To all of our friends in warmer climates:I’ve always suspected that the happiness of those in Florida is inversely proportional to the weather in New York.Is it true ?

One of the things that attracted me to moving to Florida was the fortunate ability to live off the water. My house backs up to a canal that is just off the Banana River in Merritt Island, Florida. I grew up in Brooklyn on an ocean block where every Sunday in the summer, my dad would take my brothers and I to Manhattan Beach. The water was just a half block from our house and we just walked a few blocks along the old esplanade (long gone now) to the beach. To us, it was normal.

Is anyone out there in Gotham land just a little frustrated with their LIRR commute (like me)?  I think I’m lucky – and even I am complaining.  

I recently visited Italy. We had elected, while we were there, to take a food tour with a local guide. I always enjoy these experiences because you generally get a real insight into the country’s culture.  

I enjoy driving.  My vehicle offers amenities; most important beyond a safe vehicle include the sun roof and cars to my entire musical library. The makes for an enjoyable experience, barring traffic conditions.  And that gets to the point: the so many drivers who make driving a less enjoyable.  if you do any of this, please stop: *racing *weaving in and around other cars at higher speeds *racing to the end of an entrance ramp causing traffic to come to a dead halt instead of gradually easing in to the existing flow of traffic

I visited a client yesterday in Orangeburg NY. The meeting was at noon and the drive from my office was about 75 minutes. Nice ride.   The meeting ended at 3p and the drive back was 2 + hours. I had forgotten how much traffic there is around here. I still love to drive but I will think about the time I make appointments in the future.

Recently, I have started describing myself as a "significant nobody". It's not for nothing that I come by this moniker.   Yes, I was Treasurer of the Friars Club for 10 years, senior partner of a labor and employment firm for many many years and cofounder of Gotham City Networking, but that all came to a resounding end last Fall.   At that time our firm merged into the full service firm of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP. 

We were returning to the U.S. and going through passport control. We have Global Entry. As we approached the terminals with cards in hand, we were advised to put away the cards and simply smile to the screen.The symbol spun for a bit and then a big check mark appeared and we were instructed to move on.