Zydeco, Borgo Magic, & Lemmy the Tortoise: A 2022 Recap
2022 was a once in a lifetime bucket list type of year. We continued our nomadic life but took things to the next level by traveling/ living internationally. Katie got married!! I went on my first African Safari! Pretty wild stuff!
Overview of our whereabouts the last year:
US
West Palm - Jan
Coconut Grove, Miami - Feb
New Orleans (Lower Garden District) - March
Arizona (Tempe, Tucson, Tombstone, Bisbee, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona) - April
New York - May
Denver (with impromptu Omaha stop) - May
Austin - July
International - The home stretch
Botswana - May
Banff (Edmonton> Jasper> Lived in Calgary> Banff> Yoho) - July
Costa Rica (Esterillos, La Fortuna, Monteverde)
Portugal (Lived in Lisbon, Sintra, Obidos)
Madeira
Puglia Italy/ Borgo for Katie’s wedding
Iceland
By the numbers (according to Google):
8 countries, 109 Cities, 506 places, 1.8 times around the world (44k miles)
And with that our nomadic years have come to an end..…for now. We really went for it and went out with a bang.
We returned from Iceland and began looking for a place in Miami. I’m happy to report we found an awesome spot in Coconut Grove that we’re in the process of settling into.
Highlights & Photos
*Note that you can click on the small photos to view them larger.
New Orleans:
We love New Orleans and it was actually the city we spent the most time in during Covid (outside of FL & Potomac). In our second stint we stayed in the Garden District. This is probably where you should stay when you visit (as opposed to the French Quarter).
Highlights included:
Beautiful airbnb in the Garden District: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44334448
Marching through the French Quarter with Arcade Fire & Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Little did we know that we were in New Orleans during March Madness and that they were having free concerts. This led us to a free Arcade Fire Show with a finale that culminated in singing the chorus of “Wake Up” through the French Quarter.
Tornado that just missed us and hit a neighborhood a few miles away.
Zydeco Music Festival - I had never heard of this type of music (though I was somewhat familiar with it as cajun washboard music). It was wild to go to a festival of a completely new genre of music that had it’s own subculture, dance moves, etc.
Exploring Marigny
Eating: New Orleans has some of the best food in the country. Favorite restaurants: Saba, N7, Maypop, Turkey and the Wolf, Bar Marilou, & Beachbum Berry’s.
Arizona
Arizona has been one of my favorite states since I was young (I did my 5th grade state report on it after visiting around that time). My childhood analysis holds up. It’s probably one of the most beautiful states (let’s say top 7).
We found a very unique and affordable airbnb in Tempe and made that our homebase. This airbnb had a very unique feature…it came with a Tortoise named Lemmy. Lemmy came out and greeted us everyday and we fed him carrots, trying to not get our finger bit off by his beak. If you want to hang with Lemmy: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17241011
Highlights:
Saguaro National Park: Saguaro is known for it’s cactuses (it’s namesake) and it did not disappoint. Very beautiful and surreal place that is quintessential Arizona desert. We had some very memorable drives at sunset.
Tombstone: Home of the O.K. Corral, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, etc. Very much in the middle of nowhere but cool to visit. It’s hard to wrap your mind around how they survived in such a remote place back in the day.
Bisbee - An artsy haunted town near the Mexican border. We went to a seance/ magic show and explored.
Grand Canyon: We hiked the Grand Canyon for Shilpa’s birthday. We had previously hiked the canyon our first trip out West together. This time we went much further in (Skeleton point). Let me tell you, going down is much easier than coming up and the name of the point is a warning. We made it back in one piece and then ate at a fancy restaurant (El Tovar Room) right on the rim. The Grand Canyon is a wonder of the world and one of the most spectacular places in America.
Sedona: We swam in Slide Rock park & hiked Bell Rock at sunset.
New York - Katie’s Bridal Shower
2022 was the year Katie got married. It was great seeing friends and family at the shower (many who we had not seen since the start of the pandemic)
Botswana
Shilpa and her family have traveled extensively in Africa and Botswana is their favorite country to visit. I was very fortunate to join them for the first time and it was an incredible experience. I won’t be able to do it justice in this post but I’m hoping to do a longer writeup.
We flew from New York to Johannesburg (Jo-Burg as Shilpa likes to call it). We stayed the night at the airport hotel and then took a flight to Maun (safari launch point). From Maun we took a Bush Plane to a lodge in the Okavongo Delta.
Me and Shilpa were the only people on the plane with the pilot (Shilpa’s family arrived a few days before us). The pilot flew lower than normal and we could see herds of elephants from above.
We landed and hopped on a jeep immediately where we met Shilpa's family in the Bush. It’s always fun meeting up with family in a remote location but this took that to a new level.
Notes:
We stayed at 5 camps in different parts of Botswana (Lagoon, Lebala, Kwara, Splash, Nxai Pan).
Misconception 1: Africa is hot. I think most people think of Africa as being hot but that was definitely not the case. It was freezing in the morning and they gave you “Bush Baby’s” (heated water bottles) and blankets.
Very early wake up: I want to say it was 5am. They wake you up early because dawn is one of the best times to see animals. They don’t let you walk around unattended (they take you to and from your room)
The safari itself is called a “game drive” which derives from it’s hunting roots
The military protects the animals
Misconception 2: The lions will eat us. In reality, the lions think you are part of the jeep which is perceived as a larger but non threatening animal. This was put to the test when our jeep broke down while gunning it to see Cheetahs. We broke down near a bunch of prides (maybe 20 lions) and would have just been sitting ducks if they caught on. We waited about 20 minutes for another jeep to come a mechanic proceeded to fix the jeep with the lions around.
