The Cap’m
Once a year, there’s a special moment when a group of grown men get to shed their adult responsibilities and relive their teenage years for a week. It’s called the Safety Pirates Snowboarding trip, a whirlwind of out-of-bounds powder adventures, competitive groomer races, moderate indulgence in vices, and late-night escapades either out on the town or lounging in resort hot tubs. Each year, the trip takes the crew to a different mountain destination, and this time, the chosen (and somewhat unfortunate) town is Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Though we’re well past our prime for such shenanigans, we’re drawn in by the relentless charm of the Captain, the fearless and slightly unhinged leader of the Safety Pirates, a Chicagoan who’s impossible to say no to. Seriously, would you dare to?
After the trip, we’ll return to our usual lives—raising kids, managing businesses, designing video games, or whatever else we do to keep the wheels of life turning.
I’m off this Sunday, so expect some disruption to the usual blogging schedule, as the pirates will have quite the itinerary. Plus, I’ll only have my small iPhone for any online activity, which will definitely limit my availability.
But I’m sure there will be plenty of adventures worth documenting. I’m also using part of this trip to explore a city I’ve never visited before: Reno, Nevada.
Reno, which serves as the gateway to Lake Tahoe, is an interesting place at the moment. Known for its abundance of sunshine, the city sits at around 4,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountains, and at a latitude of 40 degrees, making it an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise (somewhat warmer than Denver). With legalized gambling and tourism bringing in money, and being so close to one of the top ski destinations near San Francisco, Reno experienced a real estate boom in the mid-2000s. Unfortunately, the housing bubble burst, halving property values not only in Reno but also in nearby Las Vegas, about seven hours south.
While I’m in Reno, I plan to check out the rental property market as part of some research for future investment posts.
If you happen to live in Reno or North Lake Tahoe, and you’re open to grabbing a drink or chatting, or even if you’re a real estate agent willing to show me around briefly, feel free to reach out via the contact button above! I’ll be in Reno this Sunday afternoon from about 1-5 PM, and then I’ll be in Incline Village (North Lake Tahoe) for the remainder of the week.
Also, I’ve got two guest posts lined up for next week—no, not basic promotional fluff, but insightful and well-thought-out pieces from notable members of the Extended Mustachian Community, who also run their own blogs. Stay tuned, it’s going to be good.
Have a great week!