#distance commercial moving san diego

[elitefurnituremoving]

How to Choose a moving Company-Reference

Moving house is pretty traumatic. You've just forked out thousands and thousands on a pile of bricks and mortar, got stressed over finer details thrown up by the survey and put up with delays caused further down the chain.

As if that wasn't enough, you've now got to physically move all of your belongings from the old pad to the new. If only you could get someone else to do this for you. Well, you can.

While this may save you lots of energy and exertion, how can you ensure you are choosing a trustworthy, reputable moving company? Undoubtedly some thought and research needs to go into this decision, as you are entrusting some complete strangers to move all of your precious possessions.

Examples of removal horror stories include hiring companies who are experiencing internal issues and infighting, so don't have their mind on the job in hand; irresponsible companies who leave a loaded truck unattended, resulting in the theft of expensive items; lateness; copious tea breaks; delays; and breakages.

One couple, who literally picked the cheapest company, said that the slack removals team didn't finish the job according to schedule yet still clocked off at usual time, leaving a half-loaded truck and the couple in limbo.

Another family mentioned how the removals company turned up and announced that they had underestimated the amount of items to move and to do so, it would cost more money. Knowing the family's hands were tied, the unscrupulous company conned the family out of an additional 3,000. Of course, companies like this are definitely in the minority but to ensure you choose a reliable removals firm, get quotes from several companies first, ask them about their experience, double check the contract and insurance documents and go with who you feel most comfortable with.

Another useful resource is by checking moving company reviews on a dedicated website. You can search by company name or, if you don't have a business in mind, look them up by location. The site will rate the removals company and often include testimonials from satisfied or unsatisfied customers.

Lastly, ask around for personal recommendations. Who did your next-door neighbour move with It may take a couple of hours to carry out your research, but it could save you a lot of heartache and money in the long run.

[bestbetmovers]

What Makes Reputable Moving Companies Worth Every Penny?

When it's time to move, whether across town or across the country, the thought of packing up all your belongings and getting them safely to your new home can be daunting. Many people opt for professional moving services to ease this transition. But what exactly sets a reputable moving company apart, and why are they worth the investment? Moving companies in San Diego or other locations offer a range of services designed to make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible. In this article, we'll explore the unique benefits these companies provide and why they justify their cost.

Visit website: https://bestbetmovers.com

[jamesvince9898]

Move Central Moving Company San Diego: Your Trusted Moving Partner for a Seamless Relocation

Introduction

Relocating can be a daunting task, filled with logistical challenges and time-consuming efforts. But with Move Central Moving Company San Diego, moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our expert team, years of experience, and commitment to exceptional service make us a top choice among moving companies in San Diego. Whether you’re moving locally or long-distance, we offer reliable and efficient moving services to help you every step of the way. Let us make your move stress-free, so you can focus on settling into your new home or office.

Why Choose Move Central Moving Company San Diego?

Moving is more than just transporting belongings; it’s a process that requires planning, organization, and care. Here’s why Move Central is among the best moving companies in San Diego:

Experienced and Professional Team Our team is comprised of highly trained professionals who understand the nuances of moving. Each member of our staff is trained to handle items with care, ensuring that your belongings reach your new location in the same condition they left in.

Wide Range of Services We understand that each move is unique. Whether you need packing assistance, furniture disassembly, or storage options, Move Central offers a comprehensive range of services to meet all of your moving needs. From full-service moving packages to simple transport solutions, we’ve got you covered.

Local Expertise As a leading San Diego moving company, we know the area well, which allows us to navigate efficiently and provide quicker, more effective service. From navigating local neighborhoods to understanding California’s moving regulations, our local knowledge sets us apart from other moving companies in the area.

Affordable Pricing and Transparency Moving doesn’t have to break the bank. We offer competitive pricing tailored to your specific needs and ensure that you understand every part of your moving estimate. There are no hidden fees or surprise costs — just clear, honest pricing.

Our Comprehensive Moving Services in San Diego

When you partner with Move Central Moving Company San Diego, you’re choosing a full-service moving company committed to making your relocation process smooth and efficient. Here’s an overview of our offerings:

Residential Moving Services Whether you’re moving to a new neighborhood in San Diego or relocating across the state, our residential moving services are designed to make your move stress-free. We handle everything from packing and loading to transportation and unpacking.

Commercial Moving Services Businesses have unique needs when it comes to relocation, and our team is equipped to handle commercial moves of all sizes. We understand the importance of minimizing downtime, so we work around your schedule to ensure a smooth transition.

Packing and Unpacking Services One of the most time-consuming aspects of moving is packing. Our team offers professional packing services that ensure your items are safely wrapped, boxed, and ready for transport. We use high-quality packing materials and techniques that protect your belongings.

Furniture Assembly and Disassembly Large furniture pieces can be challenging to move, especially through tight spaces or multi-story buildings. Our team is skilled in furniture disassembly and reassembly, so we can transport your pieces safely and reassemble them in your new location.

Storage Solutions Need to store your belongings temporarily? We offer secure, climate-controlled storage options in San Diego to accommodate short-term and long-term needs. Our facilities are designed to protect your items from damage, theft, and environmental factors.

Long-Distance Moving Services Moving across the country? Our long-distance moving services make it easy. We handle the logistics of cross-state moves with care and precision, so you can feel confident that your belongings will arrive safely and on time.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional San Diego Moving Company

Saves Time and Reduces Stress Moving can be time-consuming and stressful. When you work with Move Central Moving Company San Diego, you’re trusting professionals who know how to streamline the process. We manage everything from start to finish, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your transition.

Safe and Secure Handling of Belongings Our team is trained to handle items of all types and sizes, from fragile items to heavy furniture. With our expertise, we take extra precautions to prevent damage and ensure that your possessions arrive in perfect condition.

Efficiency and Professional Equipment Moving requires special equipment and tools. As a top San Diego moving company, we use the best moving equipment to ensure efficient handling of heavy or delicate items. From dollies and straps to protective coverings, we bring everything needed for a successful move.

Insurance and Peace of Mind Moving with Move Central means you get the added benefit of insurance options that protect your belongings. This added protection provides peace of mind, knowing your items are covered should anything unexpected happen.

What Sets Move Central Apart from Other San Diego Moving Companies?

Exceptional Customer Service We pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service at every stage of your move. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is available to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. We’re here to make sure you feel supported and informed from start to finish.

Customized Moving Solutions No two moves are alike. We tailor our moving services to meet your specific needs, ensuring that we provide solutions that align with your budget, schedule, and requirements.

Commitment to the Environment Move Central is committed to environmentally responsible practices. We strive to minimize waste by using eco-friendly packing materials and recycling whenever possible. By choosing Move Central, you’re working with a moving company that cares about sustainability.

Proven Track Record Our reputation speaks for itself. With numerous successful moves and satisfied customers, Move Central Moving Company San Diego has established itself as a trusted name in the moving industry. We’re committed to maintaining high standards of service for each client.

Planning Your Move with Move Central Moving Company San Diego

Initial Consultation The moving process begins with an initial consultation where we assess your needs, discuss any specific requests, and provide a customized moving plan. This allows us to give you an accurate quote and ensure we meet your expectations.

Moving Day Preparation Leading up to your move, we’ll guide you through the necessary preparations. This may include scheduling packing services, confirming dates, and providing checklists to help you stay organized.

Execution and Support On moving day, our team arrives on time, equipped, and ready to work. We coordinate every detail to ensure a smooth transition, from loading your belongings to carefully transporting and unloading them at your new location.

Post-Move Support After your move, we continue to offer support to make sure everything has arrived as expected. Should you require additional assistance or have questions, we’re only a call away.

Moving Company San Diego CA: Reliable, Efficient, and Caring

At Move Central Moving Company San Diego, we go beyond simply moving your belongings. We’re here to make your transition as seamless as possible by offering personalized services that fit your needs. Our dedication to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction sets us apart as a top San Diego moving company. We value each client, treating your belongings as if they were our own and handling each item with the utmost care.

[moverssandiegous]

At Movers San Diego, we combine local knowledge with professional moving expertise to deliver superior relocation services. Our experienced team handles both residential and commercial moves, offering comprehensive solutions including packing, transport, and setup services. We maintain clear communication and competitive rates while prioritizing the safe handling of your belongings.

Big or Small, We Move It All.

Website: https://moverssandiego.co/

Business Address: 2902 Dove St, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.

Business Phone: 16198535351.

Business Email: info@moverssandiego.co

[papismoving]

How to Find the Best Long Distance Moving Company

The relocation process can be stressful, tiring, and tedious – especially when it’s a long distance move. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make your move easier and less hectic. For starters, hire a good san Diego long distance moving company to take care of the heavy lifting for you. And to help you find the best one, we’ve compiled this list of top-rated moving companies that specialize in long-haul moves.

A family-run business, Papi's Moving is a local moving and storage company that serves both residential and commercial clients. Their movers can handle any type of move, from a small apartment to a large multi-story home or office. They offer comprehensive services, including packing, loading, transporting, and unloading. They also provide secure storage. In addition, their movers are experienced in handling specialty items, such as antiques and pianos. They are a member of the California Moving and Storage Association, and they offer binding quotes.

If you’re planning a move to San Diego, be sure to hire your movers well in advance. Most professional movers book up quickly, so if you wait too long, you may be placed on a waiting list or forced to pay higher rates. In general, it’s a good idea to hire a mover eight weeks in advance of your move date.

When it comes to finding a good san diego long-distance moving company, be sure to read reviews and ask for referrals from friends and family members. It’s also important to compare prices and services between several companies before making a decision. In addition, reputable movers will be upfront and transparent about their pricing, as well as be available to answer questions throughout the move.

Some san diego long distance moving companies offer additional services, such as cleaning and packing. Others offer insurance policies to protect customers’ belongings. These policies may include supplemental coverage for high-value items. Some san diego long-distance movers will also offer real-time tracking to allow customers to monitor the progress of their shipment.

The cost of a move to San Diego depends on a few factors, such as the weight and distance of the shipment. The average move within the city costs $500 to $6,400, while an out-of-state or interstate move can cost up to $10,000. To get an accurate estimate, visit a moving company’s website or contact them directly for a quote.

The movers at Papi's Moving are experts in moving, and they have been serving residential and commercial clients since 1927. They have a network of over 350 locations nationwide and are able to handle all types of relocations, including interstate and international moves. The company offers a range of services, including in-home moving, junk removal, and packing. They also offer moving and storage solutions, and their rates are based on the size of the shipment and the total distance.

