Nashville and the 45 Second Commute
As we approach Labor Day weekend (if you are in the US or Canada), I’d like to share my latest (and perhaps final) location change: Nashville, Tennessee!
Rest assured, while the music industry, zero state income tax, or (god forbid) the Hawk Tuah Girl induced party scene, may be why other people are moving to this southern state capitol, our move is entirely personal: to be closer to our extended family as my wife and I start building a family. (Of course, being a hockey fan, the fact that two of the biggest NHL stars signed with the Predators this off season was a nice sweetener.)
It is a busy time to be making such a big move. My fund (Interconnected Capital) will be opening up to outside investors for the first time next month in September. We are preparing for our first child, lining up all the right appointments, while switching health insurance to a different state, which is a huge pain in the ass (South Park was right). The writing on this newsletter, of course, must continue, and I hope the quality has not fallen too much in the last few weeks.
All the hurdles aside, the move was worth it! One thing I love about our new place is the shed built by the previous owner. (He calls it “Wayne’s World”. His name is Wayne. He built model airlines there.) I will soon be converting it to "Interconnected Capital Worldwide HQ" and use it as my free office (management fees well spent!). It is still full of dust and cobwebs that I will clean up in due course (probably while listening to Berkshire annual meeting recordings). There is a family of deer that wander around it every evening. I cannot think of a better place to write, think, invest.
When I worked at the White House, I was always a bit jealous of the efficiency of President Obama’s daily walk to the Oval Office – the famous “45 second commute”. I now have my own version of it! In fact, I timed my stroll from the house to the shed, and it came out to be 28 seconds. I have a 37.8% efficiency gain on POTUS! (Yes, I’m competitive like that.)
From an old, four-story red brick building in Shenyang, where I was born and shared a communal bathroom and kitchen with our neighbors, to an equally old, single-story red brick house in Nashville, where getting WiFi signal has been challenging (writing this from a nearby coffee shop) but I no longer have to share a bathroom anymore (there are three), it is fascinating to examine how far one person can travel in a single life time (with still a lot left to go).
I will save that reflection for another day. For now, we are just settling in and figuring out what switch does what. And if you are in Nashville, or would be so kind as to introduce me to good folks you know in Nashville, please reach out, so I can make some local friends!
Thank you for reading and for your ongoing support.
Kevin, congrats on your new house and office! I was born and grew up in China, and I can relate to the communal bathroom.
Kevin - Good luck and enjoy your new home, your new “office” and your new family member! So much change in one year…reminds me of 2007 when my wife and I did the same…all three changes at the same time. It was a whirlwind year and one of our best times as a family. I look forward to learning more about your life story. You shared a bit in this post…I am sure there is much more behind the curtain. As immigrants, we come to the US to chase our dreams, we work hard and we find ways to succeed. One thing that I am trying to so as a parent of young adults…how to teach my kids about the humble beginnings that I come from…how my parents sacrificed so much to help me get to where I am. Even describing small details finds them looking at me with incredulity…they just cannot believe or imagine life outside the US…multi-family living in small spaces with shared facilities…commuting by public transportation to work…walking to school and back…anyways I should stop now. Enjoy your weekend and family time. I love reading your stuff. 🍻