ended up getting a Nissan Leaf. It is all electric, no engine, none of that hybrid stuff. It is a near zero maintenance car (Nissan says zero maintenance). It doesn't even have any belts. It has a very simple single ratio transmission, a battery and a motor. It is fun and has almost no noise. It is like driving in the future. My plan is to "plug in" everywhere except for home. I have a keen look out for electric outlets in parking lots everywhere. There are growing numbers of Level 2 (240 VAC) chargers appearing which have a much quicker charge time.

I haven't settled on the terms of my totaled car with USAA insurance (the guy who hit me, his insurance company). I knew it as soon as he hit me I was going to get screwed despite the accident being 100% his fault. Despite knowing that, I am offended by the "replacement value" offered. I took all of the cars like mine on craigslist and the average is considerably more than what USAA offers. So I am auguring with them. What about my procurement costs? What about items I added to the car? These practices by the insurance companies are undoubtedly unethical and should be illegal. I would be much more relaxed with what they do it they didnt hold my wrecked car ransom. They sell the parts. Not ok. I should be able to watch them destroy the engine for example, just like they did with the Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" program. These practices are what make people hate insurance companies. I wont get everything I am looking for since this a cartel of (should be) illegal activities with insurance companies. They make the laws through lobbying. Insurance is truly gambling. I am grateful neither of us was hurt.

The huge smoke cloud at the airport got my attention. I still don't know what is was.


Comments

David said…
What's your opinion on Tesla Motors? Now that their Supercharger network is steadily growing, it seems like a much better (although way more costly) alternative than any other (so called) EVs; and pluging in at a Supercharger is free for life. Here a link to the current Supercharger network as well as their plans for opening new ones: http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger
6:16 AM
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