INVESTMENTS ARE NEVER PERFECT

When our family lived by the river in Santa Clara, Utah we were in a continual battle with wolf spiders and cockroaches. Both are harmless but also creepy when you come across them in the middle of the night. Cockroaches are easy to kill with proper treatment but impossible to completely eradicate. Spraying for spiders is largely ineffective but fortunately spiders are cannibalistic so they do a good job of maintaining their own population. We usually found just one per room and if we killed it, another would take its place.
 
In our current home we have a new pest to deal with; scorpions. Initially this was almost a deal breaker. Most people are terrified of scorpions, but in time we came to gain an appreciation for the scorpions we share our property with. Being in the spider family, they too are cannibalistic so they assist us in keeping their own numbers down, but what we learned to appreciate about scorpions is they also eat everything else. In the six years in our current home we have never seen a spider, a cockroach, or even a cricket. We are active in our efforts to control our scorpion population, and they are active in controlling everything else. Launa now says she would gladly take a few scorpions over all the other pests.
 
We also have a vacation home in southern California. With the wet climate near the beach at that home, we are in constant battle with termites. The thought of termites brings fear to most desert dwellers, but termites love the moist beach air as much as we do and any homeowner within a few miles of the beach shares their property with those hungry little guys. Though we were upset at first, termites quickly became just another pest that you get accustomed to and learn to deal with.
 
Most people are constantly in search of the perfect living environment just as they are in search of the perfect investment portfolio. But neither exists. Every solution has its own “pests” to deal with. Those who are determined to find perfection in life are not only constantly frustrated, but even worse, they often fall victim to unscrupulous salespeople who purport to offer it.
 
We enjoyed our life in Santa Clara even though we dealt with cockroaches and spiders. When we visit the beach we spray those pestiferous termites, then soak in the beautiful ocean air. We love our spider and cockroach free present home, but always remember to wear shoes while walking around the house at night.
 
The great secret I have learned from the various pests I have dealt with as a homeowner is to not let them define the joy I have obtained from each place I have lived. Your investments will not always perform as you want them to, and none of them will ever be perfect, but if they provide you a good lifestyle be grateful for it, and don’t let your obsession with the occasional pests ruin the experience.