This blog was started on November 7th.
It is a natural break point for us.
Today we have a new/same President of the United States. Today we have the same difficulties in our Country that we had yesterday. Today we have less in the way of hope that our fiscal responsibilites as a Country will be met. Today we have a guarenteed four more years of the same gridlock we have seen in the past four years. Today marks six months since we sold our business Normandy Farms in Littleton, Colorado to live in an apartment. Today is my wifes 52 birthday!
As a backgrounder, we moved from Los Angeles in 1995 with our son McKenzie to begin a new life and business in Colorado. We spend 17 years growing a business and family. Along the way we adopted two children from Russia, Analessa and Spencer.
We have had many challenges and yes rewards over the years, building our business, completing massive construction of the farm and then starting several years ago things began to change. I cannot say that they were immediate and they were certainly a build up from about 2006 -2012.
First and foremost, my wife began having health concerns.
Secondly the economy began to erode for us in several different ways. We started being literally taxed to death. We fought Jefferson County, but they were unreasonable, with a few minor concessions over these years, our property taxes reached about $39,000 per year, fully 10% of our gross revenue. We also fought an excelleration of operating expenses. With government decisions so went our farm. Feed prices doubled, primarily due to drought and movement of acreage to corn for ethanol. Expenses for bedding doubled as well. Water doubled, and at times was higher due to drought. We were under restrictions to water use, but how do you restrict how much an animal drinks?
Third, our kids started growing up! McKenzie was off to boarding school at Fountain Valley in Colorado Springs. McKenzie is now a Junior at George Washington University. Spencer was the next one off, now a student at Subiaco Academy in Arkansas. Ana is now plotting her escape as she finishes requirements to apply to two boarding schools. Whether Ana attends boarding school or not is of no consequence, we are excited for her to continue High School with us.
Forth, I have spent most of my lifetime in the hospitality industry and operating Normandy Farms. When the economy collapsed I was the first casualty being laid off December 31, 2008. I was successful working at Normandy, but I was seeking new career challenges. Accepting a opportunity to join a long time friend and partner at Flagship Finanacial Partners in Littleton. Acquiring much training as well as my Series 65 and Life and Health Licence, I looked forward to continuing in this career for many years to come. As it turned out, after much effort, I escaped this "partnership". I was realistic and smart in some respects but trusting and niave in others. This partnership resulted in not only breach of trust, loss of friendship , but also what could be identified as theft. Putting money into a partnership to have to walk away was a sad experience. I did walk away with my self respect and my ethics. I am able to continue with my own work as a Financial Advisors with my own firm Mayflower Wearth Management, LLC.
So, you see with all of this change, we have no life left in Littleton and only Christine's brother Bill and his family living in the area. We are ready for new challenges and new opportunity.
This is where this blog begins.
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