This article recently appeared in the Washington Post. As someone who’s attitude toward social media fluctuates between ‘suspicious’ and ‘hostile’, I find it refreshing and somewhat comforting. Coupled with the Surgeon General’s warning, perhaps we’re slowly but permanently turning a corner on this health hazard. Enjoy. I quit social media in college. This is how … More Leaving Social Media: One Woman’s Journey
I recently came across a website that I would consider a ‘cousin’ in philosophy and tone to this blog. Gentlemans Codes has timely and relevant posts, like THIS ONE, on noblesse oblige, which I find relevant and worthwhile. The site does focus more on lifestyle than we do here, but that’s refreshing and different. The … More Recommended Site: GC
As many of you know, I’ve been living in France for a few years. It’s offered a distance in which to view current events taking place in my home country, the United States. What’s more, I am exposed to the much older history and the much more nuanced perspective of Europeans in general, and the … More Our Country’s Biggest Decision Ever
It has been a strangely hectic couple of weeks here in the countryside, and my blogging duties have suffered as a result. Apologies. Urgent business at hand: The main structure on the property is quite old, as you know, and the roof has a number of leaks, as you might have guessed. Buckets, pieces of … More Update from the Countryside…Countdown to the Coronation
“Don’t tell anyone you’re buying a chateau.” Such was the refrain from everyone we spoke with in Paris: Parisians will be jealous. Parisians will think you’re a fool. People will try to take advantage of you. These warnings came, almost verbatim, from Americans, Brits, and even Parisians themselves. Of course, the default mental setting for … More Discretion and Duty
I recently sat down with international wealth manager Bogumil Baranowski to discuss Old Money concepts and how they relate to the preservation of wealth…and living a richer life. Bogumil is a unique position when it comes to Old Money: he advises families who have had money for hundreds of years, as well as individuals who … More Talking Billions: My Interview with Wealth Manager Bogumil Baranowski
I am grateful every day for my ability to feel, see, taste, smell, and hear. I would not want to be numb, either physically or emotionally, to the world’s sensations and experiences, good or bad. My vision is far from perfect, but I can watch movies and take in sunsets. I can catch the whiff … More The Five Senses…Revisited
I am constantly considering strategies and techniques that will help me be more productive. These run the gamut from simple prioritizing (first things first) to more involved, philosophical approaches like defining and refining my purpose in life. Recently, a friend related an interesting approach which I’d heard previously expounded upon by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of … More Thought, Word, and Deed
I’ve been less than consistent with the blog over the past few months, despite the best of intentions. An apology–and a brief explanation–are in order. We have left Paris and are now living in the French countryside. The purchase of a run-down house in the Loire-Atlantique region was an odyssey unto itself, but not quite … More A Brief Explanation
As readers begin to delve into the values, priorities, habits, and customs of Old Money–people who’ve enjoyed wealth and privilege for 3 generations or more–they often have questions. These sometimes run along the lines of “What kind of shoes do Old Money Guys wear?” or “Would this (fill in the blank) be considered appropriate for … More Old Money: The Culture