The game drive has a driver and a tracker. The tracker sits in a chair at the front of the jeep literally looking for footprints. For some reason I had no idea that the term tracking derived from tracking footprints. At each camp we had a different combination of trackers and drivers. All were incredibly knowledgable. Mr. G was our favorite guide (pictured with an elephant skull) and James was the best tracker in all the camps (second picture).
Notable sightings: Families of lions, hippos, 2 cheetah brothers, honey badger, porcupine, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, baboons, leopards, Aardwolf, many elephant encounters
I’ll save more for a bigger post but it was a surreal and amazing trip. Here’s a photo of the milky way taken in Nxai Pan in the meantime.
Denver
This was my first time in Denver during the summer. It was my best trip to Denver.
Highlights:
Omaha - Yes, Omaha Nebraska the land of Warren Buffet and steaks. On the way to Denver our flight was diverted and to make a long story short we spent the night in the Omaha airport. We got brunch in Omaha and went to a farmers market before catching a new plane that flew in for us.
Rocky Mountain National Park - Rocky Mountain is one of the most accessible parks from a major city and it had some of the best food options nearby of any park we’ve been to. The little town of Estes Park is adorable and we gorged ourselves on taffy.
Red Rocks - It was my first time to Red Rocks and we saw a Pink Floyd Cover Band called Brit Floyd. Checked off the top of my bucket list concert venue.
Meow Wolf - It’s hard to describe but it’s sort of like if Rick and Morty, Alice and Wonderland, and Chuck-e-Cheese soul bonded and tripped on acid. Very imaginative and immersive experience.
Meeting Baby Gad - Got to meet Max and Lauren’s baby and catch up over Safta
Canadian Rockies
Banff has been on my list for a long time and we had wanted to travel to Canada earlier in the pandemic but the border was closed. We flew into Edmonton which you wouldn’t normally do but all the cars were booked in Calgary. We later learned this was because of something called the Calgary Stampede. From Edmonton we drove to Jasper > Banff> Calgary. We lived in Calgary and visited the parks on the weekend.
Peyto Lake
Highlights:
Jasper - Jasper is north of Banff and lesser known. Less people visit because it’s further but it’s arguably prettier than Banff if you’re counting the Icefield Parkway. It also features the Columbia Icefield Glacier (largest Icefield in North America).
Icefield Parkway - This is probably one of the most epic drives in the world. You’re surrounded by glaciers.
Calgary - We lived in Calgary which is definitely not something I ever thought I would do. It exceeded our expectations and we had a great time. We were there for Canada Day and The Stampede.
Banff - Banff is the nicest national park town we’ve been to and the area features Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. These are the lakes that you’ve probably seen on instagram and have beautiful turquoise waters.
Living the dream on Lake Moraine
Calgary Stampede - This is one of the biggest Rodeos in the world. Cowboys from everywhere congregate and chuckwagon race. Native Americans bareback horse ride with war paint on the horses. There is a review show that features country singing, large musical numbers with kids performing, drone show, & fireworks. There is also a giant carnival component with poutine trucks as far as the eye can see.
Yoho & Rafting on the Kicking Horse - We were supposed to drive from Canada down to Glacier but we had to improvise when Going to the Sun Road was still closed from snowpack despite it being the middle of the summer.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica was a beautiful adventure. We lived in 3 different places: Esterillos Oeste, La Fortuna, & Monteverde. The scenery and landscapes are as lush and tropical as it gets. Our airbnbs were all uniquely situated (more below).
It was more rugged/ rural than we imagined as so many American tourists go there. I’m guessing most don’t drive around the country and mostly stay in resorts. I say this because the roads are very windy, narrow, often unpaved, and at times required four wheel drive. We also visited during the rainy season. It didn’t rain all the time but when it did it was torrential. We were very happy that we took the full insurance on the car.
Esterillos Oeste: This is a small beach town on the West Coast. We basically stayed here for it’s proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park and the amazing AirBnb.
Our AirBnB: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/600661861760419424?source_impression_id=p3_1677789487_eJMGtefVMFbA6uJ5
This was probably the coolest airbnb we’ve stayed in. It had a pool that overlooked the beach with Macaws regularly flying over us. Our host brought fresh coconuts that we drank in the mornings. It was lovely.
Manuel Antonio - Manuel Antonio is a national park that features hidden beaches and sloths! It’s one of the places you think about when you picture Costa Rica. We went swimming in a secluded beach and monkey’s came for our backpacks. We had to run from the water to rescue our stuff.
Rainmaker - This was a hike near our airbnb that had multiple swimming holes with waterfalls. We had the place to ourselves. It was a magical day.
La Fortuna - We lived in the hills overlooking Arenal Volcano (the one you see in postcards). This in itself was surreal. Our Airbnb pumped in hot spring water into a giant spa so you could sit in it and overlook the volcano. We also saw many toucans in the forests around us which was one of wildlife sightings I really wanted to see going into the trip.
Frog Sanctuary Night Tour - This was a sleeper activity and one of my favorites. Notable sightings: Red Eyed Tree Frog & eggs, Eyelash pit viper, pigmy rain frog, Glass frog. Walking around and avoiding vipers was definitely interesting but the guides did a good job and you didn’t feel like you were in danger.
