Observations:

With the Covid numbers in decline and the safety of vaccinations, I have found myself having more in-person meetings of late.  After a warm welcome with each of my friends, I fight the urge to comment that it has been too long since we have gotten together.  The voice in my head is telling me not to be Captain Obvious, reminding me that I haven’t seen anyone in at least a year!  It was a lost year in terms of in person relationships.

Although we have all just lived it, it is still difficult to comprehend that we have spent an entire year in limbo.  I have to laugh at myself thinking back to the fact that in late March last year, I booked a trip to Europe for the end of June, because of course I knew that the pandemic would be over by then and it would be safe to travel again.  I patted myself on the back for the good deals I was getting on air fares.  Fittingly, it was just last week that I finally received the last refund of those great air fares.

There has been a constant flow of newsworthy events during this past year, including the pandemic, racial unrest, unemployment records and miserably divisive politics.  The recent weeks of watching “boring” news has seemed refreshing.

Fortunately, the real estate world has performed better than my initial fears.  Most tenants have been able to pay rent, lenders have cooperated with borrowers and foreclosures have thus far been minimal.  The industrial, multi-family and residential sections have flourished, while hotels and much of the retail sector have suffered.  Restaurants have struggled to get by mostly on pick ups and deliveries.  Who would have guessed that Taco Tuesday would have become Takeout Tuesday!

My 85-year-old parents were able to travel to Arizona from Illinois twice within the past few months to see their first granddaughter.  As I was taking them to the airport a couple of weeks ago, I commented that I never would have believed that there would be a year where they logged more air miles than I did!

Do you all miss live music as much as I do?  A 20-year streak of attending the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival on alternate years was broken this year due to the pandemic.  During a recent drive on Indian School, it was sad to see the Rhythm Room and thinking about how quiet that building has been this year.  I can’t wait to be able to stop in at the Rusty Spur on a weekend night and tip that lousy band!

Here’s to safely opening back up in the coming months!  Cheers! 

Opportunities:

The biggest opportunity that I am aware of right now if the opportunity to attend ULI’s Trends Days.  The committee considered numerous ways to hold an event that normally would have attracted over a thousand people.  The format they settled on is amazing.  It is broken into shorter sessions on three consecutive days, allowing you to efficiently use your time.  While you can watch the national economist and the panels from the comfort of your home office, you also have the ability to visit chat rooms and sponsor booths to connect with your business associates in a manner similar as you would do in person.  One benefit of holding a virtual meeting is the ability to have national speakers without the need for travel and expensive appearance fees.  It is a great lineup and I know it will be worth your while.  Register now, as April 20^th is not far away!