[calimovingsd]

Beat the Stress With a Professional Moving Company

Moving саn bе a stressful event. Arrangements hаvе tо bе mаdе fоr travel, expenses, еtс. If thе mоvе іѕ job related, thе person moving іѕ probably pre-occupied wіth professional worries, like making a good impression оr just getting tо thеіr new work location оn tіmе. Whеn оnе throws іntо thе mix thе task оf having tо pack uр a house аnd load еvеrуthіng thеу оwn оntо a truck, thе аmоunt оf stress thаt thе person experiences саn increase. A professional moving company саn help decrease thе stress оf a mоvе.

Professional movers оftеn arrive іn teams, splitting uр thе task оf аn entire house іntо manageable portions. Large items аrе carried bу multiple individuals, tо reduce thе risk оf damage. Packing materials аrе supplied аnd utilized correctly tо prevent damage tо household goods оn thе drive tо thеіr new home. Thеѕе аrе аll things thаt thе homeowner оr renter does nоt hаvе tо worry аbоut аt аll іf thеу hire a professional moving company.

Thоѕе whо hire a professional moving company don't hаvе tо worry аbоut hurting thеmѕеlvеѕ frоm lifting ѕоmеthіng thаt іѕ tоо heavy fоr thеm tо lift оn thеіr оwn, nоr dо thеу hаvе tо worry аbоut running tо thе store tо track dоwn mоrе boxes оr packing peanuts іf thеіr оwn supply runs lоw.

Whеn a person leaves a home, thеу generally want tо leave іt іn аѕ good a condition аѕ possible, whісh іѕ especially true оf apartments іf a security deposit іѕ оn thе line. Untrained movers аrе mоrе likely tо damage аnd scratch walls аnd paint аѕ thеу maneuver large items thrоugh thе home. Thіѕ risk decreases wіth a mоrе experienced moving team.

Thеrе іѕ аlѕо a lot оf stress associated wіth keeping thе household goods safe аnd secure whіlе оn thе road. Nоbоdу wants tо open uр thе bасk оf a truck tо fіnd broken glass аnd chunks оf furniture еvеrуwhеrе. In mоѕt cases, thе traditional insurance thаt homeowners аnd renters carry іѕ nоt еnоugh tо cover damage tо household goods whіlе іn transport. Professional moving companies, оn thе оthеr hаnd, аrе specially licensed аnd insured tо cover just thоѕе types оf accidents.

Anуоnе facing a mоvе usually hаѕ mоrе important things thеу want tо worry аbоut bеѕіdеѕ getting thеіr stuff frоm point A tо point B. Family аnd professional obligations mау cut dоwn оn thе tіmе thаt a person moving саn spend dedicating tо thеіr mоvе. If a person hаѕ tо wait untіl thе lаѕt minute tо mоvе thеіr items аlоnе, thеіr stress level wіll nо doubt skyrocket. Thе fact thаt thе person moving саn саll оn a professional wіth verifiable experience, credentials, аnd references tо handle thе task оf moving іѕ usually еnоugh tо help thе person breathe a sigh оf relief. Letting a moving company work оut thе details оf packing, loading, аnd unloading leaves thе client wіth mоrе tіmе tо deal wіth оthеr details оf thеіr mоvе. Thіѕ іѕ especially helpful fоr families wіth children оr pets, whо wіll require a little extra attention durіng thе mоvе оut аnd mоvе іn process.

Contact US

Cali Moving & Storage

13899 Carmel Valley Rd #244, San Diego, CA 92130, United States

Phone: +16197642680

Email: info@calimovingsd.com

Website: https://www.calimovingsd.com

Company Hours:

Monday – Sunday:- 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

External Links:

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[eckertsmovingandstorage]

Whether you are planning to shift your office to a new city, or you want to relocate to a new state. In either case, it is best to hire a professional moving company to perform the task.

A professional moving company will offer their services at a very reasonable price. No matter how much luggage you have, you can always rely on a moving company to be there at your service.

[chrisbitchtree]

The One with the 700 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Ghost

Harringrove Harvest Day 3

Prompt - San Diego Skatepark at Midnight

2.3k - G

***

Steve hadn’t even wanted to go to San Diego. It’s not that he has any opposition to the place itself. In fact, he’s always wanted to see the west coast. It was spending unnecessary time with his dad that was bringing him down every time he thought about the trip in the weeks leading up to it.

But his dad had built it up to be some big boys’ trip, a real father and son bonding experience, where they’d do all sorts of fun stuff together, when he wasn’t showing Steve around his company’s San Diego office, with the intention of giving him a position there, so Steve actually started to get excited about it. But so far, his dad’s spent almost every waking moment in meetings, and Steve’s been left to wander around the city on his own once he’s released for the day.

He’s been in the city for a few days now, and his father is starting to ask what Steve thinks about making the move, but he’s still not sure. San Diego is gorgeous, full of fun and life, but Hawkins is home. He doesn’t know if there’s enough of a draw to pull him away from everything he’s ever known.

Steve’s twenty-one now, so his father had also promised to take him out tonight for some Halloween fun, but he’s ended up in yet another business dinner that Steve wasn’t invited to, not that he was hurt by that, so Steve’s tasked with trying to find a good time on his own.

Out from under his father’s judgemental eye, Steve decides to wear a costume, but he doesn’t have much time or supplies to work with, so he makes do with cutting some eyeholes in the white Egyptian cotton sheet that minutes ago was tucked neatly under the goose feather duvet. His dad can deal with the damages charge from the hotel. It’s the least he can do. He throws it over his head, takes a quick glance at his reflection in the mirror, and satisfied with how he looks, he grabs his wallet and room key and heads out, after scribbling a brief note to his father.

It's still early, so he decides to take a walk around the neighbourhood surrounding the hotel. The past two days, he’s gone right, towards the beach, so tonight, he turns left, away from the water. It’s a pretty commercial area, so he doesn’t see too many trick-or-treaters, but he does spot a few small witches and vampires walking amongst the older crowd making its way to the bar.

About six blocks away from the hotel, Steve spots a skatepark in the distance. He’s always thought that skateboarding seemed cool, but it was never something he’s gotten into. Nevertheless, he’s enjoyed watching people of all ages skate around San Diego.

The first thing Steve notices as he gets closer is a fellow ghost that somehow, despite the hinderance of their long sheet, is flying gracefully over the various ramps, and he finds he can’t take his eyes off them, whoever they are. After a couple minutes of watching the skater, seemingly unnoticed, they turn towards Steve and stumble, but they quickly recover, and Steve watches in awe as they do trick after trick.

***

Billy’s about to dip down into a half pipe when he gets the feeling that he’s being watched. A mainstay at the skatepark, and one of the best skaters there, if he says so himself, Billy’s no stranger to being watched, but this feels different. This feels like someone’s staring. Like they’re seeing right into his soul. It’s a little unsettling if he’s being honest. He scans the crowd around him as he skates, and he stumbles for a minute as his eyes land on another ghost.

They’re tall, at least as tall as Billy, if not taller, and there are pale legs and dorky boat shoes sticking out from underneath their sheet. They continue to track Billy, even after he recovers, their head, and consequently the whole sheet, moving back and forth as Billy skates around.

They’re still there as the crowd begins to thin, heading to bars and house parties all over the neighbourhood. Billy will be headed in the same direction soon. As the areas most in demand weed dealer, he’s gotta make the rounds, so he can make his best clients happy, but first he needs to talk to his fellow ghost and see what their deal is.

***

The other ghost is skating over to Steve. He knows he should have walked away before everyone else cleared out, but he couldn’t stop watching the skater’s graceful movements, and now they’re approaching Steve, probably to tell him off for staring. It seems to be a guy under there, if the bulk of their shoulders under the sheet and their hairy legs mean anything.

“Like what you see, Casper?” he asks, his tone mocking, but light.

Steve’s at a loss for words. He doesn’t know why, but he somehow knows that whoever’s under that sheet is beautiful, and it’s making his head spin. “Yeah,” Steve replies after a moment of silence, finally finding his voice. “You’re amazing out there. What do you think about teaching me a few things?”

“Wish I could, but I’ve got big, important plans,” the other ghost replies.

“Oh, yeah, of course,” Steve says, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. “It’s Halloween. Everyone but me has plans. I’m here with my dad. From Indiana. But even he ditched me…” Steve hates when he does this, this stupid rambling thing, when he’s nervous.

“How about you meet me back here at 11, and I’ll show you a few moves. Sound good?” He reaches his hand out from under the sheet, and Steve shakes it, nodding eagerly.

“I’ll be here!”

“See ya then, Casper,” the other ghost calls, as he skates away.

***

Billy works the parties as fast as he can, eager to get back to Casper, but it’s not as quick as he’d like, given that his buyers are a bunch of fucking potheads who’re chatty as fuck and moving at what seems like half speed. His sales are also through the roof tonight, which would usually be great, but it also means that he doesn’t bring enough weed with him, and twice he has to go back to his apartment to get enough to meet demand.

By the time he’s done, it’s almost midnight, and he’s worried that Casper will be gone by the time he gets back to the skatepark. Sure, he’d feel bad if he told anyone to meet him, then didn’t show, but it’s more than that with this guy. Billy feels some kind of connection that he can’t explain, one that goes beyond their use of bedsheets as Halloween costumes.

He hops on his board so he can get there quicker, and as he approaches, the park looks empty, and his stomach drops. He’s about to turn around and go home when he spots him, white sheet flapping in the moonlight, down at the bottom of the bowl, and a whole hoard of butterflies awakens in his stomach.

***

Steve’s about to leave and go back to the motel, feeling dejected, and a little stupid for getting so excited about a guy who’s face he’s never even seen, when he spots the other ghost approaching on his board, his sheet flapping behind him in the breeze. He moves to one side, so that the other man can skate down and join him, as graceful as ever as he comes to a stop right beside Steve.

“Hey Casper, sorry I’m late. I had some business to attend to. Was worried you’d already gone home. Glad you didn’t,” he says, a little softer, almost shyly.

Steve smiles, even though the other ghost can’t see him. “Me too.”

“So,” you ready to learn, the other man asks, pushing his board over to Steve. “Hop on.”

Steve does just that, moving slowly and carefully across the bottom of the bowl. When he starts to wobble, the other man grabs his hand, guiding him as he skates. Steve feels a jolt of electricity where their hands meet, and it runs all the way up his arm.

