Socializing
Daily Ramble
It’s started. The debate between my wife and I over how we’ll spend our time in the US. This is likely not something she’d like my readers to know, but it’s what’s top of mind today. Every year, save the last year of pandemia, we’ve made a trip to the US during the late fall. And every year, we re-hash the same debates about how long to spend time, where, and with whom.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with my wife’s position on things; it’s just that we have different views on how time with friends and family should be spent. She prefers frolicking afternoons of cavorting with friends and family, while I see it more like an endurance sport and enjoy days of living together. I'm intentionally exaggerating both of our perspectives to make the point that we’ve got a different approach to socializing. And I’m convinced it comes down to a clash of cultures.
Here in Portugal, plans are loosely made, at best, and no one is ever on time. This is excellent for organic, spontaneous happenings and nothing ever feels forced about it. I’ve truly come to enjoy it. But in the US, where schedules are typically packed, especially amongst urban friends and family, planning is done well in advance. People come fully prepared for their socialized times, squeezing the bestness out of the moments together. It’s a full-contact immersion activity. There’s a clear start and stop times with a fixed time to socialize in between — and I enjoy that as well. Not near as organic, but structured for maximizing socialization.
So, you can imagine, coming from the Portuguese culture of looseness, with a coffee shop always within walking distance for easy escapes, that the vastness and structure of the US culture can be a bit overwhelming. And I get that. But it doesn’t make it any easier to navigate the high wire act of balancing time with all those I love and miss in the US with my family's needs. Lucky for me, it’s a relatively short time that I get to walk the high wire act in exchange for a wonderful life, family, and wife here in Portugal. Totally worth it.
Hopeful Things on the Interweb
Bitcoin Price Prediction
Yesterday: $29.8k - $31.8k
Today: $29.7k - $32.6k
Tomorrow: $29.7k - $33.5k
What a day for the Bitcoin bulls! Yesterday, when I was typing up my analysis, the price of Bitcoin had surged from the lows just above $29k to $30.8k. It turned out to be the beginning of the bulls’ efforts. They kept the foot on the gas pedal all day, finally being rejected by the critical $32.2k-$33k area. Today, the bulls look to be catching their breath and consolidating nicely, just under $32.2k. While we’re not in the clear, by any stretch, the bullish reversal possibility is increasing. I’m now cautiously optimistic that the floor is in. There’s a lot that the bulls will need to do to prove the market has shifted, but the foundation has been laid for them to make the necessary steps. The ball is in the bulls court at the moment, but they’ll need to continue to keep the heat on the bears or risk a larger breakdown below their last line of defense at $29k.
Bitcoin Q & A
Q: How can I set up my own Bitcoin node?1
A: By downloading and installing Bitcoin on an internet-connected device.
Bitcoin Core offers an excellent guide to setting up a node, but there is no right way to go when setting up a Bitcoin node. The most user-friendly approach is to set up a Bitcoin node on an old MacBook. However, if you want an IKEA-level challenge, then I recommend Umbrel’s approach, which guides you on all the right hardware to purchase from Amazon to build your own node — it’s the route I’ve taken.
Thanks for reading,
Kent
Do you have questions or a “Favorite Thing on the Interwebs”? Comment below or reply to the newsletter to reach me.
Do you want to receive Kent’s Corner each weekday?
Me? I offer personal and corporate Bitcoin Implementation Strategies: custody, investing strategy, security, tax management, and inheritance. Contact me for a free initial consultation.
Thanks to Adam R for the question!