Be Prepared

Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008

“Congratulations.”

I heard this from more than one of my Mexican friends last Wednesday.

They were congratulating me on the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America...something they were genuinely glad to see.

I accepted their sentiments and good wishes. I was genuinely glad to see it, too.

Not because I think President Obama will magically make the trade deficit disappear, head off the global recession, and fix the fundamental problems with modern finance and economics.

I don’t believe he’s in a position to do any of that.

However, I can’t help but feel hopeful that something good will come of the historic election of the first black man to the highest office in the U.S. It’s too big an event not to get excited about, if nothing else for its effect on race relations in America.

That’s needed some positive change for quite some time, even if it doesn’t instantly restore the value of anyone’s 401(k) or make the banking system solvent without government intervention.

It’s also just pleasant to be an expat and have your friends and neighbors admire the choice you and your countrymen have made in a chief executive.

That’s hasn’t happened for a while, either.

I like to imagine that President Obama and the new Democratic majority his party enjoys in Congress might get the U.S. out of the economic and foreign relations ditch it’s in.

I’m a natural pessimist, and I like to tease myself with hope every now and then, just for a change of pace. This moment in history seems to warrant a little hope.

But I also believe that you always have to be prepared...you just never know for what.

Like so many of us living abroad, I’m prepared for a new dawn of hope and prosperity in the United States. I’ll help out in any way I can to make that happen, because like so many of us living abroad, I’m still engaged in and concerned with what happens back home.

But these are odd times, and things happen fast.

So, with hope in my heart and a hearty “thank you” for everyone who congratulates me on the dawn of a new day in America...I’m keeping my powder dry and my horse saddled.

Stay happy and healthy,

Dan Prescher
Publisher, International Living

Editor’s Note: Dan mentioned above that these are odd times and things happen fast...and right this moment, he is at the Live and Invest in Mexico seminar, where a panel of experts, from expats to financial advisers, have gathered in Merida to tell our readers just how to go about securing their investments and retirement...in a time when things are moving quickly and change is underfoot.

Next week, we will make all of this information—every tip, secret, and insider opinion from our dozens of Mexico experts and editors, people who live the life you may be dreaming of—available to the public. But you can reserve your Live and Invest in Mexico Review Kit at the LOWEST PRICE POSSIBLE...$149. This offer is available ONLY until midnight on Monday, Nov. 10. Reserve now and save more than 50% off the retail price.