The scene is set: you’re driving in your convertible with the top down. It’s a beautiful summer evening with the sun setting behind your back. Your favorite song is playing on the radio, and you’re singing along at the top of your lungs. Everything is warm, breezy and perfect. Nothing can ruin this moment.
Until your hair becomes a tangled mess and is no longer freely flowing. Suddenly you feel less like Pocahontas painting with all the colors of the wind
You don’t want to put the top up, but you also don’t want to live with a rat’s nest on your head. What’s a girl (or boy) to do?
Hair Styles
Your locks deserve to flow in the wind, but you don’t deserve to look like Medusa. A classic choice is the ponytail. It never goes out of style, and its simplicity makes it easy to dress up or down.
Another option, the top knot. You’ve already got your ponytail down, so why not step it up a notch? A favorite of lazy girls everywhere, and you can sneakily hide the fact that you haven’t washed your hair since Tuesday… or was it Sunday? Anyway, twist your pony around the hair tie and secure it with another tie or bobby pins.
In case ponytails and top knots aren’t your thing, braids are always an easy style. This is also a super simple look that you can take to the next level by doing a French, Dutch or milkmaid braid. Go on, be like Elsa and let it go.
Leaving extra hair ties and bobby pins in your car helps for when you’re in a pinch.
Headscarf
Movie stars quickly figured out how to keep hair in place while nailing that classic convertible scene, as mentioned above. Silky scarves became an actress’ best friend, and with the help of a bobby pin or two, you have the perfect top-down look. Aim for the look of Audrey Hepburn, as opposed to Damian from Mean Girls.
She doesn’t even go here!
Other Accessories
If the headscarf isn’t your thing and your hair just won’t cooperate with a style, there are other options out there. A baseball cap keeps hair close to the head all while repping your favorite team, or a large sunhat protects against the sun and ups the vacation vibe in your convertible. Get creative! Any way to get your hair up and out of the wind is a great solution. Just please, don’t purchase a fake hair piece like the clip on man bun. There are children around.
Adventure is out there
Don’t limit yourself to one set of roads. You and your convertible should be free to explore the rest of the world. Convertible enthusiasts have trusted us for over 40 years to safely and efficiently ship their vehicle overseas.
Summer’s just around the corner, and that means so is convertible season. I mean, what better way to enjoy the weather than by going on a long cruise with the top down. But in order to do that you’re going to need the right the car. Here are some of the best convertibles for the 2014-2015 season.
And if you need help getting your dream convertible to your joy ride launch point–be it Dubai, the Australian Coast, or Hawaii–Schumacher Cargo can help. We ship thousands of cars every year and have the experience and skill to get yours to your new home safely.
Best Convertibles of 2014-2015:
2014 Ferrari F12 Spider:
While certainly not in everyone’s price range, if you can afford this gallant machine you won’t regret it. This retractable hardtop features 730-hp from a 6.3 liter, 12-cylinder V-engine–and might be Ferrari’s fastest roadster yet!
2015 Ford Mustang GT Convertible:
Although significantly cheaper than the F12 Spider, the Mustang is in no way a significantly lesser ride. The start of a whole new generation of mustangs, the design is one of the best they’ve had since the late 60s and the iconic Shelby Gt500. The 2015 GT convertible features a 6-speed manual transmission and a 5.0 liter V-8 engine. This horse gallops!
2014 McLaren MP4-12C Roadster:
McLaren took the top of their famous MP4-12C model to give their customers a convertible experience with all the style and speed of the hardtop model. Capable of reaching speeds up to 205 mph, this beast is driven by a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine with 592-hp and can do 0-60 in a whopping 3.2 seconds. This car will turn heads and break hearts.
2014 BMW 4-Series Convertible:
The 4-series is a newer line but one that still has all the power and grace of their other iconic lines. This stylish hardtop has several different engines to choose from: starting with a 2-liter diesel 420d, advancing up to the 3-liter inline 6-cylinder turbo 435i and ending at the mind-blowing 8-speed ZF automatic. Bad drives are not to be had in this beauty.