Tabacon - Heaven on Earth. Its a series of cascading hot springs.
Monteverde - Monteverde is famous for it’s cloud forrest and rolling green hillside (it’’s name translates to Green Mountain). We had another cool Airbnb here.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve - The Cloud Forrest has a mystical quality. You climb into mist and have stunning views of the continental divide. We were fortunate to see a very rare bird there, “the resplendent quetzal.”
Selvatura Adventure Park - Epic ziplining and hanging bridges. Had a great time and cool seeing monkeys at the top of trees.
Portugal
We lived in Lisbon for 3 weeks and explored other areas on the weekends. We stayed in a beautiful apartment (airbnb) with views of little streets and sloped orange rooftops. We stayed in an area that was less touristy (Santos) next to Green Street. It was very charming. One interesting note is that we had to pack for Portugal (summer clothing), Katie’s wedding (tux, etc), & Iceland (winter clothing).
Overlooking Lisbon from Alfama (oldest neighborhood in Lisbon)
Lisbon - Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world (oldest in Western Europe) predating London, Paris, & Rome. It feels and looks old. One of the defining features of the city is the tile on the buildings (blue and white being the classic). The city is on the water and on a hill. Many of the streets are curved and slope upward. This leads to the second defining feature which are the cable cars which take people up the hills.
Other great things about Lisbon are the value and the weather. Similar to New Orleans in the states, Lisbon is cheaper than its counterparts. We could regularly Uber places for $5, and we took an uber an hour away to Sintra for $20. This combined with great weather and vibrant nightlife make it very appealing. It’s very liveable and chill.
Notable activities: Belem Tower (sea fort) paired with pasteis de nata (custard tart), Lx Factory (art studios/ shops), Alfama (one of the oldest neighborhoods with great views), Fado dinner (haunting ballads specific to Lisbon), lunch with Mike and Allison!
Sintra - Sintra is about an hour outside Lisbon and is really the top site to see within the Lisbon area. It’s an area with fairytale palaces and mansions that all try to outdo each other in grandeur. We visited Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, & Palacio de Monserrate. I could write a lot about each but I’ll let the pictures do the talking in the meantime.
Obidos - A medieval city from the 12th century that is still fully walled. When you approach you can see a giant aqueduct and vendors selling puppets of knights and princesses. The town has blue and yellow accents with Bougainvillea that scale the walls. From the city walls there is pastoral countryside. It reminded me of a mixture of St. Paul de Vance in France and some of the Greek Island villages.
Madeira
Madeira was the darkhorse of our travels. It’s a spectacular island I had never heard of before we started doing research. While Madeira is part of Portugal it is closer to Africa than Europe. It’s kind of like Hawaii for Europeans.
We spent a long weekend there. We flew Tap Air Portugal which I’m specifically mentioning because they’re the worst (besides Ryan Air). Sidenote, the Portuguese airports were more like bus or train terminals in that you don’t know your gate and you sit around waiting for it to be announced. We also generally took buses to the plane and boarded from the tarmac.
We landed on what is one of the more treacherous landing strips in the world in that it is built on a cliff. We rented a car and drove around the whole island. The island has amazing driving infrastructure and very modern highways built through the mountains. This was completely unexpected for such a small place. This being said, while the highways were modern the city roads and parking lots were super narrow and tested our driving abilities. At times I felt like we were Austin Powers trying to turn around in an impossibly tight space. Overall the drive around the island was stunning and you almost always had a view of the water.
Ponta do Rosto - One of the most dramatic places in Madeira with 360 views. The first picture above was also taken here.
Pico de Ariero - one of the highest peaks in Madeira where you are above the clouds. Has wild views and a beautiful sunset.
Porto Moniz - swimming grottos with the sea on one side and terraced cliffs on the other.
Funchal - This is the largest city and where we stayed. Our hotel was a little outside of the main part of town but had beautiful views. Funchal is very developed and has lots of restaurants and nightlife. We had the best Indian meal of our travels there.
Cabo Girao - the highest cape in Madeira (and all of Europe).
Puglia/ Katie’s Wedding
After Portugal we hopped on over to Puglia for Katie & Alex’s wedding. Puglia is the region that makes up the boot of Italy. It’s remote and pastoral with gnarled olive trees many hundred of years old. It kind of reminded me of Greece (and was at one time part of Greece). We flew from Lisbon> Rome> Brindisi> then took a car about an hour to the dreamy Borgo Egnazia.
We arrived at the beginning of week, giving us time to enjoy the Borgo and spend time with the family before everyone arrived. We celebrated Mom’s 75th birthday on a sailboat and visited the beautiful towns of Polignano a Mare & Alberobello. We had decadent breakfasts in the garden featuring platefuls of handmade burrata & fresh “green juice.”
Polignano a Mare
Alberobello
Mom’s 75th Birthday
Gradually close friends and family started to arrive. It was very nice to be able to hang out and catch up with everyone as opposed to the one’s getting married.
Thursday we went to welcome drinks in Ostuni (the white city).
Friday we partied in the courtyard featuring a feast, fire breathers, & traditional Puglian dancing.
Saturday was showtime. The brothers had been asked to officiate and the day of the anticipation had us both making last minute changes and practicing. There was a lot of neurosis across the board.
