Last week, I let you know I rented out my house in Connecticut and was going to spend a year working from all over the world. Whenever I told people about my plans, everyone’s first question was about where I was going to go. My first thought was about who I was going to see, and I planned to spend the first month here in the US visiting people.
My first stop was NYC where I got to stay with my old partner from Silver Arrow, Raji Khabbaz. He’s a member of the DKI Board of Advisors and remains one of my best friends. Staying with him is always a pleasure. Raji’s wife, Diana, is warm and welcoming, and their son, Cassian, is prone to hilarious giggling fits. Raji is a spectacular chef and most nights, he made us incredible home-cooked meals. Afterwards, we’d sit out on the terrace, have a cigar and a whiskey and talk about how I should spend this year and where I should go.
Of course, we also covered macroeconomics, portfolio management, and Bitcoin mining. Raji is using AI for stock research in an advanced way. We covered that in detail and I’m investigating how AI can help me get up to speed on various investment ideas faster. If it helps me better serve DKI’s clients, then it’s worth the time to learn.
Cassian and I made ice cream together which taught Raji the important lesson that when it comes to ice cream, Uncle Gary doesn’t say no. The highlight of the week was attending Cassian’s First Communion. He and his friends took the event seriously and were well supported by their happy parents and excited teachers.
This is the big moment! (I don’t just hand out ice cream.)
Somehow, to celebrate this Catholic milestone, we ended up observing a Jewish one; Chinese food after a holiday or celebration. These moments with Raji and the Khabbaz family were a good reminder of the importance of connection. For me, “who” matters more than the “where” – at least for the next few weeks.
The only challenge was the family’s four-pound Maltese. Pablo’s passion in life is biting people. He only bites if you’re moving or standing still which means a trip through the Khabbaz household is a lot like the first Alien film. Everything seems quiet until you turn the wrong corner and are faced with the monster. On the positive side, the meal plan was worth the risk.
I also had the chance to spend a great day with Lawrence Oh, an attorney and another member of the DKI Board of Advisors. Lawrence and I spoke a lot about NYC real estate, and the finer points of interesting law cases. There was also a very nice Mediterranean dinner.
I caught up with Kiran Pingali, the CEO of Telk and a cryptocurrency expert, for the first time in years. I also was able to get dinner with Bobby, a good friend who was excited about discussing alternative energy, and reconnected with an old running teammate. The only negative for the week involved multiple trips back to Connecticut for some dental work including a root canal. I’ve spent the past few weeks pre-dealing with a year’s worth of doctors’ appointments and am in good health and ready for the next leg of my adventure.
I decided to take the train to Pittsburgh and am writing this from the Pennsylvanian. While a 9-hour train trip might sound daunting to some, it was a five-minute walk to Penn Station and I only needed to be there 15 minutes before my train was due to depart. Plus, I’ve been able to work the entire trip and Cashen and I got this week’s 5 Things edition completed. As the Founder of Deep Knowledge Investing, Amtrak upgraded me to the nicer Business Class car. (In fairness, that was probably related to me paying an extra $50.) While the train tracks in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania weren’t picturesque, I have some beautiful woods and mountains outside my window right now.
My favorite cousin, Robb, is picking me up from the train station and fifteen minutes after I arrive, we have a reservation for great steaks and jazz in downtown Pittsburgh. Robb offered to let me use one of his cars while I’m there. (Question for the readers: should I ask for the Porsche or the truck? Yeah – it’s a trick question!)
Tomorrow, I’ll get to see my Great Uncle, Herby. He’s one of the most charming and positive people I’ve ever known. Even at 96, he’s still mentally sharp and is able to relay incredible stories about family history. Uncle Herby is doing great, but at his age there are only so many visits left. Again, the first part of my year of travel is focused on “who”.
I’ll be in Pittsburgh for five days. DKI Tax and Accounting Advisor, Michael Kliegman, will be joining Robb Fahrion and me for Monday’s 5 Things video episode. So, if you’re interested in the basics of short-term vs long-term capital gains, please tune in to that. I have research calls scheduled for Monday and earnings calls on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wednesday morning, I’ll be flying to West Palm Beach, FL where I’ll catch up with my best friend from nursery school, Howard Freedland, another DKI Board member. This morning, I got dates put on the calendar to connect with a few DKI clients who I’ve spent hours talking to on the phone but haven’t met in person. I’ll also get to see Tracy Shuchart (@chigrl) while I’m in Florida and am scheduled to appear on her NinjaTrader show in a couple of weeks.
I still expect Portugal to be my first non-US destination and I’m considering adding several additional locations to my summer in Europe. I’ll let you know when I know.
As always, I’ll be working and writing along the way, and if you have any questions or comments, reach out at IR@DeepKnowledgeInvesting.com. If you had a year to travel, who haven’t you seen in a while that you’d like to visit?
