Mike.....


We looked for over a year at buying a house in the Napa Valley... a second home... I started at 2MM... nothing.... and raised that to 4MM... for which you got orange formica kitchen... or so far out that I couldn't take the drive into "town" (St Helena or Yountville) for dinner....

While laying in bed at our hotel (Meadowood Country Club -- you'd love it!) I realized the true cost of 4MM invested in a second home would cost me 200K in income loss (5% that I make off that now in TAX FREE bond income)... so that is "opportunity costs" which one has to calculate to see the true costs! I would need gardeners - and housekeeping - and property taxes and the gutters need cleaning and the windows washed - and more cars to make it "easy" to come and go... and furnishings.... so figure at least another 100K per year... so the income off another 2MM....

To which I said to the Misses.... "Ya know.... we could stay here a MONTH and our room is ONLY 60K".... so if we ate out every night for the month - we might spend 100K. Sounds ridiculous - until you compare the "loss" of ownership costs to just traveling and not owning or worrying about diddly squat. We're traveling.... I gave her a yearly budget (HA!) and we'll just blow that messing about rather than having a second house we'd rarely use since we're traveling anyway.

Yep, too much on my mind...And seeing the harbor pictures is jaw dropping..

I have been on some 130 foot Yachts for party's but these one's in Greg's photo's are beyond what my Brain can process...

And I am about to go into contract on another house...My Brain is rattled...

Funny we/she started looking in Napa, and Calistoga...Since we love to travel there..But seriously, I am not that well off.. I am looking at REO's , etc... because I cannot afford anything else..

But my Wife's family are in Redding, I know it ain't Napa, but they have some nice Communities up there ,Gated and nongated, Golf course's ect.. Villa type properties.

But I am trying to factor the maintinence in. That is the worry.. I won't pull money from my Investments because that is my Income generator..

But my Wife knows that she will be responsible for it, if she wants to jump up to the Villa on the hill.. I am trying to keep emotion out of the deal..Easy for me, I am a cold basterd, but getting a Woman to not have emotion, is like trying to...well, you get the picture..Hence I am up at 2:30 am...

I need to figure, an extra grand a month ? Large Pool, Pond that is the size of the house, gardeners, home energy...Ahhhhhh....

Thanks for posting the pictures Greg. Looks like a lovely city. I love the fews from above in the mountains. Have fun.

Okay --- this is a HORRIBLE VIDEO.... but who cares?! Not me... I'm watching and hearing in real time! :rofl:

Just a shorty for the SOUND.... I can't figure out the cameras video with focus and zoom in or out and blah blah blah... so shut up already!

That makes two of us

Thanks for sharing the pics & video Greg

Sounds like home, have you read the manual? :D
http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/...2/D7000_EN.pdf

Are you using Wide Area AF or Custom Setting a8 (pg 211) for video?

I'm watching qualifying right now, looks like the weather is perfect!
I've always wanted to hear (experience) F1 and MotoGP live. One of those bucket list items :yes:

175 mph top speed coming out of the tunnel with that light transition.
:wow:

I read some of the manual and thought I had the settings correct but obviously not -- and since I was already up at our suite -- there was no checking to see what I messed up. I was really just trying to get the sound for the most part.. but of course would also like to get the video focusing correctly. Back in the room here now obviously so will read a bit more about it.

I cannot imagine how good that must sound echoing throughout the city too. It's good you heard em before they switch to 6cylinders next year. They'll never be the same!

Run out and grab a remote microphone while you're at it!!!! You should be able to use it in the car when you get the Contour Plus too. :thumbsup:

Give us some WeldFabulous Audio!