Journey & Adventure

Tonight’s Lotto Max jackpot is estimated to be approximately fifty million dollars, plus 30 additional prizes of one million dollars.   I don’t buy lottery tickets on a regular basis but I couldn’t resist purchasing a ticket for this one.   I know, I know, my odds are greatly reduced because the jackpot is so high and so many more people are buying tickets but I couldn’t resist.   I could do so much good with fifty million dollars – not just for me, but for others as well.     Let’s start with myself, friends and family:   I would obviously be retiring early – is Monday soon enough for you?   I would purchase my oceanfront house in Bonaire and a sweet boat – rigged for both diving and fishing.   I would purchase J’s parents a nice condo, new vehicle and give them enough money to live comfortably.   I would give J’s sister and brother enough money to pay off their mortgages. ...

While creeping the internet and investigating potential places to call home once our early retirement kicks in, I have stumbled upon some blogs, featuring amazing people, doing amazing things in places I hope to one day visit, or perhaps settle down in the future. Somewhere I can also make a difference. One particular blog, I would like to share with you owned by a young, fearless couple currently making a difference in the lives of many children in Nicaragua. Jonathon and Quinn operate LOOTB ( Life Out of the Box ). What is LOOTB? Well, according to their site: “Life Out of the Box is about pursuing your dreams and doing what you love by stepping out of the typical box and making it happen no matter what. It’s one thing to be able to think differently, but it’s another to actually act on those thoughts. We want to inspire people to be a doer, not just a dreamer. It’s also about giving back to the world while making your dreams come true. Life Out of the Box wants to ...

This local organization – or should I say, a group of talented individuals have recently came to my attention. This is such a fantastic cause. I cannot tell you how many times in my travels that I’ve wished I could help those in need in some small way, but with a large impact. The founders of You Are Sew Gorgeous have done just that. The concept of You Are Sew Gorgeous is simple – turn donated pillowcases into beautiful dresses for little girls in need in underdeveloped nations. Their hope is that a handmade dress will make these girls feel special – the way they deserve to look and feel. Feeling special is something every little girl deserves regardless of where they come from or their social status.  I’m sure these dresses mean the world to them and I can only imagine the smiles on their faces.  I’ll be taking some of these dresses along with me in my next round of travels. If you would like, you can also look them up and "Like" them on Facebook here .

I was busy catching up on some of my magazine subscription reading this weekend, when I happened upon these items featured in one of my scuba diving magazines.    The marketing scheme worked - not only did I gaffaw out loud, but now I have to buy some.   It's not like I'm attracted to anything in a Speedo or Will Ferrel for that matter.  No, it's for a good cause and I'm sure you'd agree, we all need sunscreen.  Go here if you are interested in purchasing some too... The proceeds from the sunblockers go to the Cancer for College’s Willpowered Scholarship Fund , and help pay for cancer survivors’ college educations.

Threadless T-Shirts is offering you this funky and fun t-shirt for a mere $10 and the best part is that 100% of the proceeds are being donated to the A merican Red Cross Haitian Relief and Development Fund . Can you say Win, Win? “Men anpil chay pa lou” (Translation: Many Hands Make the Load Lighter”) In my opinion, you can never have enough t-thirts and what better way to support this worthwhile cause? I’ve purchased one for each member of my family. Why not do the same for yours? My son is a t-shirt junkie and I've purchased many, many t-shirts from Threadless and can attest to their quality and durability. Go here , to get yours now...

If you aren't already familiar with Kiva, let me try and explain or better yet, this this website if you get a chance. Kiva is a non-profit organization that facilitates loans to individuals/small businesses in various developing countries. For $25, you can micro finance a small business of your choice. Although $25 doesn't seem like a great amount of money - it is, especially in areas where money and resources are scarce. For a less than a dinner for two, you can make a world of difference towards the betterment of someone's life. I currently sponsor two individuals. My first loan was to Amina Zahanatia - she operates a poultry business in Tanzania and her loan has been 90% repaid. My second loan was to Queen Okhuahesohan - she runs a small food supply store in Nigeria and her loan has been 25% repaid. The typical life-cycle of a loan is usually 6-12 months and during that time, you will receive updates as to your repayment status. You can either choose to re-loan wha...