They make conversation as they move around, talking about what brought Steve here, and what the other man, whose name turns out to be Billy, does for a living. They discuss everything from friends to hobbies to favourite foods and colours, eventually abandoning the skateboard to just lay down on the ground, side by side, sheets still covering them.

Steve’s looking up at the stars as they talk, so he doesn’t notice when Billy touches his arm, playing with Steve’s arm hair, his hand eventually coming to rest on top of Steve’s. He leaves it there, and Steve feels the warmth of him, and a pleasant tingling sensation runs through him. He still hasn’t seen what Billy even looks like and he’s already dreading the end of this perfect night.

***

When Casper, whose name turns out to be Steve, tells Billy that he has to make a choice between moving back to Indiana or staying in San Diego, Billy wants to plead with him to stay, plead with him to give them a chance to actually get to know each other, but he’s worried that it’ll come off as desperate. Why should he really care if Steve stays. They only met six hours ago. But despite that, he fights the urge to tell Steve not to go.

“Can I see you?” he asks, chuckling at how weird that sounds.

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” Steve laughs, teasing.

They sit up, and at the same moment, they pull the sheets off themselves, taking a moment to soak each other in.

Quite frankly, Billy is speechless. Steve’s absolutely gorgeous, prettier than Billy could have ever imagined he would be, all sweeping brown hair, big brown eyes, and pale, mole dotted skin. “Holy shit, Steve,” Billy manages to choke out, almost in a daze.

“What?” Steve asks. “Is there something on my face?” He starts swiping at his own face, and it’s adorable, and Billy thinks for about the fifth time tonight that he’s falling for Steve. Falling fast.

“No,” Billy replies, smiling. “It’s just, has anyone ever told you you’re the most beautiful man on earth?”

***

Steve can’t help blushing at Billy’s words. Has he ever looked in a mirror before? He’s stunning, with his head of blonde curls, eyes as blue as the ocean, and a whole constellation of freckles on his cheeks. Not to mention his muscled, golden arms. He looks strong enough to pick Steve up and carry him. Or do a whole number of things with Steve’s body that just the thought of has Steve blushing even harder.

“There’s no way I could be the most beautiful man on earth if you exist,” Steve mumbles, ducking his head.

“Tie for first?” Billy replies, throwing his head back and cackling.

“Sure,” Steve nods, grinning. “Still can’t believe you were hidden under there. I’m a lucky guy.” He takes Billy’s hand in his own, intertwining their fingers.

“Can I kiss you?” Billy asks suddenly, like he’s trying to spit the words out as fast as possible.

“Please,” Steve gets out before Billy’s lips are pressed against his own.

They make out for what seems like hours, and Steve realizes quickly how much he loves the feel of Billy’s strong arms wrapped around him, his stubble scraping Steve’s face as they kiss. He was definitely missing out only being with girls before.

***

At some point, they come up for air, and just lay there on their sides, taking each other in. At some point they decide to go for a walk to get slushies, back under the cover of their sheets, their entwined hands swinging between them. Steve points out the apartment building where he’ll be living if he chooses to stay here, and Billy’s pleased to see it’s only about a 10-minute walk from the small house he shares with his stepmother and sister.

“We’d practically be neighbours, you know,” Billy points out, nudging Steve’s shoulder with his own. “In case a fancy, important businessman like yourself might have time to hang out with a humble drug lord such as myself?”

Steve snorts next to him. “I think I’ll be able to find time in my schedule, but if tonight is any indicator, it’s you that’ll be having a hard time finding time for me.”

Billy squeezes his hand. “For you, princess, I’ll always have time.”

Slushies in hand, they walk back to the skatepark. Billy could bring Steve anyway, to sit on the beach, or the pier, or even on the rickety lawn furniture in his backyard, but something just feels right about going back there. For better or for worse, that’s their spot now.

***

Eventually, the sun starts to rise, and Steve thinks he’d do anything to shove it back down, so this night can go on forever. He knows it needs to end though. His dad may not be gunning for father of the year, but he will start to worry eventually.

Reluctantly, they part ways, but not without another kiss and a hug. Before he turns to leave, Billy fishes a Sharpie and a piece of paper out of his backpack and wrote something on it before passing it to Steve. “My number. I’m not letting you get away that easy. Call me the second you decide whether you’re going to move here.”

It’s almost on the tip of Steve’s tongue to tell Billy that he’s already made up his mind, but it’s more fun to keep him in suspense for a while. Instead, he nods. “I promise I will.”

With that, Billy hops on his board and skates away, shouting “See you soon, Casper!” as he rolls off into the rising sun. He sounds sure of it, like he knows Steve will be back. Sure that this is the start of something beautiful.

[brattyfics]

Pairing: Miguel Galindo x Daya Galindo [Black OC]

Word Count: 4,681

Synopsis | Masterlist

Chapter One

On the last leg of a week-long trip to San Diego, Daya Galindo did her best to remain engaging, open, and approachable.

Along with thirty other members of San Diego’s elite inner circle, she occupied one Petco Park’s most expensive and exclusive Skyboxes. Many of her nights were spent in the same Skybox attending the Padre’s baseball games.

This time, however, the Skybox has been transformed into a ballroom of sorts. Several circular tables were spaced out in the large room, eight chairs provided at each. Simple but elegant centerpieces decorated the tables.

The $10,000 a night Skybox opened up to the empty stadium on one side, and a breathtaking view of San Diego’s skyline on the other side. The sliding floor-to-ceiling windows were closed, and Daya found herself missing the fresh air she enjoyed on game days.

Most attendees remained inside, adding to the suffocating feeling in her chest.

Her husband, commercial real estate mogul and serial entrepreneur, Miguel Galindo, was one of the few people outside on the brick terrace. He used the balcony to take a private call.

“You look so pretty!” Marcy Stevens, the wife of a potential business partner, complimented Daya in a chipper tone.

An eight-hundred dollar silk cocktail dress stopped just above her ankles. An equally expensive pair of nude heels complimented the deep red of her dress. The front was designed to cover her breasts, giving the illusion of modesty while the fabric hugged her curves, outlining her shape. Thin straps were tied intricately on the back of the low cut dress. The ensemble was on-brand for Mrs. Galindo, a perfect balance between sexy and classy.

The big, springy curls that framed her heart-shaped face, bunching around the top of her shoulders, were also on brand. Her makeup was done simply, shades of brown and gold to complement her features.

Marcy was right. She did look stunning.

Regardless, Daya did her best to appear humbled by the compliment. It wasn’t that she was cocky or arrogant. The truth was she had become numb.

“You too! I love your lipstick. What shade is it?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure.” The middle-aged woman considered it for a moment before ruffling through her compact.

With a bright smile, she held the tube of lipstick up victoriously. She passed it over to Daya to inspect.

After pretending to take note of the brand and shade in her mind, she passed the tube back to Marcy. “Thank you.”

She couldn’t care less what shade of lipstick the woman wore, but the name of the game was flattery. Fundraising galas, country club banquets, and art exhibits had all become a blur of polite one-liners one after the other.

“It’s so nice to see you.” She lied even when it wasn’t.

“We have to have dinner and drinks soon.” She said to be polite, even when she’d rather not spend her time discussing the newest fashion releases with bored housewives.

“How are the kids?” She asked, although she had no interest in listening to parents ramble on about how great their mediocre children were.

“I love your dress. Who designed it?” Chances were she didn’t care.

A lively buzz of murmurs was standard for these events. Conversations flowed as freely as the champagne. Whether it was to foster relationships or just pass the time, people desperately spewed out the words like they would die if they couldn’t get it all out.

The constant chatter annoyed her, but Daya was able to connect with almost anyone on some level.

She knew a little bit about a lot of things, so conversations about sports, stock-trading, or even spa treatments were right up her alley. She never would have imagined herself as the type of woman to participate in meaningless conversations daily, but alas, she was. Her experience as a member of California’s high society was a far cry from her upbringing.

Daya Galindo was born Dayana Sims inside a community hospital in Hawthorne, California. Her mother, Denise Sims, settled in Cali sometime during her pregnancy. Denise didn’t talk about her life before Daya much. Her daughter knew almost nothing about her mother’s family or her reasons for moving to California. She didn’t even know her dad!

Daya was as inquisitive as any kid. She often wondered about him—who he was, what he looked like, where he lived, and if he ever thought about her. Her mother shut down any questions about him. The answer was always ‘stay in a child’s place’ or ‘grow up and let it go’. That was her mother’s response to anything uncomfortable, and inadvertently she taught her daughter to shrink herself to avoid conflict.

It was one of many bad habits that years of expensive therapy hadn’t completely fixed.

Denise had also taught her daughter to not form attachments. They moved around a lot when Daya was young. Most times it was only a few cities over, but each time she left someone behind. There was no explanation for why. That’s just how it was. She made it through her teens and early twenties without feeling the need to set down roots.

Her husband, Miguel, changed that.

On paper, Miguel Galindo was everything any woman would want in a husband. He was wealthy, smart, handsome, and charming when he wanted to be.

An honors graduate of Stanford, he quickly established a name for himself in business. Fresh out of college, he moved to New York and started a career in luxury real estate. From there, his interests transferred to commercial properties, and thus the entrepreneur in him was born. Miguel now owned successful businesses on both the East and West Coast.

When Daya met Miguel, he was new to Santo Padre and adjusting to his new lifestyle. The man who raised him died, and his mother, Dita was a wreck. Miguel vividly remembered the sounds of Jose beating Dita a room over, and the way he viciously chose his words to cut her down. Everyone thought she would be excited to start the next chapter of her life without him, but Dita took his death the hardest.

Becoming the man of the family meant his own complicated relationship with Jose was put on the back burner. His mother needed him, and the family business desperately needed tending to.

As the couple’s only child, he was the obvious heir. Regardless of his feelings about it, it was inevitable. Miguel’s future had been decided before he was even born.

Through the crystal clear glass, Daya watched Miguel’s face contort in annoyance. With a quick wave of his hand, he gestured for his head of security, Nestor Oceteva, to join him at his side. A few words were uttered between them before they were making their way inside. She expected Miguel to rejoin her at the table, but instead, he made a beeline for the elevators.

She was a little concerned, but not alarmed. If anything had gone seriously wrong, Miguel would be by her side, excusing them for the evening. He probably just needed more privacy.

Daya stepped up in his absence, focusing on the Stevens’ project in front of her.

Tom Stevens was Marcy’s husband and the owner of a chain of hotels in downtown San Diego. Property value in San Diego was higher than ever and steadily increasing, which made the hotels a worthy addition to Miguel’s portfolio.

