MAMARONECK, NEW YORK – Greetings from my father’s one-bedroom apartment…

It’s time for our Friday mailbag edition, where I answer the latest questions you’ve sent in.

This week, a reader steps in to help another, who wanted to know whether our “Income for Life” insurance policies are available outside the U.S…

The debate over whether my family and I are “moochers” continues… as does the debate over my brother’s struggle to choose between his job and the Covid-19 vaccine…

And finally, a reader has some questions about the shipping story we’ve been covering in these Postcards.

All this and more below, so let’s dive in…

Reader comment: To the reader who said you are moochers – I don’t agree with him. It takes a lot to invade a person’s space, versus renting a motel room (which I prefer to do). He apparently hasn’t followed your family around the world for very long. Also, your way of life is very foreign to him. I feel you have proven repeatedly how free you can be without all the material possessions, thank you.

Kate and I think deeply about the decisions we make – and especially if we should accept invitations. It comes down to motives, we think.

A moocher is someone who tries to get something for nothing from others… a parasite.

If we accepted invitations as a way to save money or get free food (or anything else along those lines), that would be mooching.

But of course, doing that doesn’t interest us at all… or even make any sense. We’d rather just stay at a cheap hotel or campsite by ourselves and eat junk food.

We accept invitations because we want to meet people, share good times with our hosts, and then part as friends for life.

Reader question: Been following you since you were traveling in China. Wrote a few times, as I, too, have traveled China. Anyway, I listened today to a reporter who was near Long Beach, covering the “stoppage” of transportation/shipping/etc. He was in a storage yard with 10,000 empty containers! He was asking the manager if there is a shortage, why are there so many sitting empty?

Any response from you? Thought containers were a “prized commodity”?

Containers are a prized commodity… in China. Once they get to the USA, they’re just a waste of space… until they can be returned to China. The 10,000 empty containers in that yard were probably waiting to be shipped back to China.

Once they iron out the global supply chain problems and port congestion – which, I think, could take years and cost many millions of dollars – there will probably be too many container boxes and too many container ships in the circulatory system.

But for now, there aren’t enough, and shippers will pay almost any amount to secure them.

Like the floating storage story in the tanker business last year, it won’t last. But it will transform the finances of the companies involved… and set the stage for a long period of above average operating profits.

Reader comment: As a career agent with one of the mutual life companies you would likely recommend, I have designed many such policies similar to those you describe. In fact, your Income for Life articles from 2016 are what attracted me to Palm Beach Research Group, and that has been a tremendous blessing to me and my overall financial wealth. So THANK YOU very much!

I have several clients who are U.S. citizens, but live outside of the U.S. in Europe. I can write a policy on their lives, but I have to meet with them when they are in the U.S. (i.e. NYC) and I have to deliver the policy to them again in the U.S. We have the normal KYC/AML requirements to satisfy, and securing medical records is a bit trickier, but I have done it many times.

The main takeaway is that I cannot do it by mail or electronically, which, in today’s environment, makes it much harder to do. I have to physically see them.

Another issue is writing to non-U.S. citizens who are now living in the states, due to a diplomatic posting or for other professional reasons. Few companies will do that today that offer the kind of policies you recommend. I often have to go to a non-traditional life carrier to write coverage on them, but the policies are not structured in a way that lends themselves to your program.

Perhaps other agents who write in can offer other experiences for your readers. Thank you again for your thoughts from 2016 and 2017. My exposure to your and your team’s thoughts in those years were life changing. My best wishes to you and your family.

Thank you for writing in. This is very useful.

Reader comment: I really enjoy reading your Postcards. I thought Dusty did a great job writing, too! This is actually the second time I’ve written to you. I really feel for your brother in Alberta. I am from Alberta as well and boy, have things changed… not just Alberta but Canada.

It really is so unfortunate that people have become so divided. Personally, I think it should be a choice as to whether you want to get vaccinated or not. What happened to freedom of choice?? So many people have either had to quit their job or get fired because they will not get vaccinated, and that is just wrong!

Tell your brother to hang in there… there are still a lot of great people in Alberta who are in the same boat.

Thank you for writing in. I forwarded your email to him… along with all the other emails we’ve received on this topic.

And, for anyone who missed Dusty’s first Postcard, catch up here.

Reader question: I have heard of a debit card that is backed by gold, where you can purchase gold and spend it through this type of debit card… but I cannot find this debit card in the U.S., only in Europe. Are you aware of anything of this type available in this country?

Glint is the only gold-backed credit card I’ve heard of.

Reader comment: Love your daily blog, it is quite the contrast to the omnipotent insanity of the markets these days. I pass it on to my wife and our daughter and son every day. I am surprised that (other than gold and tankers) you have not remarked on the astronomical trends in commodities like copper, uranium, silver, and those elements that are vital to electric vehicles and the electrification of the world.

I have been blessed by over 100% appreciation in these commodities, and it seems to me that this shift from growth stocks to value and hard assets is just getting started.

I agree with you and I’m definitely drawn to the electrification theme, too. I just haven’t plunged in yet.

Reader comment: Wow. What a beautiful costume! This is the first time I have ever responded to anything online like this. Anyone criticizing it just doesn’t know who they really are yet. Penny’s outfit is so beautiful because it is so creative. As soon as I saw it, that is exactly what I said to myself. Wow. How beautiful.

I am so grateful, actually, that she chose to be here at this time. What a beautiful family to be a part of. Good for you, Penny! Hooray for Penny! Sending lots of love and hugs your way.

Welcome to the conversation. And thank you for your kind message about Penny’s homemade Halloween costume!

Reader comment: Thank you for publishing another reader’s referral to Money Metals Exchange in Eagle, Idaho, in response to my search for a coin dealer in that area. I really appreciate it. Keep up the good work.

You’re welcome.

If anyone else reading this has recommendations for coin dealers, either online or in the real world, please send them in at [email protected], and I’ll share them here.

And as always, keep your questions and comments coming. I’ll do my best to address them in future mailbag editions.

– Tom Dyson

Like what you’re reading? Send your thoughts to [email protected].