New normal life after the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus/Carlos Pueblo

New normal life after the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus/Carlos Pueblo

It is too huge to imagine the damage of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus at this moment. The impact of such pandemic makes us to consider how to face the new normal life after three months. We are still required to wear mask as well as keeping social distance. I have scheduled my daily routine by increasing the streets which I previously has covered. I do not dare to go on cruise trip like before and I don't spend any money until it is necessary. I believe that the inflation can't be avoid with so much U.S. dollars been printed.

I doesn't matter if the society is preferred or not, I have myself prepare to use the mask immediately when I need it. This means that I do carry my mask covering my mouth and can place that mask to cover my nose when I pass on smoking area for instance. You may think that I am stupid yet I protect you in every way I can.

The cruise liner has sent me e-mails twice a day to advertise its new schedule. The earliest schedule is in August and only seven of its fleet of 17 and other two luxury additions are available. I can't get my last minute bargain any longer. it is alright that I only have 4 deposit voucher left which I must use them within 4 years of my purchase. A new normal is that I must take a virus screen test within 72 hours of my taking off on an airplane with a written certificate.

Donald Trump is going to sanction and post high import tax on Chinese goods; therefore, I don't expect seeing inexpensive consumer goods any longer. I am too old and I can save very much just within my needs. I have received my $1,200 impact check and I have sent it back even more to pay IRS my quarterly income tax payment before I can stimulate the economic.

It is a good news that the stock market has recovered most of its loss in March this year. I don't know why and I don't have to know. It is possible that the investor knows the money is better sitting on the market better than in cash. You don't want to lend your money to the federal government. 

I don't take advantage of the cheap gasoline price due to my lack of driving, 300 miles or less in a year. I fuel my walking energy by the home making of pasta.  I am very frugal and I think that I have my priority to make my tax payment or other obligation during this difficult time.

新正常生活/莊峻華

新正常生活/莊峻華

因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，美國社會，已經開始形成，新正常生活方式，最常見者為戴口罩，保持距離，社區開始多人散步，注意身體健康，身體力行。昨日，我們再回網球場，結果不幸又被鎖箸大門，於是我和球友，在俱樂部樹蔭下，討論香港和中國政情，一位散步新識女鄰居，買菜回來路過，發現我們之困難，放下購菜後，前來幫忙，她是住家協會董事，有第一把鑰匙，打開後，我的門卡，就可以通行，美國人急公好義，非常有禮節。

目前，保守黨政府，開始開放禁令，開始要求恢復開工，但是很多企業，仍舊不甚放心，每日一郵輪公司，都兩次電郵廣告來，郵輪八月開始恢復一些航程，此家郵輪公司，有十七艘郵輪，恢復營業者，僅七艘而已，而且有新併購之豪華郵輪航號，繼續封關，航空公司也一樣，飛機都擺在沙漠，國外飛行前三日，乘客需要作肺炎篩檢，出示書面證明，這是新規定。

美國和中國，似乎全面開戰，美國進口貨物價，開始要調高，當然此與印鈔票也有關係，就是美金繼續加速貶值，這是新正常，不然美國股市，何以突然又漲價？逼進三月崩盤前價格，這是投資者判斷，留美金不如留在股市之故也。

我是更加節儉矣，除日常必需支出外，我已開始準備存款，繳交今年之所得稅，地方稅，保險金，電話網路費等，聯邦之一千二，不過是暫時轉帳耳，我又能買甚麼？刺激經濟。如此無常，四千萬失業人口，美國政府會不會倒閉？保守黨參院領袖，不是要紐約州宣佈破產？美國總統又是破產專門，我看美國在他管理下，真是濱臨破產，若美金破產，美金像希臘，阿根廷等國貨幣，我們真慘。

Saving the capital/Carlos Pueblo

Saving the capital/Carlos Pueblo

It has been out again for the problem of home economics that people have no saving in their household during the hard time like the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. People can't meet their daily payment and I am sure that governments can't help enough to solve the issue. Saving the capital is very essential for anyone attempts to be financial independent in his life. It is sounded like a boring subject yet proved very powerful. I am still very found of telling my own story to my readers to prove that is workable.

I saved a little bit of funds to buy the air plane ticket to study in the U.S. in 1975. As a matter of fact, the fund was only enough to reach to Honolulu, Hawaii. I did borrow some money from my relatives to make up the rest of the journey. Auburn University provided me a teaching assistant.ship for $375 a month and I began to save every month for two years. I always figure out the way to save after spending the necessary. I save the capital all the time. Then, I have accumulated a small amount of capital in my retirement funds both regular accounts and the Roth. I figure out that the U.S. Government is encouraging the citizen to save for the retirement via some deferred tax advantage. First to work as hard as you can and save as hard as you can, than the result will show. I have been out of a major contract of my insurance business since 2001 and still is without any of the stress in my life. 