An epiphany inspired Tom. He was passionate about the hotels because he built them from the ground up, but he realized his passion was better suited for home.

Marcy was a forty-something widower who decided to give love another chance with Tom. He was ten years her senior and even more unlucky in love, but he didn’t let his previously failed relationships stop him from trying again. The couple were newlyweds, and it showed with the way they giggled and grinned at each other every few seconds. It was cute watching them interact like love-struck teenagers.

Daya and Miguel had their moments, of course, but what they had was much different than the Stevens’. The young couple had gone through their rough patches and made it out on the other side, but the newlywed glimmer was definitely gone. Tom and Marcy were still open to each other and hopeful for the future. Willfully naive in Daya’s opinion.

No, what she and Miguel had was much more complicated. Neither of them trusted anybody completely, even themselves.

In between light conversation, she admired the night sky. In the distance, she could see the top of their hotel. It would be at least another hour before she could go back there, sinking into the king-sized mattress for the night. The Egyptian cotton sheets were calling her name.

“I was out in Brawley the other day, and I saw some of your signs up. What are you guys working on out there?”

If she remembered correctly, it was Luke that was speaking to her. Daya turned in her chair to face him as she responded.

Mama always said, “A woman’s work is never done.”

Another fifteen minutes passed before Miguel rejoined them, the vein in his forehead also present and in attendance.

Daya took a quick glance over her shoulder in search of Nestor. He wore a similar expression, confirming her suspicions.

They hadn’t resolved the problem.

Her hand found her husband’s thigh, softly stroking the strong muscle through his slacks. They sat close enough to the table that the movement was hidden. She smiled at him innocently when his eyes found hers for a second, a clear warning behind them.

A young woman with toffee-colored skin, and a short coiled Afro, approached the table, introducing herself as Eva.

Daya scanned her slim frame in the bright green dress she wore while Marcy explained how they met. Seven months ago, while volunteering at Skid Row, apparently.

Tom stood to offer Eva his seat, hand resting on the back of Marcy’s chair.

Eva talked about her non-profit organization, speaking passionately with her hands about what needed to be done to eradicate poverty. She shared her personal experience with homelessness, and how it shaped her life.

The expression on everyone’s faces said they were listening intently, but Daya knew better.

Millionaires didn’t care about poverty, because their wealth depended on it.

Daya had never been homeless, but she had been poor, and it wasn’t fun. Helping to dismantle capitalism was the last thing on her to-do list. She knew it was selfish, but she didn’t care.

While Eva spoke, Daya’s fingers inched up her husband’s thigh. She wasn’t surprised to find he was already half ready for her, his length thickening underneath his expensive slacks.

Miguel leaned over to whisper in her ear, the hairs of his beard just lightly tickling her ear.

“Watch yourself, conejita.”

The words sent a chill down her spine, but she didn’t remove her hand. Shifting in her seat, she crossed her legs in a poor attempt to dull the subtle throb below.  

To her left, Luke asked Eva a question, diverting everyone’s attention to him. Daya used it as an opportunity to push her man further.

“Or what, papi?” The term of endearment rolled off her tongue with ease.

“Keep it up and you’ll find out.” He whispered through clenched teeth, speaking without moving his mouth. It reminded her of a mother scolding their child, and she resisted the urge to laugh.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” She warned Miguel, tapping his knee patronizingly.

Miguel’s arm came up to rest on the top of her chair, and his head dipped to whisper in her ear once more.

“Brat.” The word triggered something in her, and she bit the inside of her cheek.

A better woman would be annoyed by the nickname, or even insulted. Along with other words a wholesome woman wouldn’t appreciate, brat was a term of endearment between them.

Daya straightened, trying to clear her mind of dirty thoughts. The heated looks they were giving each other weren’t appropriate for the topic of discussion.

When she and Eva made eye contact, she nodded politely. When the woman stopped speaking, she would need to have something of substance to add to the conversation.

“Are you ready to go?” Miguel asked his wife, hand resting on her hip. She sighed with relief at his words.

The two of them had left the table under the guise of socializing, only to slowly make their way out onto the balcony.

"I've been ready. I hate to say it, but Marcy is working on my last nerve." Daya groaned as she remembered how Marcy kept her locked down for the past forty minutes. She had left the woman inside, and she hoped Marcy had found someone else to occupy her time.

"I don't know how many more fake bathroom breaks I could have taken before she noticed it was just to get away from her."

Miguel smirked at his flustered wife. She had a good poker face and tried to sell that nothing could face her. It was always a little entertaining to see cracks in her facade.

“I just hope this is all worth it. I have a headache from listening to everyone talk, and I can feel blisters forming on my feet.” She complained, pouting up at him.

Miguel dropped a quick kiss to her lips in apology before sparing a glance at her feet. "You don't have blisters, honey."

“You don’t have blisters, honey.”

“How do you know?”

Daya’s eyebrows raised, challenging him.

“I just do.”

“Well, how about you inspect them tonight when you’re massaging them?” She asked in a sweet tone.

Miguel laughed.

“Is that your way of asking for a foot massage?”

Daya nodded.

“Come on, loca. Let’s say our goodbyes, so we can get out of here.”

Locking hands, the couple began the slow process of trading goodbyes and promises for later dates. Another fifteen minutes later, they made it outside into the chilly night air, the California breeze kissing their skin. Daya was more than relieved to see the fleet of black SUVs that waited for them.

Nestor Oceteva stood by the truck in the middle, opening the back door for them. “Thank you, Ness.” Daya told him, accepting his help up into the vehicle.

A driver and Nestor's second-in-command and cousin, Antonio Oceteva, occupied the front seats. Daya greeted them both warmly as she crawled across the leather seats.

"I can't wait to get out of these shoes." She said to no one in particular.

With no answer, she slid across the seat to see what the hold up was. Miguel stood outside of the car, several feet away. In a heated tone, he and Nestor discussed something she couldn't make out.

Antonio turned around in his seat to stop her, hand stopping just before it touched her knee. She eyed his hesitant hand for a moment before she met his eyes. Neither of them spoke for a moment.

Antonio was all business when he gathered himself to speak. "He'll be with you shortly, Mrs. Galindo." She huffed in response.

Daya craned her neck to look out of the window once more, but it didn't do much good. From her vantage point she could see that Nestor wasn’t happy, but not much else.

"What's going on?" She asked Antonio catching his hazel eyes in the rear view mirror. He didn't look worried, and that helped to soothe her some. At the same time, she knew it could just be his military training at work.

"I'm not sure, ma'am." He spoke in an even tone, giving nothing away. She thanked him but continued to look out of the window.

Daya didn’t need to know every single gory detail, but Miguel knew she hated being left in the dark. It created distance between them and made her feel shut out.

She could almost hear her therapist telling her to slow down and think. Logically, she knew Miguel meant no harm, but it reminded her of her childhood, making her feel small and insignificant.

He found her in the backseat with her arms crossed, eyes closed, and heeled feet tapping impatiently against the floor of the car.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, mi amor.” With a simple nod, he signaled for the driver to take them to the hotel.

His warm hand found her belly, holding her there while his tongue slipped past her pouty lips into her mouth.

She responded the way he expected, melting under his touch. Soft hands cupped his face, deepening the kiss. His hands slid down to rest on the curve of her ass as she leaned into him. With each movement, Daya felt less tense. Several moments passed before they broke apart.

“What’s happening?” Daya asked, breathless from the kiss. Her eyes scanned Miguel's face for answers.

“It’s nothing you should worry yourself about.”

Miguel’s hands roamed her body, but she knew it was a distraction.

There’s a saying, “You either tell your wife everything, or nothing.”

Miguel often found himself stuck somewhere in the middle. There had been a time where he told her almost everything. Now, he operated on a need-to-know basis.

“That’s your favorite thing to say these days.” Daya said it with a smile, but her eyes told a different story.

“I didn’t mean it that way, mi alma. I just mean it’s not important enough to bother you with. I’m going to take care of it tonight, and then it’s done.”

“You’re leaving tonight?” She didn’t bother to hide that she was upset anymore.

The couple had spent the last three days in San Diego, occupying the penthouse suite of a downtown hotel. Their home was located in Santo Padre, a small border town on the outskirts of Calexico, two hours away from San Diego. Miguel had several meetings in San Diego during the week--with Tom, one of his lawyers, and the event. It just made more sense to stay in town for the week, rather than make the trek back and forth.

“I know I promised, but...yes. I have to take care of this tonight.”

The young couple had agreed to use the few days as a mini-vacation to recharge and spend quality time together. He had kept his promise so far, but she wasn’t happy their time together would be ending early.

“I understand.” Business came first. Always.

“Don’t be like that.”

“I’m not being like anything. I said it’s fine.” She pushed down the anger she felt bubbling in her chest. “Seriously, I’m not upset. There’s no point. You’re still going to do what you have to. Right?”

He nodded, watching as she checked out of the conversation. She faced the window, staring out of it at the blur of lights.

“Do you want to go home? If that will make you more comfortable, they can take you tonight.”

“No. I’m okay. I don’t want to be on the road in the dark." She told him with a grimace. "I’ll find a way to entertain myself.”

The blur of neon lights transitioned into shades of shadowy grey as they entered the parking garage of the hotel.

“Nestor’s going with me, but Antonio will be here along with…” Daya tuned out as he named the guards that would stay in San Diego with her.

“They’ll take you home in the morning.” She nodded, gathering her bearings as the driver parked.

“Will you be there?”

“I’ll try.” She was disappointed in his answer, but at least he wasn’t getting her hopes up.

Antonio opened her door, and she accepted his warm, calloused hand as she stepped out of the vehicle.

Miguel met her halfway at the back of the truck, opening his arms for a hug. She stepped into them, the smell of his signature cologne washing over her. It relaxed her, and she forced herself to enjoy the moment. She was annoyed at her husband, but she loved him and wanted to appreciate every moment with him.

“Be good.” He whispered in her ear, tone gentle, but serious.

“I can’t make any promises.”

Antonio averted his gaze, turning his back to them. Nestor and the guards followed, choosing instead to focus on different parts of the garage. There were plenty of shadows for a person to hide in, and the couple needed privacy.

Miguel’s arms tightened around her waist, squeezing to let her know he was serious.

“You heard what I said.”

Before she could get a smart response out, she felt his manhood poking against her belly. Miguel wasn’t a tyrant, but he liked to play King of the Jungle sometimes; backing her into corners, and giving her silly ultimatums that he knew she’d rebel against. It was a fun game because it elicited a carnal response in both of them to fight for dominance.

