In Search of the Other
By Claude W. Diamond J.D.

I Everyone seems to be looking for it!

Where is the other America? and for that matter if it ever truly existed where did it go to ? If its still available why is it so darn hard to find? Is it hiding from us. Where the heck did it disappapear too anywa ? You knew the place I'm taking about don't you ? Mayberry RFD, Hooterville, Green Acres and Mr. Hainey etc. Its also known as Main Street USA . (no I'm not taking about the mouse place).Take it from me it's a wonderful place to live. It was a place that most of us who didn't live there saw on TV all the time. Some of us were lucky to visit or even live there. It was the kind of place where everyone said hello to each other. there was no crime to speak of. In fact most folks didn't even bother to locked the door to their homes and cars . It just isn't necessary ; this was just a good Place to live where everybody new everyone else! and there were even remnants of long forgotten human qualities like trust and respect. OK, I give up. Where is it? We (CJ and I) began to look for the other America about eight years ago. We would travel to places like Riodioso, New Mexico, Prescott, Arizona and even Phrump, NV. You might be asking at this point, hey Claude ;I still don't get it ! what the heck do you mean by the other America ?

Definition: I just mean a place where I can live with my family and have a healthy environment with your basic scenic beauty, clean water and fresh air. There is no crime to speak of in my other America, however there is other an occasional rubbish infraction when the raccoons come out to knock over the trash cans. These are things we can leave with.

-Heck do places like this still exist ? Well the better half and I were determined to find just such a place. We had been living the last 11 years in Beautiful San Diego which is often called America finest city but the problem is that its still a CITY and all the urban problems that come with it. These include but are limited to crime, drugs, illegalS, mediocre schools etc BUT we do have the best all year round whether you ever saw anywhere. We had both spent a good part of our teenage and young adult lives in a small country town in northwest New Jersey good ol Lake Hopatcong (exit 28 off rt 80).

New Jersey Joke:I live in New Jersey

reply: Oh yea, what exit ?

She was the girl next door and I was the new kid on the block who just moved from NYC. This was a seasonal community and most people had government jobs at a nearby arsenal. The town had one hardware store run by the mayor, one Pizza place Editor Note:(man do I miss NJ Pizza, and around ten + bars (oops I mean taverns). My parents moved here because they wanted my brother and I to have a better environment than the streets of the City. They felt that there was something wrong with a childs environment when they found out that we regularly use a sewer and some well placed dog excrement as home base and first base. When I became a parent I finally understood their concern.

Well as they history only serves to repeat itself and CJ and I wanted the samething for our Kids; something in the country with a small town feel. A place where they could go outside and play, build tree houses, have snowball fights, pick wild berries and we wouldn't have to ever think twice about them when they go outside to play any time of day. We used the kids as our excuse but we really wanted the same thing for ourselves too. We bought tons of books on good retirement places and checked all the money magazines and Sunday color sections that dealt with smart places to retire.

Note:We're too young to retire but I figured that living near alot of retirees would be a smart idea since I have never been mugged by a senior citizen.

Ponder the following: Why would anyone want to retire from doing something they Love ? my work has always been one of my greatest enjoyment in Life .

We perused all kids of articles and video from chamber of commerce and travel magazines. I even subscribed to multiple state highway magazines at one time. The trouble with all the places that we found recommended were places was that after they have been discovered already. We wanted to find our own little "Other America" we knew that somewhere out there beneath a pale blue sky (love that song) was our future sanctuary.An escape oasis. All we wanted was Just one good place to live.

How do you find the Other America ?

We would always begin our search with as much reading material as possible and then arrange to take a vacation or business trip near the town. We are fortunate in that we have our own Success mentoring business. We consult One on One with individuals on how to achieve their own financial freedom.*

We understood a long time ago that we wanted certain things in our life. So we made up a success life plan. Just take the time to sit down with your spouse and get out a piece of paper. Now both of you write down what you each want out of life. Then compare lists and see f they can be consolated into a real and practical plan.

Here is what we wanted to accomplish in the following list:

A. A certain quality lifestyle that only would be accomplished by having a great income , (no bills and a bunch of Good ol Ben Franklin's in the bank)

B. We wanted a business where we had some control of our lives. I suffered for the dreaded disease AKA Ihatemyboss itis .

C. I wanted to work from a home office. I wanted to use a telephone and a concept that would work anywhere (thank you lease purchasing) Even small town of 500.

D.It had to be something we were passionate about and would be of benefit to help people achieve their financial dreams too.

Yes, I wanted it all and thanks to Max.( My Mentor) my dreams became my reality.

We looked at many places and came pretty darn close to making a decision but there was always something that Wasn't just right. Some of the towns were basically taken over by developers who were either grossly inflating the prices or building shabby (cheap} condo,timeshare and the Like.Other towns had been discovered by the masses and were quickly losing their Special character and the reasons that we were looking at them in the first place.

We came to the ultimate conclusion that we would have to find our own Camelot.So the frustrating search continued for several years. One enlightening day however we came to a startling and mutual conclusion. The seach was over and the answer was right in front of us. (talk bout missing the forest for the trees) We had been visiting a small sKi town on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rockies for many years. We would come here every Winter to Ski and in the summer to enjoy the Mountain air. In our wildest dreams we never envisioned ourselves living 9000 ft above sea level in a small VERY isolated ski town of only five hundred full time residents. It is located only an hour and a half from Denver and the road that gets you there is your basic white knuckle driving. The opportunity came along when we started some very subtle inquiries about available homes. Being a full time lease purchase investor/consultant I wanted the peverbial "good deal". Well luck is defined as when determination collides with a unrelentless energy (i.e you make your own luck) To make a long story short we found a beautiful 2 story home with a motivated seller and we decided to GO FO IT !p By this time you are awaiting with baited breath just Where this place is; Right? Well the initials are WP and thats all the hints this author will give . If you want to really know where this little oasis is am sure you will find it just like we did.**

As you are reading this article I am sitting with my better half on a swing on our front porch (beer in hand ) on a cool summer evening with the sun staring to go down and gazing at awe at the snow covered mountain peaks while the surrounded by pine trees.Those little dive bombing humming birds zipping around and the kids are play outside throwing the ball around (and not using sewer covers for home base) . I take in a deep breath of fresh mountain air and sit back in the swing with my arm around my best girl. I think I have found The Other America

* I had a Mentor years ago who got me on the right track. I was able to create security and long term wealth for my family. Today we have created one of the worlds most successful specialty success mentoring programs in the world. We have success stories everywhere. I would like to offe6 anyone reading this letter a free subscription to "Success Stories" by just calling (970) 726-7979

** Give up? Just give me Call. I'm a soft touch and can be bribe with Starbucks coffee or a slice of NJ/NY pizza for the location.