Finally it was time for the ceremony. Katie looked stunning in her dress. The huppah shimmered with glass, flowers, & my Dad’s Talis. As the ceremony progressed the wind from the sea blew wild. It was a memorable bit of chaos and perhaps my Dad making his presence felt.
We then proceeded to a magical garden party and epic beach party featuring fireworks during the hora. Very epic.
Iceland
Instead of traveling around Italy like sane people we set off for one last bucket list location. Iceland had been on my list for quite some time and was “on the way back.” Getting to Iceland from Puglia was not as easy in practice as it was in theory. Things got complicated when our flight to Milan was delayed and we missed the connection. We spent a bonus night in Milan. We flew out the next day but our flight to Iceland was also delayed. This was a problem because our Iceland itinerary was very tightly choreographed and involved driving distances each day.
We arrived in Reykjavik around midnight after a whole day of travel. At the airport we mentally prepared ourselves, bought many energy drinks, and changed into winter clothes. We then drove 3 or so hours on the ring road so that we could make a 9am ice cave tour the next morning. We made it in one piece, seeing vapor rise from the volcanic landscape and looking for the Northern lights along the way.
Day 1: Katla Ice Cave from Vik
Highlights: exploring an ice cave, black sand beaches of Vik, lava field from the eruption responsible from the french revolution, excellent dinner by our hotel (Klausturhof guesthouse).
Day 2: Black sand diamond beach and zodiac glacier tour
Highlights: Massive Glaciers, Black sand beaches with glacier chunks that looked like diamonds, zodiac (little boat) tour through icebergs
Day 3: Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon & Skógafoss
Day 4: Golden Circle
Highlights: Thingvellir National Park Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall, Kerid Crater, Northern lights sighting
Hotel Laxarbakki & the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights were a big inspiration for going to Iceland and we monitored the conditions the entire time we were there. Basically there are sites that tell you how likely they are to appear in your area based on a number of factors. We were not in Iceland during the winter but September was supposed to be a good time (so you’re saying there’s a chance).
On one of our last nights we stayed at a hotel that was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It featured a salmon crest and very nice staff which told us we had a shot at seeing them. We set our alarm for 3 in the morning and went outside in ferocious wind and cold. We could see a milky haze and when you used your phone or camera you saw the green of the Northern lights. It wasn’t the dazzling light show best case scenario but it was the first time I’ve experienced them and hopefully not the last!
Day 5: Blue Lagoon
Highlights: Swimming in the lagoon, eating a fancy lunch in our robes, driving, Gunnuhver geothermal pools, and Brimketill waves
I’m hoping to do a longer writeup that builds off this but in short Iceland should really be called lava land and is incredible.
Best of:
Best Meals:
Hello Sunshine - Banff
O Corrido - Lisbon
Borgo, every meal - Puglia
Lava Restaurant - Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Turkey & the Wolf - New Orleans
La Mar - Miami
Lengua Madre - New Orleans
Safta - Denver
El Five - Denver
Dahlia - Lisbon
The Soup Company- Vik, Iceland
Thanksgiving (obviously) - Potomac
Favorite reads
101 essays that will change the way you think
How will you measure your life?
Steal Like an Artist
Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman
Ikigai
The obstacle is the way
I also wrote this book recs and wisdom post if you're looking for either:
https://www.maxklausner.com/blog/books
Best Shows
Station 11
The Crown (season 3 & 4)
Rick & Morty (season 5)
House of the Dragon
Only Murders in the Building (season 2)
Stranger Things (season 4)
Andor
Upload season 2
The Andy Warhol Diaries
The Boys season 3
Yellow Jackets
Favorite songs
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1F0sijgNaJdgit?si=8ec5a64e6dfe4ad0
Other notes from the year:
This was the year that Covid times came to and end. Being back with larger groups was good for the soul and society in general.
I grew long hair - My hair is now the longest it’s ever been.
I made art with AI (dall-e)
We dressed Ellie as a pirate for Halloween. Shilpa and I went as Lydia and Beetlejuice.
It was a year we lived many lives. Each place had it’s own unique culture and we got to experience many ways of living.
If you made it to the end, I’m very impressed. Wishing you love, health, & fulfillment this year and beyond.
Book Recs and Wisdom
Below are some books that have influenced my thinking or that I’ve found interesting. I’ve included some nuggets of wisdom so you can get some value out of the list itself. I’m not saying I don’t have confidence in you reading these, but on the other hand a little TLDR is always appreciated. Just looking out for you ;)
These days I mainly listen to books using Scribd and audible. Scribd is great because it's “unlimited” books for $10. While it has most books, it occasionally doesn't have newer releases (in which case I use Audible as a last resort). It’s nice to be able to learn while doing perfunctory things like dishes or packing.
With all that out of the way, here we go…
Wisdom/ Psychology
"The Almanack of Naval Ravikant" https://www.navalmanack.com/ (free)
This is a great compilation of Naval’s content (blog posts, interviews, etc). It’s overflowing with wisdom and interesting ideas. It tackles topics like building wealth & happiness.
"The only true test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life.”
“A busy calendar and a busy mind will destroy your ability to create anything great.”
“Play long-term games with long-term people. All returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge, come from compound interest.”
“When you’re healthy you have 10000 needs, but when you’re sick you only have one need.”
“If you’re not willing to do a wholesale, 24/7, 100 percent swap with who that person is, then there is no point in being jealous.”
“Escape competition through authenticity.”