“Be good or else I’m going to have to spank this fat ass.” She gasped as his hands cupped her ass. He squeezed the fat in his hands before jiggling it.

Daya moaned quietly, pinching her plump bottom lip under her teeth.

“You’ve told me what’s behind door number one. Now, what do I get for being a good girl? ‘Cause I have to say door number one doesn’t sound so bad right now.”

He pretended to think, cocking his head to the side. “What’s the saying, ‘happy husband, happy life’?”

Daya pressed a kiss to his chin. “That’s definitely not the saying, but fine. I’ll be good, but you owe me a foot massage for skipping out early.”

“I thought I owed you one because of the heels.”

“Thanks for reminding me.” She would also have to pack his luggage for him. “Three. You’re in the hole for three foot massages, mister. I expect full payment by the end of the month. Got it?” There were plenty of people with better massage skills than her husband, but for some reason, they felt better when they came from him.

“I have no idea how you calculated three, but yes ma’am. I miss you already, conejita.”

Her arms circled his neck, pulling him for a kiss. “I miss you more."

Years of learning each other made it so they were in sync when their lips met, stoking fires in each other that wouldn't be extinguished any time soon.

“I. Love. You.” She told him in between greedy pecks. “Call me when you get a chance, ‘kay?” He nodded, understanding she meant for him to call when he reached the border. She would probably be asleep by the time he made it there, but it made her feel better when he checked in.

“I love you too.”

Entering the luxurious penthouse suite, the first thing Daya did was free herself from the designer death traps disguised as shoes.

There were plenty of amenities for her to enjoy— a jacuzzi style bathtub, and a spacious balcony with a breathtaking view of the bayfront. She intended to make the most of her time alone.

After assuring Antonio she was in for the night and wouldn't need his services, she stripped down to her birthday suit and ran a bubble bath.

The purple bottle was nearly finished from all the bubble baths she'd taken during the week. Whiffs of the lavender essential oil flowed up through her nose as she eased herself down into the rectangular tub. Powerful jets massaged her aching muscles with hot water, washing the day away.

Her hair sat in a messy bun on top of her head, loose strands clinging to her neck. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her hair puffed up with frizz, but she didn't let it bother her.

Old school R&B played on her phone. She could barely hear it over the sound of the jets, but she crooned right along with the singer enthusiastically.

Eventually, the water was too cool to stand and she was forced to get out. With wrinkled palms, she dried herself off with the fluffy white towel.

Wrapping it around her midsection, she settled into the low chair of the vanity. It took some time, but she carefully removed her makeup and moisturized her skin.

Staring at herself in the mirror without all the bells and whistles was always a little humbling. It felt dramatic, like she was in a cheesy coming of age movie or something, but it was eye-opening. So much of her time was spent pretending for others—dressing her body up, and her personality down.

The exclusive parties and expensive accessories were fun, but they weren't everything. Most people that came across her thought she was superficial, but in reality, she was the opposite. She would never be able to convince them otherwise and that was fine.

The people that knew her understood her, and that was all that mattered. She had a close-knit, but complicated relationship with her friend group. Most of them had known each other for years, so there were layers to their relationships.

Daya, her very best friend, Ariel Castillo, and Ezekiel Reyes made up the core group.

The three of them met freshman year when Daya moved to Santo Padre. Along with the pressures of going to a new school, she had to deal with being the small fry in a group of big fish. Ariel and Ezekiel had been there to make the experience bearable. They connected through honor classes and bonded over their shared desire to go somewhere else, and be someone different.

Miraculously, all of them ended up stuck in Santo Padre.

Ariel received a full-ride scholarship to UCLA. She made it through the first year and a half, completing all her core courses, but then her father got sick. She came home to take care of him, but couldn't bring herself to leave again when he got better. So she settled, forgot her dreams of being a surgeon, and went to nursing school. Ariel was great at her job, the best Santo Padre Medical had to offer, but it hadn't been her dream.

Ezekiel hadn't even made it through his first year of college when his mother was shot and killed in his father's store. Her unexpected death made him spiral, sending him on a witch hunt to find out who was responsible. One thing led to another and he made a fatal mistake that ended him up in prison for eight years.

Daya never left Santo Padre for college. She was good with academics in high school, but always had a passion for art. Her mother didn't have any money to put towards college, and she wasn't particularly excited about spending another four years in school. So, she did what she was good at, designing web pages for business owners around Santo Padre. 

It didn't pay great, but it allowed her to make connections. People were impressed with her work and shared it with their friends and partners. With a stroke of good luck, she was able to form the connections and save the money to start her own web development and design company. In thirteen years' time, she expanded the business across California from Santo Padre to Los Angeles, becoming one of the most popular and successful in its industry. Daya had touched more money than she ever thought possible.

She had traveled for a while, creating new stations took time and a lot of energy. In between, she went on trips out of the country, learning about new cultures and customs. It was hard to do with a growing business, but the experiences were worth it.

Eventually, she met Miguel, a kindred spirit who wished to be anywhere but Santo Padre. It was ironic that it was the very place they were both forced to settle. Miguel out of duty, Daya out of love and stability.

People came to Santo Padre from the north, south, east, and west.  From Northern Cali, Arizona, or Mexico. The quaint town was like a vortex, drawing people towards it from all sides. Most were smart enough to pass through, but those that stopped stayed forever.

GENERAL TAGLIST:

@woahitslucyylu @briannab1234 @sheeshgivemeabreak @breakingnewsin-no-oneasked @angelreyesgirl @blessedboo @glimmerglittergirl @apantherinmypastlife @brownsugarcoffy @marvelmaree @starrynite7114 @scuzmunkie @thewarriorprincessxo @ifoundmyhappythought @sadeyesgf @pearlkitten33 @imanerdychubbyqueen @literaturefeen @thesandbeneathmytoes

“DEARLY DEPARTED” TAGLIST:

@buttercup812 @princesscornbread @oa-zidan @tian-monique​ @lovebennycolon @aria725​

[gregcortezz]

Shipping Container Home Storage Ideas

Using self storage units provide a great option for people to hold onto keepsakes with sentimental value and other personal items, while not having to buy a larger property. The “4Ds of life” – death, divorce, downsizing and dislocation – are facts of life and create a major disruption in our lives. Changing life situations can force someone to live in limbo for periods. They may need to move households and need a space to buy new shipping container store their belongings until they can settle into a new, more permanent situation.

Shipping container self storage may offer them a secure place to keep their possessions until they can get settled into a new place.

In the USA, self storage statistics report that nearly 10% of American households need additional self storage and spends an average monthly cost of $87.89 for a self-storage unit. Nationally, the number of storage facilities ranges somewhere between 45,000 to 60,000.

The 10 most in-demand USA cities for self-storage units. Rank City, State 10 Miami, FL 9 Brooklyn, NY 8 San Diego, CA 7 Las Vegas, NV 6 Phoenix, AZ 5 San Antonio, TX 4 Chicago, IL 3 New York, NY 2 Los Angeles, CA 1 Houston, TX

How much does it cost to rent commercial self storage space vs buying a shipping container? Of course, the answer to this question depends a lot on your specific needs. At commercial self storage facilities, 10’x10′ is the most popular storage unit size, which measures one-hundred square feet and might compare to approximately half the size of a regular garage. A general guideline is that the 100 square foot space will fit the contents of a two-bedroom apartment.

The smallest units average about $50 per month. Much larger spaces cost upwards of $300 per month. Some storage businesses require a 12 month contract to be signed. When you buy a shipping container for self storage you have a one time cost and you own the container forever. If you don’t have an available space to store your container, you possibly may need to rent a small space on a property that is located at a convenient distance to you.

Are shipping containers your best choice for self storage? Most of the people who buy an empty Conex container are using it to store furniture and other possessions that take up a large amount of space. Home based business owners like online sellers who store and ship inventory through websites like EBay, Gumtree and Craigslist find they need somewhere to securely store their products. Additionally, with less storage space (basements and garages) in condos, homeowners are looking for an easy and affordable self storage solution.

Why should we use shipping containers as self-storage units? A short answer: because of their design, construction, size and affordability. A little searching will show that you can buy a used shipping container for a really affordable price (we will address the details later in this article). By their very nature, cargo containers are made to be easily transported to whatever site you require. You may be looking for relocate the container for a household move, in which case it can just be picked up and follow you on your move. Even if you don’t have plans to move the container from one location to another, the containers can be set up quickly and all of your possessions moved inside for safe keeping.

Shipping containers are specifically engineered to be stacked, transportable, and are constructed from corrugated metal sheets that are welded together. The steel boxes are subjected to rigorous quality assurance tests for water resistance, and the ability to withstand moisture, the effects of salt and withstand extreme weather conditions.

Why do shipping containers make really great self storage units? Durability: Made of thick steel walls, strong and capable of storing bulky and heavy goods without damaging the interior of the storage space.

Watertight and Secure: Designed to withstand rains and extreme weather condition conditions during a sea voyage, the containers are in fact watertight against wet weather conditions. Their main function is to make certain that the contents remain dry and undamaged during their trip. Most shipping containers are made of a particular steel alloy called Corten Steel that is especially suited for outside weather conditions.

Vermin and pest proof. The containers are self-enclosed, with tight seals around the doors which prevents rodent and bugs entering and damaging your goods. This can be a problem in many storage facilities. These features combined offer solid security and added peace of mind with the confidence that your possessions are protected, dry and secure.

Low initial investment and low maintenance: Once you have set up your Conex box self storage, there is next to no ongoing maintenance or accumulating monthly rental costs. Buying a shipping container is a one time investment.

Long life expectancy: Shipping containers have a life expectancy of over two to three decades with minimum level of maintenance.

Security: Container entry is secure with a high quality pad lock on the doors and equipped with a special lock box. A “lock box” is housed inside a steel box welded to the doors protecting your padlock from being broken by burglar’s crowbar. Since your container is stand alone and not connected to other people’s storage units, you also have another protection against unwanted entry.

You can store a variety of goods inside. With a few important renovations (like insulation or the other suggestions later in this article), you can safely store almost anything from boxes, books, furniture, electronics without fear of moisture damage. Store larger items. With the ability to open the doors at both ends of the container, containers are easily accessible to store large sized objects.

Portability: Containers are designed to be easily movable, making them especially convenient for packing and for mobile storage needs.

Drive-up accessibility: You can pull up and park your vehicle directly at the doors to your container storage.