I have helped both of my children to complete their college education. My daughter Michelle has been doing well and she knows very well of what she is doing. My son Arthur is a super market clerk with a minimum pay all the time. We plan a strategy for him to save the capital. We invite him to stay home with us free of charge. We encourage him to save majority of his income to his retirement plans such as the IRA and 401k. Now, his portfolio dividend income is approaching his annual income. Time is essential to save the capital and also very important to his happiness and self esteem. He will never have to worry about his payment because he has built up a saving habit in his young life.

During the pandemic lock down, I suddenly can't go anywhere for travel; therefore, I actually stop spending money on travel. Retirement funds are coming back to reach the previous level. I don't know the reason why yet I don't mind to see that. The long time saving capital is working very well.

儲蓄累積資本/莊峻華

儲蓄累積資本/莊峻華

金錢可以解決大部分之家庭問題，所以儲蓄累積資本，是一人生大目標，我的中老年人生幸福，絕大部分是建立在儲蓄基礎上，雖言容易觀念，但社會上仍舊有人有意無意之忽略，然後就是一系列之壓抑新聞，影響情緒，社會上一些問題，也常因金錢不足衍生，解決家庭經濟窘困，應早日準備，儲蓄累積資本，從小開始。

美國政府，鼓勵儲蓄，如果我們自己申報所得稅，可以發現很多退休儲蓄，累積資本之優惠，這些退休金計劃，可以減少仰賴日後政府之補助，以我家庭為例，45年前，隻身來美，開始讀書工作，二十餘年，儲蓄也如此多年，失業又就業，有一年重大失業，然後就賦閒在家，收入急遽減少，於是平日儲蓄資本，開始介入，儲蓄投資，幫忙兩子女，完成大學教育，然後他們各自工作，開始儲蓄累積資本，開始看到成效。

隨著多年儲蓄退休計劃，我先將當年收入，按照政府規定，儲蓄到股票基金，失業後，就將一些一般個人退休計劃，轉入羅斯個人退休計劃，此時和國稅局算清收入稅，羅斯部分，從此領出免交所得稅，這就是政府優惠儲蓄政策之一。七十歲半後，國稅局開始規定，每年最少之退休金計劃領出額，就是國稅局要對現其股份，我發現此為美國政治之先進有趣之處，這時後我之收入，僅剩社會安全金耳。

元兒在超市工作12年，都是基本工資，我們豪不落入世俗之在意，我們強邀他留在家裏，然後開始儲蓄累積資本，他一直有個人退休金計劃，最近幾年開始儲蓄公司之401k退休金計劃，而且是投資一半工作收入，這就是政府鼓勵低收入者儲蓄之德政，我們家有四房，吃飯僅增一雙竹筷，我還鼓勵他儲蓄收入之一半，年初購買個人退休計劃金，他的投資股息，已逼近其年收入，這些都是算術。我們家琳兒，會計專門，收入較佳，喜歡投資，除退休金外，喜歡投資租屋，這是一種有收入之房產。

愛美也有一筆資產，自己經營管理，生活有自信，開始控制自己之命運，不再宿命，或怨天尤人，這是儲蓄累積資本之益處。最近，我又開始注意股市，股市又莫名其妙長上來，已經漸漸恢復盛況，武漢肺炎，把我困在家裏，我的旅行支出歸零，又在家當老芋仔做水餃蒸饅頭等，無甚支出，年支出都在預算内，顛沛造次必於是。

Viewing trees in the neighborhood/Carlos Pueblo

Viewing trees in the neighborhood/Carlos Pueblo

In addition to my regular activity during the morning walk, I find another routine of viewing trees in the neighborhood as my favorite. American homeowners love to plant trees on their yards for the landscape and shades which are beneficiary to houses. I believe that big trees can deter the sudden hail and reduce the summer heatwave in some way. Of course, it is a hassle to manage the fallen branches during the storms  and leaves after the fall. Neighborhood trees are in better care in compare with trees in the forest and I can be appreciated the blooming during the year, i.e. the magnolia in May here in Houston as an example.

There are two kinds of the magnolia trees, one called the New York magnolia with smaller petals and another one which is very popular in Texas with large white flowers. WE have had one in the front yard under the suppress of a sweet gum while our neighbor Mark has one shoots up more than two story high. I proudly present to my fellow lady walkers about this new notice of beauty and they all agree with me.

The sweet gum is not a maple with identical shape of leaves also changing colors in the fall. We lost one huge one in the backyard early in January. It costed us $700 to remove the debris. I watch a self broadcasting firm of woodwork on the You Tube, a man cuts a big sweet gum tree, hauls it to his sawmill and slices the log into boards and explains how precious of the wood when reaches to the center. I did see our fallen tree when the tree man cut it to logs and rolled them away. There are different colors inside of the trunk. He did explain the dark pattern in the center. I can now appreciate why the European carpenters make veneer furniture because they like to utilize the precious pattern.

