Staycations?

So, how many of you have heard the new buzz word, “staycation?”  It may not be new to some of you, and it is quite possible I am a tad behind the times, BUT, whoever coined this phrase, is genius!  I wonder if they are making any money off of it……..

For those of you who are just becoming familiar with this new word, it is essentially staying at home, or close to home, for a vacation instead of going away.  Get it?  I know more and more people who are doing this, not only to save money this summer, but also because there truly is so much to see right here at home.  Also, many friends we know have people coming to visit them from out of the area, so they are coordinating their vacations around their guests.  They now have the opportunity to play tour guide while also becoming reacquainted with the incredible area and surrounding areas, we are so fortunate to call home. 

I will be taking my week of vacation in August, but will be staying or rather, “staycaying” right here at home.  My best friend Colette will be arriving from New York with her baby girl Ava, and my family and I will be hanging out right here at home.  We plan to hit San Fran, the zoo, the mall, possibly Santa Cruz……..we will sleep in everyday (wishful thinking with 4 little ones in the house, but am hoping), stay up late playing games and talking, just like a little mini vacation, but a lot more friendly on the wallet!!  I may even let my kids have pizza for breakfast and ice cream for dinner, who knows! 

I would love to hear some comments from you other “staycationers” and ideas of things you found to do.

Soccer, so much more than just a sport

I have been playing soccer for almost as long as I have been walking.  I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when it was not there.  I really would not have imagined all those years ago in my youth, that I would still be playing, but alas, this too is true.  It has taken on a whole new level for me as an adult.  When I was younger, I had the most amazing experiences through this sport.  This amazing sport that is the most beloved past time of the entire WORLD!  I traveled to Europe to play in International tournaments.  I stayed with an amazing family on a pig farm for an extended period of time in Denmark while playing there.  

My parents in turn, hosted Danish soccer players when I was in high school (much to my brother and his friends delight).  Later, when I was in college, my parents also hosted players from El Salvador who had come to play in a cultural exchange and good will tournament with a team I was playing on.  These experiences were amazing.  I have had pen pals in many countries in the world due to my soccer experiences.

I am now experiencing soccer with my children. This has given soccer a whole new level of meaning for me as I experience it through their eyes.  I have been coaching my kids here in Foster City for the past 5 years. 3 years ago, I was asked by a friend if I would be wiling to host an English soccer player/coach.  For those of you involved in A.Y.S.O., you are very familiar with the groups of English guys, and occasional girls, who start arriving in the summer to host camps, and then assist with coaching come fall.  Remembering the incredible experiences I had with the players my parent’s hosted, and a “hard” sell to my husband, we were in.  7 players later, and here we are!

We have hosted for 3 falls, and are on our 2nd summer.  Most have come back to visit, and all still regularly e-mail, referring to us as their “American” family.  Our kids call them the “English boys” (though we have also had a lovely Irishman) and look forward to their visits immensely.  We now even have our first Peruvian!  We have had players from all over England, and my husband, who is a HUGE history buff, has had many a late night discussion with these lads.  We have taken them everywhere from the SF Zoo, to the wine country, to the pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay at Halloween, to the free Friday night concerts right here in our fair city.  Exposing our kids to different cultures has been an incredible experience for them, and we hope, will make them more well rounded and curious and interested in other cultures and travel.

So, if you have a friend come calling asking you to host an English or perhaps Irish, or even Peruvian soccer coach, keep this in mind………When you are exhausted after a long day, but still have to cook dinner, or wash the never ending laundry, wouldn’t it be great to have someone who willing, will take them outside to kick a ball endlessly around?  Last night, my husband and I joined in, and by the end of the evening, our new English and Peruvian friends were actually throwing a football!  That’s an American football people, to you die hards who call soccer football (like the rest of the world)!

As my Brit friends would say, hope to see you all out on the pitch this Fall!

How much is that doggy (or purse) in the window?

How much is this worth? It’s covered right? Well, yes and no, not necessarily, it depends. How are these for answers? I get these questions a lot when I am reviewing coverage with an existing customer, or a potential customer. The truth of the matter is, when you are talking about your personal property, there are a lot of variables involved when it comes to insurance. The typical home, condo or renter’s insurance policy, does indeed have coverage that applies to your personal property, however, it is limited in scope and nature. Most policies have a specified dollar limit when it comes to certain items, such as, jewelry, home computers, tools, and other items depending on the policy. Another important issue, they are not only covered up to the limit specified in your policy, but they are only covered by named perils listed in your policy, think of the biggies, fire, theft, smoke damage.

This conversation comes up a lot when I happen to notice an inconspicuous diamond ring on a client’s finger. I comment on its beauty and then ask “is it insured?” 9 out of 10 times the answers are the same. Yes, it’s covered under my homeowner’s policy. I then ask if they ever provided an appraisal, had their agent inspect it, and they say “no.” Note, if you have not provided details to your agent to “schedule” your special items, i.e. provide details such as color, cut, clarity, etc., most likely it is not covered in the way you think it is. You may have up to $1500, or $2500, but that is it. Plus, it is only covered for the big listed perils above.

There are many other things that can be added to what we in the biz call a “Personal Articles Policy.” You can add antiques, rugs, electronic equipment, sporting equipment, i.e. golf clubs, art work, jewelry of course, and many other things. The beauty of these policies is, 1) the coverage is very broad, even covers earthquake and, 2) since the insurance company has an exact description, there is usually no argument as to the value and quality of the item should you have to open a claim.

I want to talk a little about claims involving your personal property, whether scheduled or not. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly suggest you do an inventory of your home. This can be done with many mediums, but I recommend a video, going room by room, and describing the contents as you go. You can also use a digital camera and photo specialty items and then mount them with a description and approximate value, plus any features you think may be important. All of this should be stored in either a safe deposit box at your bank, or some type of fire retardant safe in your home. This will not only help you in the claims process, but your claim representative will love you. If you have receipts, manuals, etc., store these in there as well.

I can tell you from personal experience, many of us don’t realize how much “stuff” we have until we actually inventory it. Are you are a lover of expensive shoes and handbags, ringing any bells ladies? You should definitely do this. These items can add up quickly. Years ago, my husband was working as a Fire Claim Representative. He came home after working on a fire and told me a lady had told him she had a purse worth over $1500. He said this mind you, with a look of almost disgust, as if to say, why would someone spend this type of money on a purse!. I said, “Hello, purses can cost thousands of dollars.” If he only knew………….

I know it may seem like a daunting and tedious task, but if you end up losing all of your belongings in a fire, believe me, you will thank yourself!