How do I choose the right container for storage? There are 2 main factors to consider: the grade or (the condition of how new the container is) and the size. One-Tripper or New Container These containers are brand new. Manufactured and shipped directly from China, having carried their first load of cargo. They will cost more and will be outfitted with new features like polyurethane floor coating, a pre-installed lock box, and handles and doors.

As-Is or General Purpose These are used containers that may have many miles on them. As the name “As-Is” suggests, this is a container purchased in its current, used condition. The cargo container walls may have dents, rust, flaking paint or punctures. The less than perfect condition will be reflected in a lower price. If you are storing spare mechanical parts on a vacant lot, a sparkling new container may not be important and you can save some money by buying a used Conex container.

The standard sizes of ISO shipping containers are: 8ft (2.43m) wide, 20ft (6.06m) in length and 8.5ft (2.59m) high ceiling 8ft (2.43m) wide, 40ft (6.06m) in length and 8.5ft (2.59m) high ceiling * Tall shipping containers called high-cube containers are available at 9.5ft (2.89m) high ceilings.

Contact us

145 S Spring St Suite 700 Los Angeles CA 90012 Ph: 6614122227

[useaglemoving]

Best Local Movers in San Diego | US Eagle Moving

Save time and money on your move. US Eagle Moving offers local, long-distance, and commercial moving services in San Diego, CA, and all surrounding areas. 

https://useaglemoving.com/

[bestbetmovers]

Moving Services San Diego

Best Bet Movers" offers unparalleled moving services in San Diego, catering to both residential and commercial clients. With a dedicated team of professionals, they ensure a smooth and hassle-free relocation experience from start to finish. Their comprehensive range of services includes packing, loading, transportation, and unloading, all executed with precision and care. Renowned for their reliability and commitment to customer satisfaction, Best Bet Movers is the trusted choice for anyone in need of moving services in San Diego. When you require seamless and efficient assistance for your relocation needs, look no further than Best Bet Movers for unmatched quality and professionalism.

[cecphotos]

Reach For The Stars in Joshua Tree National Park

Price: $950, $250 dollar deposit required, Optional Post-Processing After Workshop for $125 More details on pricing and deposit below.

Join me May 14-16, 2021 in Joshua Tree National Park for a multi-day immersive experience amongst ethereal Joshua Trees, amazing rock formations and dark skies. This unforgettable photographic experience will include four Golden Hours and two nights exploring the vast arid landscapes in one of the country's most interesting National Parks.

Scroll down for all the details

About The Workshop

During this workshop, I will guide you through Joshua Tree National Park while helping you to translate emotion and vision through our photographic medium. I am dedicated to providing the best instruction on all aspects of the art of landscape photography and night photography. Whether you are just beginning or are a seasoned pro, I am ready to help you move forward with your photography as all levels are welcome to participate. Together we will create an unforgettable photographic experience this spring by chasing light and capturing the early spring night sky.

Itinerary

Tentative Schedule:  Since this is a field workshop, we will remain flexible to weather and light conditions to ensure we are able to shoot during the most ideal conditions. The final itinerary with exact times will be made available on Day 1. Lodging, airfare, transportation, park fees and all meals are the responsibility of the attendee.

DAY 1: Friday, May 14th 6:00 PM Meet at Park Entrance (Meet and Greet) 6:30 PM Depart for Sunset Shoot 8:00 PM Depart back to Dinner and Rest For Astro Session 11:00 PM Meet For Astro Session

DAY 2: Saturday, May 15th

4:00 AM Move to Sunrise Location (if necessary) 6:00 AM Return To Hotel for Meals and Rest 6:00 PM Meet for Sunset Shoot 8:00 PM Depart back to Dinner and Rest For Astro Session 11:00 PM Meet For Astro Session

DAY 3: Sunday, May 16th

4:00 AM Move to Sunrise Location (if necessary) 7:00 AM Workshop Concludes for rest and easy check out of Hotels.

Transportation

No Transportation will be provided to, from or during the workshop. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation. Any car will be sufficient for our outings, but a vehicle with higher clearance may allow you more ease on some roads throughout the park.

Airports

The nearest airport is in Palm Springs, California

Los Angeles is about 140 Miles to the West

San Diego is about 170 Miles to the South

Rental Cars

Many options are available for renting a vehicle of any kind from either airport listed above. Any car will be sufficient for our outings, but a vehicle with higher clearance could make driving easier on some roads in the park.

Accomodation

Hotels:

There is no lodging available within Joshua Tree National Park. However, there are many places to stay in nearby communities. Please contact area chambers of commerce for information.

I would recommend staying in 29 Palms or just outside of the park towards the town of Joshua Tree. You will find lots of accommodations in both of those areas including hotels and AirBnB.

Camping:

Camping is very popular in Joshua Tree and campgrounds sell out quickly. Learn more about the nine campgrounds in Joshua Tree. There are also a number of options for camping outside of the park. Restaurants, Grocery Stores, & Picnic Areas:

There are no restaurants or grocery stores inside Joshua Tree National Park, but nearby communities provide these services. Check with area chambers of commerce for more information.

Joshua Tree has eight picnic areas: Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Live Oak, Split Rock, Cap Rock, Hidden Valley, Quail Springs, and Black Rock. Their locations are shown on the map here at the bottom of the page.

Remember: help us keep wildlife wild. Never feed wild animals. Store food in hard-sided containers or in your vehicle. Carefully clean up all trash and leftovers, even small crumbs.

Things to Bring

It’s always good to know what equipment you need. If you have any questions about the necessities I’m here to help, but here is a list of essentials and recommendations for the trip:

Equipment:

DSLR / Mirrorless camera and lenses

DSLR or Mirrorless camera is an essential tool to get the most out of the workshop and your photos

Wide Angle Lens - 12-24mm (Faster lenses are better for night photography, but not essential)

Mid to Long Range Zoom - 24-70, 70-200, 100-400 are great ranges to capture intimate scenes

Tripod (Sturdy as the Fall months can have very strong winds)

All filters you might have, a Circular Polarizer is a great tool

Remote / cable camera shutter

Needed for tack sharp images and long exposures

Several memory cards

You never want to run out of space for pictures. Bring several or empty at the end of the day

Spare camera batteries

Another thing you never want to run out of in the field. Bring several fully charged with you and charge over night

Head torch (for any night or low light walking and shooting)

Raincover for camera and camera bag cold come in handy in some rare cases of rain or high wind!

Small Camping Chair or Stool for comfort

Clothing Items:

Many layers -It should be quite mild to warm for our trip, bt May can still hold a few cold nights. Plan for warm days and mild nights

Gloves, Warm Hat, warm socks (If there’s a cold spell)

Sunglasses, Large Brim hat, and Sunscreen are recommended for the daytime

Hiking Shoes\Boots are recommended

FOOD:

Food, Water, and all other essentials. No Food or water will be provided before, during or after workshop; unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Plan ahead and have plenty of water available as it is very dry and can warm quickly on clear days.

Physical Requirements

Some hiking will be required, but the hikes will be around 1-2 miles at most. Most of the hiking is very flat and moderate in difficulty at best. Typically shooting is done within a mile of the car and most hiking should be generally light in elevation change. We’ll be sure to move at a fair pace and no student will be left behind.

Please make me aware of any concerns you might have about your physical abilities.

What is Included and Not Included

INCLUDED:

• Tuition • Expert instruction in the field with Chris Ewen Crosby • Video Introduction and Presentation Prior to Workshop • Guidance to key compositional attributes throughout the park

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights and transportation • Lodging • Meals • Park entrance fees • Travel and cancellation insurance

Payment, Fees and Terms

COST:  The cost of the workshop is $950 and includes everything listed in the “What’s Included” Section 

PAYMENT:  A non-refundable deposit of $250 is required to reserve a space on this workshop. The final balance of $950 is due and payable 60 days before the workshop begins. Full payment is due at that time or thereafter, and there will be no refunds on the full amount owed if you cancel after final payment. However, if another client happens to fill your space, you will receive a full refund, minus your non-refundable deposit. Payment(s) can be made using the Add To Cart button of this web page using a credit card via Paypal and Stripe. If you would like to pay by another method, use the contact form on this page to ask Chris about options for sending a personal check or bank transfer. 

COVID-19 ADVISORY:

In accordance with state and local public health organizations, Chris Ewen Crosby Photography & Samy's Photo School are following all COVID-19 related protocols. All participants will be asked to maintain social distancing protocols of 6 feet from anyone not in their household. Face coverings are mandatory for all. The class size for this event has been limited to only 5 students to further minimize the risks associated with COVID-19. Please do not attend this class if you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19 including fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste/smell, fatigue, diarrhea, muscle aches and headache.

Participants will be required to sign a COVID-19 addendum and assumption of risk form

CANCELLATIONS:  Cancellations require me to re-open enrollment and/or to engage in additional promotional efforts to fill the workshop on a short notice, therefore, my policy is that there will be no refunds of the deposit. The balance (minus the non-refundable deposit) is refundable up to the 60-day deadline. Thereafter, the balance is also non-refundable, with one exception: if we find participants to fill all canceled spaces and the workshop is ultimately full when it begins, then you will receive a refund of the balance within two weeks of the workshop’s conclusion. The deposit remains non-refundable. All refunds are subject to a 6% processing fee. I highly recommend that you obtain travel/cancellation insurance for all workshops to protect yourself against unusual circumstances.

PARK FEES: All attendees of the workshop are required to pay the National Park Entrance fees upon entry to the park and are not included in Workshop Fee. Further instruction will be provided to students prior to their visit.

Joshua Tree Entrance Fee - per vehicle - $30.00

This permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Joshua Tree Entrance Fee - per motorcycle - $25.00

This permit allows persons traveling on one motorcycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Joshua Tree Entrance Fee - per individual - $15.00

This permit allows a single individual traveling on foot or individuals traveling on one bicycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Joshua Tree Annual Pass - $55.00

Annual pass providing free entrance to Joshua Tree for 12 months from the date of purchase

Curriculum

Curriculum will be catered to each individual’s skill level and may vary from student to student. Below you’ll find some common topics based upon different skill levels.

BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE

I am a big believer in fundamentals in the development of any skill, photography is no different. I start all my workshops by ensuring that we have a good foundation to build on. Below you’ll find some sample topics:

Shooting in Manual Mode

Understand The Exposure Triangle and how each affects the image (aperture, ISO, shutter speed)

How to Meter and Expose for best results

Using light for better captures

Compositions made simple and easy

Understanding and using camera settings and menu options

ND’s, Polarizer and Grads - Which to use and when to use it

Tips and Tricks for easier workflows and shooting experience in the field

Photographing the night sky - Exposure, Focusing, Compositions

INTERMEDIATE - ADVANCED

Those who have a greater understanding of their cameras will get some more advanced shooting techniques to focus on light, location and making good decisions to make the most of the variables. Some advanced topics are listed below:

Exposure bracketing and blending

Focus stacking for depth of field and sharpness

Creative blending to bring the vision to life

Composing for interest, depth and focus

Time Blends for Night Sky

Conclusions and Expectations

SUMMARY

Your satisfaction, enjoyment and educational experience is important to me.  The goal of this workshop is to allow you to further understand your camera, composition and artistic expression while using the amazing landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park. I want to ensure that everyone comes away with great instruction as well as a great experience in nature. Most importantly, we are going to have fun! Having fun is a critical part of any good photography adventure. When you have fun, your mind is free to expand and learn.

POST PROCESSING

Post Processing is not included with this workshop. You can purchase an additional 3 hours of post processing instruction with this workshop that will be completed following the workshop. Editing is done via group video session in the following weeks from the workshop. It is recorded and available for download shortly after the session is complete. Instruction is given in both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Topics of post processing will vary upon your skill level. Common topics below:

Lightroom and Photoshop Workflows

Maximizing your RAW captures

Keys to clean editing

Stacking for depth of field and noise

Use of Luminosity Masks

Blending methods

Finishing an Image

and much more...

Learn More About Chris

Chris is a photographer and educator based in Long Beach, CA. It is a desire to teach, love for the outdoors, and photography which resulted in his role as a landscape photographer and educator. When not sharing his photography knowledge he can be found exploring nature’s beauty in his endless search for perfect light and discovery.

Learn More About Chris’s Workshops

Chris’s workshops cover a wide-range of photographic instruction and all its aspects, but also put an emphasis on having fun to enable creativity to thrive. Chris puts the emphasis your development as a photographer, incorporating infield fundamentals and cutting edge techniques to help you find your vision and bring it to life in post-processing. Whether you are just beginning or a blooming professional, Chris will help you to create meaningful and inspiring photographs while leading you down a path towards finding your own creativity.

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Headlines

Laura upgraded to Category 4 hurricane (CNBC) Hurricane Laura, a major Category 4 storm, is set to hit near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday morning as local officials scramble to evacuate thousands of residents. The storm’s rapid intensification shocked scientists and prompted forecasters to issue warnings of “unsurvivable storm surge” in Texas and Louisiana. “Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” The storm battered the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti over the weekend, knocking out power for more than 1 million people, collapsing some homes and killing at least 23 people. Laura is headed toward an area that comprises more than 45% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity and 17% of oil production, according to the Energy Information Administration. As of Tuesday, producers shut down roughly 84% of offshore production in the Gulf as many refinery plants along the Texas and Louisiana coasts shutter in anticipation of life-threatening storm surge.

Extreme weather (Washington Post) Across the United States, there are signs of climate disaster. In California, two of the worst wildfires in the state’s history took place simultaneously, scorching more than a million acres of land, including a beloved forested national park. On the Gulf Coast, residents of Louisiana and Texas braced for an unprecedented double-hurricane event churned up by exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the summer has already seen its toll of heat waves and heavy rains. Record-breaking temperatures in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad this July had my colleagues blistering their hands simply by touching the handle of an office door. The coastal Indian metropolis of Mumbai experiences seasonal flooding every year, but was hit by a year’s worth of rain in the space of a month this summer. Higher-than-average rainfalls in the past weeks led to an arc of destruction from central Europe to the Turkish Black Sea coast to southern China, where, in a grim omen, rising waters submerged the toes of a towering Tang dynasty-era statue of the Buddha that has stood for more than 13 centuries. “This year’s flooding has unfolded not as a single natural disaster, with an enormous loss of life and property,” noted the New York Times, “but rather as a slow, merciless series of smaller ones, whose combined toll has steadily mounted even as official reports have focused on the government’s relief efforts.” Experts are broadly convinced that a steady uptick in extreme weather events of recent years is at least in part the result of man-made climate change. “It seems like every year re-ups the previous year in terms of pushing the envelope, in terms of how much fire we’re seeing in the landscape and how severe that fire is,” Neil Lareau, an atmospheric scientist, told the Guardian about the California wildfires.

Lawyer says Blake paralyzed, protests erupt for 3rd night (AP) Jacob Blake, the Black man shot multiple times by police in Wisconsin, is paralyzed, and it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again, his family’s attorney said Tuesday. The shooting of Blake on Sunday in Kenosha—apparently in the back while three of his children looked on—was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, coming just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Some demonstrations devolved into unrest, including for a third night in Kenosha, where three people were shot and two people were killed during the protests overnight, according to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.

US crackdown on nonessential border travel causes long waits (AP) A Trump administration crackdown on nonessential travel coming from Mexico amid the coronavirus pandemic has created massive bottlenecks at the border, with drivers reporting waits of up to 10 hours to get into the U.S. An employee at a company that provides support for businesses with Mexican operations saw the huge lines Sunday night from his home in Tijuana, Mexico. A U.S. citizen, he lined up at midnight for his 8 a.m. shift Monday in San Diego and still arrived 90 minutes late. U.S. citizens and legal residents cannot be denied entry under a partial ban that the Trump administration introduced in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Going to work, school and medical appointments are deemed essential travel but going to shop, dine or socialize is not. The crackdown comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it surveyed about 100,000 travelers coming from Mexico by car or on foot and found 63% of U.S. citizens and legal residents traveled for reasons that were not essential.

Mexico struggles to get in shape (AFP) With martial arts training on rooftops, virtual exercise classes and outdoor workouts, Mexicans are getting creative as they try to slim down during the pandemic in one of the world’s most obese countries. Mexico has the world’s third-highest coronavirus death toll—and the government says poor diets and health problems including obesity, hypertension and diabetes are partly to blame. Social distancing measures mean gyms remain closed in much of the country six months after the outbreak began, posing a major hurdle to efforts to get Mexicans in shape. “It’s incredible that the bars are open and exercise is almost going underground, because there are gyms that open secretly,” Romero, a 27-year-old physiotherapist, tells AFP. Mexico has the world’s highest obesity rate among children and the second-highest among adults, according to the government.

German Town Fears Ruin by U.S. Effort to Stop Russian Pipeline (NYT) Sitting on the Baltic Sea, the small eastern German town of Sassnitz has been working for years to revive its enormous port, including taking on a role supporting a Russian pipeline being laid offshore to deliver natural gas to Germany. But the port, one of the last great infrastructure projects undertaken by the former East Germany, now finds itself caught up in a geopolitical competition between the United States and Russia, a clash that local officials and residents say is threatening the town and region with economic ruin. At issue are so-called secondary sanctions being proposed by powerful U.S. senators to target companies doing business with Russia and the Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom to finish the pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which is 94 percent complete. The port would fall under the sanctions because of the role it plays supplying provisions to a Russian pipe-laying ship involved in the project. The penalty, if the sanctions are imposed, would mean being cut off from the United States “commercially and financially,” and effectively excluded from the global financial system. The port would essentially be turned into an international pariah, with all its business drying up—not just its work supplying the Russian ship. To German officials and residents in Sassnitz, the sanctions against the port and the company that owns it, Fährhafen Sassnitz, are puzzling and infuriating. They threaten to turn Sassnitz into collateral damage as the town struggles to create enough jobs to keep young people from leaving. “They are firing their cannons at sparrows,” said Edgar Taraba, as he unloaded a morning’s catch of flounder and sole from his dinghy. “There is nothing left here to take.”

Greece battles coronavirus resurgence after early success (AP) Workers in bright yellow vests stand on the dock in Greece’s main port of Piraeus, greeting hundreds of masked ferry passengers with fliers and the occasional temperature check. “Would you like a coronavirus test? Yes, it’s free. Right over there, in the white structure, you’ll see the signs,” they tell disembarking passengers. Free on-the-spot tests for travelers returning from Greek islands where outbreaks have occurred is the latest in an arsenal of measures authorities are using to tackle a resurgence of COVID-19 in a country that has so far managed to dodge the worst of the pandemic. New localized restrictions, including a midnight curfew for bars, restaurants and cafes and a ban on large gatherings have been imposed, mainly in popular tourist destinations such as the Aegean Sea island of Mykonos. The number of confirmed virus cases and deaths in Greece remains lower than in many other European countries, but have been increasing.

France joins military exercises in east Mediterranean (Reuters) France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean amid a worsening dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy resources in the region, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. “The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception,” Parly said on Twitter, adding that it “should not be a playground for the ambitions of some.” Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankara’s actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean.

Army helicopters to pluck people from flooded Karachi city (AP) Pakistan’s military said Wednesday it will deploy rescue helicopters to Karachi to transport some 200 families to safety after canal waters flooded the city amid monsoon rains, displacing scores of people, officials said Wednesday. Although rains have lashed many parts of Pakistan, the southern port city of Karachi, located near the Arabian sea, has been the hardest-hit. Streets were flooded Tuesday with sewage water. Sewage and drainage systems in the city are outdated.

Indian lawyer in court over critical tweets (Foreign Policy) Prashant Bhushan, a prominent public interest lawyer from India, was due to be sentenced yesterday over two tweets he posted criticizing the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In one tweet, Bhushan accused Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde of hypocrisy after he posed with a motorcycle without a mask, despite having put the Supreme Court in lockdown due to coronavirus concerns. In the other post, he said the Supreme Court’s recent activity showed “how democracy has been destroyed in India” under Modi. The Supreme Court has called the tweets a “calculated attack on the very foundation of the institution of the judiciary,” but the case is emblematic of the authoritarian slide India has taken since Modi first assumed power in 2014.

