Ellen and I are headed back to the USA after a fantastic trip to Switzerland and Italy. We are thrilled to be heading back to Coronado for the rest of the summer.

This fall, our empty nesting begins and I am excited for Rachel and Max. I want to have a clear head for them. They need to be able to be as far away as they want, and I want to be as on point and on demand as I can for them when they need me.

I had a great deal of time over the last few weeks to think and talk about all the responsibilities and all the changes.

There are benefits of taking time off. I’ve said this here often…I don’t want to disconnect completely because I get great joy being connected, and writing is part of my job, but a change of scenery and completely meeting free schedule is a great vacation for me.

While away this time, I have received some fantastic encouragement from people that follow my blog, and Stocktwits.

I started this blog in 2006 to help get my thoughts organized. I was a terrible writer in school and I never expected to be writing so much when I started the blog. Now it is a favorite part of my daily routine. I share and eventually people find me it seems. The ones that connect are saying they are finding great value.

I am grateful to have such a great family and also such a great network of friends and acquaintances around me.

I have my own weird way I look at the world and of course markets. It’s been shaped mostly by family, bad genetics, bad mentors, great mentors, entrepreneurs, TV, comedians and the web.

I am returning to the states clean shaven so I can get in as hassle free as possible.

I am returning to the stock markets that has had it’s lowest 12 month annualized volatility, EVER!.

I am returning to the markets for July with an S&P that has been up 8 months straight through June and up 15 of the last 16 months.

I am returning to continue investing in the financial services start up sector that is in the middle of a revolution.

Have a great weekend everyone.