"The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/376765355
“Using the theories of Alfred Adler, one of the three giants of 19th century psychology alongside Freud and Jung, the authors explain how we are all free to determine our own future free of the shackles of past experiences, doubts and the expectations of others.”
“Do Not Live to Satisfy the Expectations of Others”
“It’s that you are disliked by someone. It is proof that you are exercising your freedom and living in freedom, and a sign that you are living in accordance with your own principles.”
‘The important thing is not what one is born with, but what use one makes of that equipment.”
"101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/386390631
Each chapter is a different essay that is about 5 minutes long. Nice to be able to throw on and get bite size complete essays that help you reflect and grow.
“Your habits create your mood, and your mood is a filter through which you experience your life.”
“What if you've already received everything you've ever wanted, but you've been so focused ahead that you haven't even noticed?”
“Life is not a series of problems to be solved, it’s a journey that you should be fascinated by.”
“Your soulmate is really this: the person who brings out your inner child. The person who makes you feel so truly safe that the kid inside you can come out.”
“Atomic Habits by James Clear” https://www.audible.com/pd/1524779261
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
“Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it.”
"How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/487100748
This is one of the best books I’ve read on the world of magic. It covers history, principals, magicians, types of magic, etc. It also is about creativity and passion…”Sometimes magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect.” - Teller
Nature via Nurture: Genes, experience and what makes us human https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054J9CLK/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_50R0H3EY0ECAP4QXQJZM
“Nurture depends on genes, too, and genes need nurture. Genes not only predetermine the broad structure of the brain; they also absorb formative experiences, react to social cues and even run memory. They are consequences as well as causes of the will.”
"Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/477567281
“According to Girard, humans don’t desire anything independently. Human desire is mimetic—we imitate what other people want. This affects the way we choose partners, friends, careers, clothes, and vacation destinations. Mimetic desire is responsible for the formation of our very identities. It explains the enduring relevancy of Shakespeare’s plays, why Peter Thiel decided to be the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected.”
Personal Finance:
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel https://www.audible.com/pd/B08D9TXF3H?
Probably the best personal finance book I’ve read. It encapsulates many of the key concepts in an entertaining read.
Saving money is the gap between your ego and your income, and wealth is what you don’t see.”
“Compounding works best when you can give a plan years or decades to grow. This is true for not only savings but careers and relationships.
The highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up every morning and say, “I can do whatever I want today.”
“At a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island, Kurt Vonnegut informs his pal, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22 over its whole history. Heller responds, “Yes, but I have something he will never have … enough.”
"Rich Dad Poor Dad” https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/237884401
My introduction to personal finance books. It’s an entertaining story that teaches key concepts like the difference between assets & liabilities. It’s not a perfect book and it focuses on real estate more than stocks and other assets. It’s a good starting place as far as making the subject matter entertaining and establishing a mindset.
“Sight is what you see with your eyes, vision is what you see with your mind.”
“To be a successful business owner and investor, you have to be emotionally neutral to winning and losing. Winning and losing are just part of the game.”
History
"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/356337373
“How do you cause people to believe in an imagined order such as Christianity, democracy or capitalism? First, you never admit that the order is imagined.”
“One of history’s few iron laws is that luxuries tend to become necessities and to spawn new obligations.”
“We did not domesticate wheat. It domesticated us.”
“Humans think in stories rather than in facts, numbers, or equations, and the simpler the story, the better.”
“One of the greatest fictions of all is to deny the complexity of the world and think in absolute terms:”
A Promised Land by Barack Obama https://www.audible.com/pd/0525633723
This is a very cool audio book because “Barry” himself is narrating. It’s crazy to have a historical figure walk you through major world events from their perspective. The book is also beautifully written and Obamas thoughtfulness is on display.
"Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money" https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/282944761
“Until the Civil War, a majority of the money in circulation in the United States was issued by private banks, creating a crazy patchwork of competing bills that could become worth nothing if the issuing bank went down.”
“The reason gold itself had been used as money was not that it was valuable; it had become valuable because it was used as money.”
“The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that’s required to make it work,” Satoshi wrote. “The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust.”
Entrepreneurship
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss https://www.audible.com/pd/B0031AS3BE
It took me a while to pick this up as the title always felt gimmicky. That being said it’s really a book about living life on your terms and optimizing your time.
“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”
“The opposite of love is indifference, and the opposite of happiness is boredom.”
“Pareto's Law can be summarized as follows: 80% of the outputs
result from 20% of the inputs.”“If this is the only thing I accomplish today, will I be satisfied with my day?”
How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis https://www.audible.com/pd/0593345525
Funny, actionable, & somewhat of a cautionary tale about the opportunity costs of chasing riches
“Being rich is fine, and at the very least is better than being poor. But it shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of your life, or anyone’s life.”
“When enough people share a short-lived delusion, vast sums of money can be acquired overnight.”
The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank https://www.audible.com/pd/146908001X
“The Four Steps to the Epiphany launched the Lean Startup approach to new ventures. It was the first book to offer that startups are not smaller versions of large companies and that new ventures are different than existing ones. Startups search for business models while existing companies execute them.”
“Intellect without will is worthless, will without intellect is dangerous. — Sun Tzu,”
“Build it and they will come,” is not a strategy; it’s a prayer.”
“In a startup no facts exist inside the building, only opinions.”
The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/0525642234
Startups are really hard and this does a good job of capturing the slog.