Russian Evangelicals Fined for ‘Missionary Activity’ During Pandemic (Christianity Today) Anatoly Chendemerov was handing out tracts that said “You must be born again!” in the Volga Federal District in southeastern Russia. He was fined 6,000 rubles, the euqivalent of about $80. Sergey Krasnov was passing out Christian newspapers and New Testaments in Krasnodar, a city in the South. He was fined 5,000 rubles, or about $65. Seo Jin Wook, a South Korean, met with about 10 people in a private home in Izhevsk, in the Western Ural Mountains, to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. He told the people they should come back and bring friends. He was fined 30,000 rubles (about $400) and deported. More than 40 people have been charged with violating a Russian anti-missionary law in the first six months of 2020, according to a new report from Forum 18, a religious liberty news service based in Norway. Government lockdowns and pandemic stay-at-home orders did not substantially slow the multiyear crackdown on unauthorized religious activity. Russia passed a 2015 law that said all religious meeting places needed to be registered and followed it in 2016 with an anti-missionary law. The bill was labeled as anti-terrorism legislation, meant to prevent foreign extremist from exerting influence in the country. Local police, sometimes supported by the Federal Security Service, have fined roughly 100 religious people per year for practicing their faith. Baptists distributing tracts and Muslims teaching people the language skills necessary to read the Qur’an are prime targets, alongside ongoing efforts to completely rid the country of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

US-China trade disputes (South China Morning Post) China should weaponize its exports of medicines and drug precursors if the US cuts the country’s access to computer chips, a prominent Chinese academic and government adviser says, as supply chain security emerges as a key theme in the upcoming American presidential election. The United States is heavily reliant on imported medicines from China, something both US President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have vowed to address after the coronavirus pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s pharmaceutical and medical device supply.

With Hacks and Cameras, Beijing’s Electronic Dragnet Closes on Hong Kong (NYT) To get onto his Facebook account, the police used Tony Chung’s body. When officers swarmed him at a Hong Kong shopping mall last month, they pulled him into a stairwell and pinned his head in front of his phone—an attempt to trigger the facial recognition system. Later, at his home, officers forced his finger onto a separate phone. Then they demanded passwords. “They said, ‘Do you know with the national security law, we have all the rights to unlock your phones and get your passwords?’” Mr. Chung recalled. Emboldened by that new law, Hong Kong security forces are turning to harsher tactics as they close a digital dragnet on activists, pro-democracy politicians and media leaders. Their approaches—which in the past month have included installing a camera outside the home of a prominent politician and breaking into the Facebook account of another—bear marked similarities to those long used by the fearsome domestic security forces in mainland China. Not accustomed to such pressures, Hong Kong lawmakers and activists, and the American companies that own the most popular internet services there, have struggled to respond. Pro-democracy politicians have issued instructions to supporters on how to secure digital devices. Many have flocked to encrypted chat apps like Signal and changed their names on social media.

Workations in Japan (Nikkei Asian Review) Workations are a reliable way that Japanese companies are getting workers to relax in a new environment on the company dime, and also support a tourist industry that’s been devastated by national shutdowns. The Japanese government launched a 1.3 trillion yen ($12.6 billion) travel campaign, angling to get people moving around the country which saw a 99.9 percent year-over-year decline in foreign visitors in the four months leading up to July and business down at travel companies 92.9 percent in June. One solution has been basically a surge in corporate retreats, where companies will send groups of employees to work on the beach on the cheap to lift morale while encouraging some R&R, and the government is actively encouraging it. Japan’s domestic tourism industry struggles because most people tend to travel at specific times—summer and year-end—and workers take the fewest paid holidays of 19 countries and regions and just half their allotted vacation on average.

Outbreak in Gaza (Washington Post) The Gaza Strip has been under degrees of lockdown since 2007, when Israel and Egypt imposed blockades after the militant group Hamas took control of the impoverished Palestinian territory. The same conditions that make life a daily struggle there, and that have obstructed even the most basic preparations for the looming threat of a coronavirus outbreak, have perhaps made it harder for the virus to find a toehold. That could be about to change. The coastal enclave’s few points of entry were largely shut in March. But Tuesday, the territory of nearly 2 million people imposed a 48-hour lockdown after authorities reported the first four confirmed cases of the virus in the general population. For months, aid agencies have warned that the silent spread of the virus through the conflict-weary strip could be calamitous. Gaza has one of the densest populations on Earth, a collapsed health-care system, and small supplies of electricity and clean water. Health-care workers are bracing for further signs of a wider outbreak among already vulnerable communities.

[virtuous-homes-blog]

Invest in property

Last year's housing market was clearly one for the record books, with the gains partly driven by tightening stocks and exceptionally low mortgage rates. In some pockets of the country, housing prices climbed well over 10 percent on average. But, it's not only the big coastal cities which are seeing enormous growth. A survey from GoBankingRates demonstrated that many cities with the most growth proved inland, including: Buffalo, New York (34.6percent ), Atlanta, Georgia (24.54%), and Cincinnati, Ohio (20.6percent ). Bearing this in mind, you could be wondering in the event that you should throw your hat in the ring and invest in real estate -- or, in case you're too late. You might also be asking yourself if you should invest in property in a traditional sense -- as in, becoming a landlord. Now, here is the fantastic news. Not only is currently still a great time to invest in real estate since longer growth is probably on its way, but there are also more ways than ever to invest in housing without dealing with tenants or the other minutiae of landlord perform . Here are some of the best choices at this time: An exchange-traded finance, also called an ETF, is a set of stocks or bonds in a single fund. ETFs are similar to index funds and mutual funds from the fact they come with the exact same broad diversification and low prices over all. If you are angling to invest in real estate but also want to diversify, investing in a real-estate themed ETF may be a smart move. Vanguard's VNQ, for instance, is a property ETF that invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs) that buy office buildings, hotels, and other kinds of property. IYR is another real estate ETF that works similarly since it offers targeted access to domestic property stocks and REITs. There are loads of other ETFs offering exposure to real estate, too, so be sure to do your research and consider the options. A colleague of mine, Taylor Schulte of Define Financial in San Diego, says he swears by a real estate mutual fund known as DFREX. Why? Since its low expenses and track document help him feel confident about future yields. Besides low prices, Schulte says the strategy of DFREX is backed by decades of academic study from Nobel Prize winning economists. TIREX is another property mutual fund to consider with $1.9 billion in assets, broad diversification among real estate holdings, and low prices. #3: Invest in REITs Consumers invest in REITs to precisely the exact same reason they invest in property ETFs and mutual funds; they would like to invest in property without holding physical land. REITs let you do precisely that although also diversifying your holdings dependent on the type of property class each REIT invests in. Financial advisor Chris Ball of BuildFinancialMuscle.com advised me he personally invests in REITs for its diversification and for its"non-correlation" with other types of equities. He says that he likes the long-term data regardless of the typical mood swings and downs and ups of the real estate marketplace. "Additionally, it gives me exposure to property without having to be a landlord," he says. Ball also says a lot of his clients agree with that place and invest in REITs as part of the portfolio as a result. With that being said, I typically suggest customers stay away from non-traded REITs and purchase just publicly-traded REITs instead. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lately came outside to warn against non-traded REITs, imagining their lack of liquidity, high prices, and too little value transparency produce undue risk. #4: Invest at a property focused company There are a number of businesses that own and manage property without working as a REIT. The difference is, you'll need to dig to find them and they can pay a lower dividend than a REIT. Firms who are actual estate-focused can include resorts, resort operators, timeshare businesses, and commercial property developers, for instance. Be certain that you conduct due diligence before you buy stock in individual businesses, but this alternative may be great one if you need exposure to a particular kind of real estate investment and have time to research historical data, company background, and other details. #5: Invest in house construction If you look at real estate market expansion throughout the last ten years or longer, it's simple to observe that much of it is the end result of limited housing stock. Because of this, many predict that construction of new homes will continue to flourish during the next few decades or more. In that sense, it's easy to see why investing in the building side of this sector could also be smart. An whole industry of home builders need to come up with new neighborhoods and rehabilitate old ones, after all, so today might be a good time to buy in. Massive homebuilders to watch comprise LGI Homes (LGIH), Lennar (LEN), D.R. Horton (DHI), and Pulte Homes (PHM), however there are lots of other people to discover by yourself. #6: Hire a home manager Despite the fact that you do not have to purchase physical property to invest in property, there is at least one strategy that could allow you to have your cake and eat it, too. Many investors who want exposure to leasing property they could view and touch go right ahead and purchase leases but hire a property manager to perform all the heavy lifting. While he tried to manage his properties from a distance at firsthe ultimately chose to use a property manager to save his sanity and his gains. While he forks over 8-10% of gross rent to his manager, it was "one of the best decisions he's ever made" as a real estate agent, he says. "They take care of the rental property basics - minor repairs, vetting prospective tenants, collecting rents - so that I can concentrate on my career, family, and locating the upcoming lucrative rental property investment," notes Huffman. In that sense, he receives the benefits of being a landlord with the hard work. "Among the most crucial roles a home manager plays is that they work as a buffer between the renter and me," says Huffman. "I don't receive random texts, calls, or even emails from tenants in all hours of the night or day." The key to making sure this approach works is ensuring that you only invest in properties with enough cash flow to pay for a property manager and still score a substantial speed of return. #7: Invest in real estate notes Property notes are a sort of investment you are able to buy if you're interested in investing in real estate but don't necessarily wish to manage a brick-and-mortar construction. When you are investing in real estate notes through a bank, you're typically buying debt at costs that are well below what a retail dealer would pay. I've invested in property notes in the past via an individual investor I know who buys and renovates property. Thus far, my experiences have only been positive. However, I would conduct due diligence to be sure you know what you are getting into whether you invest into real estate notes using a bank or a property investor who is actively pursuing new possessions. #8: Hard money loans If you do not like any of those other ideas on this list but have cash to lend, you could also consider giving a hard money loan. My friend Jim Wang of WalletHacks.com says he's now investing in real estate with this strategy because he wants exposure but doesn't wish to cope with being a landlord. In addition, he says the ROI (return on investment) because of his time wouldn't be as great as other chances because his time is valuable. Hard money loans are essentially a direct loan into a real estate investor, '' he states. Wang offers property loans to an investor he understands in person, and he receives a 12% return on his money as a result. Wang says he feels comfortable with the set-up since the investor is someone he knows, but he isn't convinced he'd be comfortable with a stranger. In any event, hard money loans directly to real estate investors are another strategy to consider if you would like to invest in property but do not wish to manage a property and the frustrations that come with it. Last but not least, don't forget about all the new companies which have cropped up to help investors become involved in property without getting their hands dirty. Sites like Fundrise and Realty Mogul allow you to invest into commercial leasing or flipping houses and get money flow distributions in return. Investing with either business is similar to investing in REITs because your money is pooled with money from other investors that take advantage of the platform. The money you invest can be used to purchase residential property, commercial property, apartment buildings, and more. Ultimately, you receive the advantage of distributions and dividends and long-term appreciation of those properties that you"own." While neither company has been around for too long, they're doing well so far. Fundrise returned a mean of 11.4% on invested dollars in 2017 net of charges and 9.11 percent in 2018 after all, and you don't have to be an accredited investor to open an account.

[soullessbarber-blog]

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