Another popular trees are at least two kinds of oaks, one regular kind with color changed leaves and another one is evergreen yet fallen after the year. They were planted mostly when the house was built. This is a subdivision of about 40 years old. The tree trunks are in good size. When the spring comes, I can see the green leaves coming back and show how pretty of the tree. I pointed it to my neighbor Mike who was walking his pet dog Willy. He said that was not a good wood. I think that what he means is the tree is not hard enough to make a furniture. However, all neighborhood trees are not able to be in any use for the cost of labor in order to make sense. It is just impossible to haul the sawmill into the beautiful front yard to treat the wood without damaging the lawn.

Yet I am still very appreciated of the growth of trees and observing them during my morning walk. There is a famous Chinese proverb, it has taken 10 years to grow a tree and 100 years to grow a man into use. I think that is more appropriate to say at  least 40 years to grow a tree in order to make a furniture or a part of the wood floor and I don't really know if we ever can claim that usage of the manhood.

十年樹木/莊峻華

十年樹木/莊峻華

新闢清晨散步範圍，觀察鄰居庭院美樹，是繼訪愛犬，欣賞庭院花草，修身養性後，新增之福利，中文裏有句曰，十年樹木，百年樹人，形容栽培人材之費時費力，一般社區之巨樹，大約要四，五十年時間之成長，秋後開始變色，掃落葉，初春開始新花葉萌生，與庭院花草爭艷，一日，我和一女鄰居，聊到樹倒善後之經驗，回家後觀看幾節網誌伐木影片，了解一些實際善用樹木之道理。

美國社區開發新建時，建商都會植樹前院，屋主也隨時增填，落子飄落各處，不小心長片全院，飛機降落時，可見一叢叢樹林，間隔建屋藍水泳池，這是美好環境。樹林有益光合作用，釋出氧氣和二氧化碳，調節呼吸空氣，所以清晨散步，感覺上無需口罩。

休市氣候，宜植一種白色木蘭花，我不知此木蘭，為中國史書上之古木蘭，英文曰，瑪格諾尼亞，有兩種，一為白宮周圍庭院之紐約木蘭，一種是我們南方之白朵花木蘭，我們家有一株，西邊緊鄰一株更大衝天，現在佈滿雪白色花朵滿樹，此木蘭花甚大，非常迷人，散步時無法路過不察。

我喜歡書桌，古典美國書桌，是實木制造，十分沉重，看到巨樹，我就回想到舊日之台灣鄉下，村民拾枯枝為柴為燃料用，澳洲是放火燒山，夷為農地用。我們常遇巨樹倒踏，必需花錢處理善後，平常也需要請專人修剪樹枝，以免損及屋瓦，樹蔭可以遮陽，但也奪去花草必需之陽光。

橡樹和香楓也甚常見，二月裏豪雨，搬倒後院巨樹香楓，這香楓能變色和落葉，約是花了我們七百美元，請人鋸下搬走，果然一旁石榴，今年首次開花結實。我在網誌上，看到美國人直播伐木，就是用動力鏈鋸，處理巨木，就是削薄成木板，先是處理一倒下之紅橡，後來直接到樹林伐木，砍下香楓，開始分析紋路，樹心部分是硬木，紋路美麗，他說是要舖地板。

我在旅行紐約和耶魯大學，參觀過藝術館，中有許多美國獨立前後期之傢俱產品，非常美麗有趣，沒有幾十年樹木，那有這些傢俱？美國傢俱業，建築業等，尚無需利用我們社區之倒樹巨幹為建材，蓋人工昂貴也。

Select my own battlefield/Carlos Pueblo

Select my own battlefield/Carlos Pueblo

One morning, I was walking with my pet dog friend Edda and her owners, David and Joanna down a street. I described how I was benefit from the morning walk routine. I can ignore all what I don't like to hear and see. I can avoid most of my unnecessary stressful intake of my life. Joann understands and tell me that I select my own battlefield. I am so happy to learn such English expression of a great philosophy. I recall a famous question quote and send out my thought to my blog, Is there anything to do with you when the wind blows and makes wave on a pound in the spring? A King asked his deputy to mind his own business almost 1200 years ago.

It is very important to mind our own business especially at age that we are no longer obtain sufficient time to the uninterested staff  in our limited life. Amy tells me her sister's story about her daughter, all bragging about her achievement as a successful child, I ask whether I need to know. I have learned all about this child ever since her birth. There are so many news appeared on the internet, do I need to know? If I don't like it, I really don't need to know.

What I need to know and do is very fundamental, to manage my expenditure in my life well to last for the time remaining in my life, to fill my day with a meaningful life, and keep myself healthy to avoiding the bother to my children, etc. There is no way that I can care as much as I like. My neighbor Amy who is 82, asks Amy to bring her writing for me to read and asks if her mind is still functioning alright. I think that she means the Alzheimer's disease for aging people. I don't think that I need to know too much about it as long as I keep myself occupied. Do I need to worry about such awful disease? No, of course not. If I have it, I'll deal with it and not let it bother me before. I select my own battlefield.