“what determines whether you succeed or fail is grit, a special blend of passion and perseverance directed at accomplishing long-term goals.”
“Most of your experience enduring the middle miles will be couched with uncertainty. You’ll feel like you’re wading through an ocean of unknown depths and inhabitants—in the dark.”
From Impossible To Inevitable:... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119166713?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Detailed advice on sales strategy and process (mainly for SaaS)
To end on a lighter note, some of my favorite fiction throughout the years. Many of these got me into reading books in the first place.
Fiction:
Ender's Game: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JMD2/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_R43CT98TAVZE38KSRDT1
I love the whole series. I particularly like the Bean/ Shadow series starting with Enders Shadow
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B015ELUYL4
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B002V0Q4LG?source_code=ASSORAP0511160007
Angels & Demons https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416524797/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_D2ZGAAFPW8AWHJJ5XB5Z
Congrats, you made it to the end. Hopefully you found an interesting book or nugget of wisdom.
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Dad
My Dad left us a year ago today. I wrote the below for his life celebration and am thinking about him today and everyday:
Thank you all so much for your outpouring of love and affection for my Dad. It’s been comforting hearing about how he left an impression on so many people. He was the rock of our family and the best Dad we could have asked for.
For future generations who want to know what made Dad (and their Papi) so special and such a great father I made a little list:
Attitude: As one of his oldest and closest friends Gary Gartenberg put it…"He had the best attitude of anyone I ever met" I thought he would go forever. I recall him saying he was like the Everready battery - “take a lickin' and keep on tickin.”
As my Dad battled cancer his attitude kept him going. He never let it stop him from living his life. He perhaps stubbornly never wanted to bother anyone and insisted on carrying on as if he was 100% healthy at all times. I even recall him waterskiing very shortly after chemo. He had a ferocious will to live and a zest for life.
Positivity & Optimism: My Dad’s positivity is what allowed him to live for 10 years after being diagnosed. There was no setback too great and he kept the spirits of our family high. Those 10 years we got as a result of his positive thinking were priceless.
Friendly and Tender: My Dad had an infectious smile that he lit up a room with. He was great to be around, made you feel good, and offered advice when needed. This sweetness translated into a tender side that included his love of flowers and dachshunds. He was not a macho guy despite being a great athlete, loving our Caps & Nats, and being super strong. He served as a great role model to me which translated into my love of nature, animals, and the arts.
Patience: My Dad was supremely patient and calm. As Soren would say, he was the “silent pillar of strength.” He used to take me to the magic shop and wait for hours in the back as I watched trick after trick or continue throwing the baseball with me despite me winding up as hard as I could and regularly throwing it over his head.
Strength: Dad was a very strong guy. He had thick leathered mitts for hands (calloused from playing handball and tennis in his youth). He threw a baseball hard, was a star tennis player in high school, and lugged everything from firewood to glitter around our house. He endured rounds of chemo like Rocky takes uppercuts. He scraped himself off the mat time and time again leading us to believe “he would go forever”
Humor: Dad would always win at cards against humanity and loved a good piece of gossip to riff on. He also had his share of Dad jokes and Dadisms. He even had a signature move he did when he was revved up which involved swinging his hand above his head and yelling “wahoo!” He used this move from everything from the hora to riding camels in Morocco.
Inclusive and welcoming: Our doors were always open (we literally never locked our door) and we were exposed to many different cultures from a young age. We now have lifelong friends from around the world and I’m now Max Sharma. Dad made you feel like you were part of the family... which you are.
Great Cook: My Dad was famous for his ribs, fries, & pies. He also made a mean latke. He was the grill master and very protective of his range and marble. On the weekends he made Chocolate chip pancakes with berries and insisted we sit and he serve us.
Cool: My Dad was cool. His senior year of college was the summer of 69 and he had a giant jew fro, sideburns, and at times a mustache. His favorite band was the Cream and that’s the first concert he saw with my Mom. While at Madison he took a group of underprivileged kids to see James Brown and they met him backstage. He had tickets to see the show Otis Redding was on his way to play but didn’t make it to. He bartered Peter Max a painting for a glass sculpture he had custom made in Venice. He learned to water ski in his 50’s. Mark Klausner was a badass.
Other fun facts: He grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and his favorite player was Duke Snider. He blew up a teachers mailbox in high school with fireworks. He was chased from his sleeping bag by a bear in Yosemite. His college roommate wrote Honey I Shrunk the Kids and gave him the nickname Jav. His favorite dessert was the Isla flotante. He loved his funky socks and Keith Herring shirts. He loved family time in the South of France.
In the end we got to spend 4 months together because of Covid. This was a special time and a sort of farewell tour.
Going back to his cancer diagnosis, we lived every month from that day as if the time was precious. We savored every moment, went all out for every holiday and vacation, & made family priority. We did this for 10 YEARS. Living life knowing it’s finite makes you prioritize the things that matter. While we’ll always miss him WE MADE THE TIME COUNT. This lesson will be one of the most enduring along with the traits from my Dad I hope to learn from and instill in his Grandchildren.
I'll close with a father's day card we unearthed from when I was 10…
"Dad, I love you more than anything in the world, and Katie and I are the two luckiest kids in the world. I love you Dad
My Dad was lucky to have you all in his life. You made his life rich. Love you all.
My Camera’s: Olympus XA
The Olympus XA is my first film camera. It’s a camera that looks like it could be out of blade runner.
