Hackney's Houses

COMMEMORATE: This commemorative poster can be downloaded from RE/MAX Mainstreet.

"Global Balloon Day" marks the day 30 years ago when the network adopted the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon as its corporate symbol after it flew in the 1978 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Some of the celebrations on tap for today:

• RE/MAX International in Denver is displaying a seven-story-tall RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon on the front lawn of the headquarters building at Interstate 25 and Belleview Avenue, where tens of thousands of rush-hour commuters will see it. A local radio station reporter is providing live traffic updates from the balloon.
  
• In Cape Town, South Africa, the nation's flag is being flown with a RE/MAX balloon, which is providing adventurous flights for the "Reach for a Dream" charity.
  
• Eight RE/MAX balloons are taking to the air at various locations across Canada.
  
• Heavy rain and high winds prevented a planned tether in Chicago's Revere Park, but a local radio station still conducted two broadcasts from the balloon basket. Several pre-event radio promos added to the exposure.
  
• A RE/MAX balloon is flying over Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
  
• RE/MAX balloons are flying in a kaleidoscope of more than 700 colorful hot air balloons in the "Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension" during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
  
• In the Pacific Northwest, Pilot Darren King is attempting to cross the Cascade Mountains in a RE/MAX Balloon today. He's taking off in the Willamette Valley, passing by Mount Jefferson and landing near Bend, Ore.
  
• The RE/MAX Balloon will fly tonight over the northern Ohio communities of Stow, Kent and Hudson.
  
• A sunrise flight across downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch features a huge American flag.
  
• One balloon will be in Winston-Salem, N.C., at a school educational program, and another will be in the Raleigh Area at a customer appreciation party and charity golf tournament.

I told McKenna, my 8 year old, last night that we are living in a time right now that her kids and grandkids will read about in their history books.  We are living in historic times.  In a strange way, that is kind of exciting.

No, I'm not discounting the huge affects this is having on families worldwide. But we have choices and it is more evident now than ever before the impact of those decisions. 

A few thoughts on all this:

~small choices will make a huge difference, but you may not see the result for awhile.

~logic and emotion are not the most compatible and although Emotion is screaming for attention, Logic needs to prevail.

~human beings are resilient and brilliant when it comes to survival. 

What to do:

~look for people and things to appreciate.  Call or write some people.

~turn off the TV, radio, and put down the papers.

~find inexpensive ways to enjoy life.  Have you seen the amazing fall colors right now?!!

~make the choice to be a beacon of hope instead a mailman of negativity. 

~journal daily what is happening both positive and negative. You will create a legacy that can be read for generations to come. 

This isn't hard to do, but it is easier to follow the trend of negativity.

Bellingham, Washington
(Population 69,800)

Base Camp to the Essential Northwest By Melissa Wagenberg

A sleeper of a city set between the Cascades and the Pacific Ocean, Bellingham is the jumping-off point for two domestic must-dos: Mount Baker, one of the most accessible glacial climbs in the lower 48, and the San Juan Islands, an archipelago of 170 forested isles that offer some of the country's best sea kayaking.

Aspiring climbers use 10,788-foot (3,288-meter) Mount Baker as training ground for ascents of Alaska's Mount McKinley and Argentina's Aconcagua, but the 7,000-foot (2,134-meter) climb is spectacular in its own right. On a three-day expedition with the American Alpine Institute ($495; +1 360 671 1505; www.mtnguide.com), you'll hike through a thick forest of hemlock and Douglas fir to emerge into an alpine zone where by early fall melted snow has revealed the massif's crevasses and glacial ice. On a clear day, you can see 14,410-foot (4,392-meter) Mount Rainier to the south and, to the west, Bellingham Bay—which you'll need to cross by ferry ($12 round-trip from Anacortes; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) to explore the San Juans. A handful of outfitters runs kayak tours out of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island; Outdoor Odysseys's three-day trip focuses on spotting orcas and eagles, though you're also almost guaranteed to see porpoises, harbor seals, and river otters ($375; 800 647 4621 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.outdoorodysseys.com).

Between mountain climbing and paddling, be sure to check out Bellingham's bouldering scene—the community is as welcoming as it is hard-core. After work, rock rats scurry to the sandstone cliffs at Larrabee State Park, six miles (9.7 kilometers) south of town.

Visitor Vitals: Bellingham is an hour and a half north of Seattle and an hour south of Vancouver, B.C. The Fairhaven Village Inn ($139 and up; 877 733 1100 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.fairhavenvillageinn.com), in the historic district, is near many outdoor shops. Or, pamper your hard-working muscles with a stay at the New Agey but elegant Chrysalis Inn and Spa ($150 and up; 888 808 0005 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.thechrysalisinn.com). If and when the notorious Washington weather turns foul, hunker down with an African peanut soup at the homey Colophon Café (+1 360 647 0092).

Relocation Plan
Why Stay? It's Seattle, only better. A small-town vibe, with outdoor gems minutes away, and without the Microsoftees and Nirvannabes.
$300,000 Buys: A two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,192-square-foot (363-square-meter), 20-year-old lakeside home on two-thirds of an acre with mountain views.
Job Market: Shaky. "There are a lot of people with master's degrees serving tables," says Andy Bourne, the coordinator of foreign programs for the American Alpine Institute.
Gathering Spots: The über-fit and the determinedly vegan fuel up with tofu alfredo pasta at D'Anna's deli (+1 360 752 3390) and end the day at the Factory (+1 360 714 8154), a nexus for hip-hop DJs and live rock. Dress code: A hoodie and a beat-up Nalgene bottle.
Required Reading: AARP magazine. Bellingham is one of the top retirement havens in the country (hence the tight real estate market).

Often easier said than done, but in light of recent events in our country and around the world the "easy" thing to do would be panic and fret.  Now more than ever, it a time to take a deep breathe and maintain a calm perspective. 

Our emotions are on edge and when you react based on emotion in situations like these, you can often make poor decisions. 

If you are a student of our history then you know that more wealth is generated based on decisions you make during times like these than during any other time in history. 

Who are these People? 

• The people who generate this wealth are those that do not succumb to the sheep mentality of our society. 
• They are not immune to the "feelings" created by these situations, but they maintain that calm perspective.
• They look for opportunities of calculated risk.

One such person is Warren Buffett, who just these week started Buying (NOT Selling).

There are opportunties to build great wealth and create a financial freedom for you in the years and generations to come.  Don't be foolish with your money, investments, and real estates, BUT look for the opportunities  that are everywhere right now!