Feels right to have a picture of the XA on film. This is actually a picture of my sisters XA taken with mine but they look the same.
What you might notice is that the camera is tiny. It fits in your pocket. If you read my post on the a6000 you’ll notice a pattern of liking small light cameras. I believe there’s an old adage that goes, “the best camera is the one you have on you.”
The next thing you’ll notice is that it has a unique clamshell design. The cover on the left slides over the lens which protects it when you put it in your pocket. There’s also that sexy red shutter button on the top. It’s unlike any shutter I’ve ever used in that almost any contact with it will take a picture. This can occasionally lead to accidental fires (which you don’t really want given how expensive film is). The shutter has a very light click sound and is very quiet compared to modern cameras.
my first self portrait with the xa
Why I chose the Olympus XA as my first film camera
I wanted to give film a shot and I started doing some research on youtube & google. Why I wanted to start shooting film is a topic for another post but if you look at the photo above you’ll notice how different it looks from digital. It’s gritty, raw, & imperfect.
The XA is a famous camera. It’s the masterpiece of acclaimed industrial designer Yoshihisa Maitani who created a full frame 35mm camera that he designed to fit in a shirt pocket. Having an iconic piece of industrial design was appealing in itself. It has retro futuristic look. It’s just cool. Here’s a good writeup that includes more of it’s history.
On top of being cool it’s a good value. I didn’t know if I would like shooting film and I didn’t want to spend a ton of money finding out. The XA was often listed as a top 5 film camera and was the least expensive on the list.
While the XA is small and doesn’t have interchangeable lenses it does have one great lens. Glass is important and I like my images crispy.
So in summary, the selling points for me were: value, size, full frame 35mm, image quality, & it’s history.
Receiving the XA
My XA came with it’s original box and a flash accessory. Basically the XA has an external flash that you can screw into the side of it. The flash is almost as big as the camera itself. I must admit that I haven’t used the flash yet. It’s evidently great and creates a cool look for parties. I do think the additional size and weight is a big reason why I haven’t used it.
One of my first shots with the XA (probably my first in black & white). You can see the case and the packaging.
First Impressions
A big thing to know about the XA is that it’s a rangefinder. The rangefinder system works very differently than an SLR. See the video below. This completely threw me off.
The above video is a very clear version of what you see when focusing the XA. This is the best case. I couldn’t see the alignment and my eye had to train itself. It might have taken me 20 minutes to figure it out. This led to a frustrating first experience. The dim viewfinder is a known issue with the camera. Mine came with a little piece of black tape which helps you see the lines. I think the focusing is the biggest issue with the camera.
Black & White Olympus XA Sample Images
Most of the above black and white’s were shot with Ilford HP5. I would argue that this stock and camera produces a more unique look than shooting with color film. The grain, contrast, & dynamic range is something that digital can’t recreate, even when using presets/ filters.
Color Olympus XA Sample Photos
Motion Blur & leaning into imperfections
As I mentioned, the XA’s rangefinder is dim. If you have a lot of time to set up a shot it’s fine. This is not the reality for most of my XA usage however. Most of the time people are moving or just don’t want to sit and wait for you to focus. You either can take the shot hoping it’s close enough or miss the moment. This results in many shots that aren’t perfectly in focus.
I personally think this is part of what makes film photography unique. The photos look more artistic, impressionistic, & vintage. This further carves out a place for film vs digital.
I would estimate 25% of my shots aren’t in perfect focus with the camera. 10% might have interesting motion blur. Sometimes this can be disappointing when you get your roll back and other times a pleasant artistic surprise.
XA High Level Pros & Cons
Pro’s
The smallest full frame 35mm film camera (if it’s not “the” smallest it’s up there).
Cool design
Sharp Lens
Quiet shutter
Con’s
Dull Rangefinder & resulting focus issues
Very occasionally will have film advance issue that results in double exposures
No built in flash ( I rarely use flash)
Where the XA fits into my lineup
My main camera is the Sony a6000 (around my neck) and the XA is in my pocket. I’ll take it out and keep it around my wrists when there is a shot that I think works particularly well for film. Basically I’ll mix it in.
Overall Thoughts
I enjoy using the XA. It’s size makes it my most used film camera (I have an SLR as well). I use it to capture impressionistic moments and don’t care about it being in perfect focus. If you want a film camera with reliable focus as your “main camera” I don’t think the XA is the best choice. If you want to mix in film with digital and want something you’ll always have on you I highly recommend it.
For more film photo samples check out my instagram
My Camera’s: Sony a6000
I’m often asked about photography recommendations or “what I shoot with.”
Below is a list of my cameras. I’ll go into more depth about my lenses and other gear in a future post. I also imagine this will serve as a time capsule as my camera preferences change or my collection grows.
Digital: Sony a6000
Here’s me and my a6000 in South Dakota
I shot with a Canon SLR before I was gifted the a6000. My Canon was falling apart and I pretty much ruined it by trying to super glue it back together.
It’s hard to believe but the camera is around 7 years old. It’s been a workhorse and is probably one of the best values of anything I own given how much I use it.
Pros:
Light & Small
Great low light shooting
Durable
Easy to use
Great overall image quality
Cons:
Battery Life (have to be diligent about turning camera off or keep spare batteries)
Crop Sensor (not a problem just not quite as good as full frame)
Sony a6000 sample images
Sony a6000 - Daylight
Sony a6000 - Low light
Overall Impressions:
The Sony a6000 was one of the first killer mirrorless cameras (as opposed to SLR). Mirrorless cameras are basically lighter and smaller than SLR’s. A light & small camera is important if you want to have a camera on you all the time. I can put this camera in my bag and take it with me anywhere. It’s also great for hiking or having around your neck all day. The weight and size is partly why I’m hesitant to upgrade to a full frame camera (e.g. the Sony a series).
Aside from it’s portability its durability and relatively low price tag makes me not as worried if something happens to it. I don’t baby it and leave it relatively exposed and out as opposed to being in a padded camera bag all the time. It’s hit rocks while I climb, been snowed on, and withstood drops.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for an everyday camera and don’t need a full frame.
Why I Created This Site & Blog
I think it’s important to analyze why you’re doing something. This post is mostly an exercise for myself but also might be read by someone thinking about if it makes sense to create their own site (as opposed to just having a social media account).
First off, I’m using this site to craft an online identity that I have more control over. When someone Google’s my name, “Max Klausner” I hope this site eventually shows up as the first listing (currently it’s LinkedIn and this site is on the third page of Google results).
This site will also serve as a hub for my photography & writing. Photography is my passion & I have multiple instagram accounts to share my photos. Instagram doesn’t really have collections of photos however which is something this site will have. On the writing front I’m hoping this space compels me to share my thoughts and perhaps add value to a readers life. I also realized that while I’m mostly a visual storyteller it would be good to pair it with my voice (particularly for future generations).
I’m pretty sure the only way I’ll post regularly is by keeping my posts brief. More to come in the near future!
2020 Year End Recap: Silver Linings
It goes without saying 2020 was a dumpster fire of a year both on a macro and micro level. We lost my Dad which was one of the hardest things I’ll probably ever experience during a once in a century pandemic that has killed close to 2M people globally.
Every year I write a little something to recap my year and try to focus on the positives. This year I’ve referred to these positives as “silver linings.”
*This post was originally written as a FB post recapping 2020.
It goes without saying 2020 was a dumpster fire of a year both on a macro and micro level. We lost my Dad which was one of the hardest things I’ll probably ever experience during a once in a century pandemic that has killed close to 2M people globally.
Every year I write a little something to recap my year and try to focus on the positives. This year I’ve referred to these positives as “silver linings.”
Silver Linings:
-Spending 3 months with my Dad before he passed:
My Dad was hospitalized right as the pandemic landed in the US (it was the night they canceled the first NBA games). We left for home thinking we might be there for a week. As the news intensified we made the decision to not return to NY indefinitely. This time proved to be invaluable as I got to spend it with my Dad (something that probably wouldn’t have happened without the pandemic).
-Family time:
Over the course of the year we’ve spent more time with our family than perhaps any year since childhood. We played games together, cooked together, drank together & supported each other. This extended to our neighbors who would stop and talk in the middle of the street. Time slowed down and we focused on the things that mattered.
-Exploring America & spending time in nature:
As it became clear NY wasn’t a good place to be during the pandemic we left our apartment and headed West. At the time we thought flying was just about the worst thing you could do so we rented a car for a 3 month road trip.
Our Route: NY (to pack up apartment) > Deleware (to pick up the car) > MD (prepare for the trip) > Pittsburg > Toledo Ohio > Chicago > Madison WI (stayed a week)> Luverne Minnesota> South Dakota (Badlands, Mount Rushmore) > Billings Montana (stayed for a week) > Glacier National Park > Missoula Montana (stayed for a week) > Idaho Falls > Yellowstone National Park > Grand Teton National Park > Salt Lake City > Zion National Park > Bryce Canyon > Capital Reef > Moab > Canyonlands > Arches > Durango Colorado > Mesa Verde National Park (cliff dwellings) > Santa Fe > Taos > Albuquerque > FL > MD> Savannah Georgia > FL
National Parks/ Monuments:
Badlands
Mount Rushmore
Glacier
Yellowstone
Grand Tetons
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
Canyonlands
Arches
Mesa Verde
Bandelier
-Exploring other ways to live:
We went from living in Soho and never driving to living in dozens of airbnb’s in very different cities driving thousands of miles. Each state and city had their own unique flavor; from the laid back hipster vibes of Missoula to the South Western flavor of New Mexico.
-Remote work:
The ability to work from anywhere was what allowed us to live in so many places. While we technically could have done this before, the norms and expectations of being in an office were strong. The pandemic broke this expectation and I expect this to be a net positive for work life balance and lifestyle design.
-Becoming more self sufficient & new life skills:
I learned to cook! This might be a bit of an overstatement but at least I learned to make some signature dishes (Sweet Green Harvest Bowl, Quesadillas, Rosewater Belgian Waffles). I also became a lot more comfortable driving as I probably drove more in 3 months than I had during the duration of me and Shilpa’s relationship.
-Great TV:
We’re definitely in the golden era of television. Some of our favorites: Dark Season 3, Queen’s Gambit, The Boys, The end of the F***ing World, Indian Matchmaking, Umbrella Academy Season 2, Unorthodox, I am not Okay with this, Never Have I Ever, Miracle Workers, Love Craft Country, What We Do In the Shadows, Dave
-The end of the Trump Presidency:
Decency & Democracy won…but driving across the country was eye opening.
We made the best of a very difficult year. Looking forward to returning to normal life in the hopefully not too distant future.
Wishing everyone a healthy and fulfilling 2021!