2015 Lexus LF-CC:
Lexus’s new convertible–scheduled for release in 2015–is a challenge to BMW’s convertible above. It is still in the works and remains very secretive but the company’s stated goals are to produce a GT as sleek and powerful as any of the German models.
Norway is one of the most fascinating countries in the world: they convert their garbage into fuel and even import garbage from other countries.
In summer you can schedule a midnight tee-time since the sun does not set. Also the country is considered a kingdom and they’ve even knighted a penguin. And with an excellent cost of living, moving to Norway is one of the best decisions you can make for a quality expat experience.
Economy:
Norway has an excellent economy at the moment. It would have been even better had the financial collapse not decimated the country’s retirement fund, but they’re still very well off. Most jobs offer very competitive living wages…much more than their US equivalents. The country offers free healthcare and college tuition for their residents as well.
On top of that, the US dollar to Norwegian Krone is trading very favorably to the US; approximately $0.17 to 1 Krone. As such, the US dollar will help make up for the higher cost of living.
Rent:
Rent is very affordable in Norway. Even their most expensive 1-bedroom apartments in the city center are cheaper than in your average American city: approximately $1,600 a month, which would be hard to put you into a studio in Manhattan! And while the city can be a bit competitively priced to other American cities, the suburbs offer much cheaper solutions.
Transportation:
Norway’s public transportation system makes it very easy to get around the country. They have long-distance buses that can carry you from city to city, as well as the more traditional trains and planes. A local ticket will typically cost around $5.50 USD. Gas in Norway is about 14.74 Kroners per liter, or about $2.46 USD.
And if you want to bring your car with you, Schumacher can assist with that major move as well. Find out how we can ship your car to Norway.
Food:
Due to certain shipping restrictions, getting quality groceries in Norway is not always an easy or a cheap thing. US citizens accustomed to grocery stores like Trader Joes and Whole Foods will be in for a rough surprise. So while it might cost a bit more to find quality produce and foreign items (kiwis, tea, lemons), you can still get your staples like milk for fairly cheap.
Singapore is fast becoming one of the biggest financial hubs of Asia, joining the ranks of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. As such, a lot of westerners from the US are making the move to Singapore. As this is a big move it’s important to figure out some of the associated hurdles before you make the trip.
Housing:
Be forewarned: Rent in Singapore is not cheap! While you’ll be privy to some of the newest, coolest, and stylish condos in Singapore, they all come with a pretty hefty price tag. If you have company-sponsored residence, you’re in luck, if not you’ll need to do some serious financial planning. A one-bedroom apartment outside of the city center will still cost you about $2100 Singapore dollars per month.
Transportation:
Singapore is one of the most expensive places to drive in the world. With very high congestion, gas prices, tolls, as well the costs of the car itself, if you can get around without a car we highly recommend it. (For example, with all of the fees, a 30k car in America could cost about 60k in Singapore.)
If you do need a car it’s much more economical to ship yours from home versus buying a new one. Luckily this is another area where Schumacher Cargo can help you out. Find out how we can ship your car to Singapore.
Luckily, public transportation in Singapore is top notch so if you can’t afford to import your vehicle, or just simply don’t want the hassle you won’t have to worry about getting around.
Pets:
Whenever you’re moving to any new country you should check the pet allowance beforehand. Singapore is no exception. Only certain animals and breeds will be allowed to enter Singapore and that’s after having met the veterinary and import requirements. Additionally, depending on where you live, you might meet further restrictions; many of the high rise condos only allow small dogs.
With these major aspects hammered out, you’ll be able to spend the rest of your planning figuring out what you’ll see first.
For many, retiring is all about retreating to your dream destination, your paradise. As such, retirees are looking to Hawaii to spend their golden years. Here are some of the best places in Hawaii to spend out the rest of your days. (Though take heed, Hawaii is not necessarily the most affordable place to retire.)
And just because it’s still part of the US doesn’t mean moving there is going to be an easy task. You’ll have to plan ahead and make arrangements to ship all the belongings you want to bring via ocean carrier, but giving yourself time will make the move to Hawaii that much smoother.
If You Can Afford It:
As we said earlier, Hawaii is not going to be the cheapest option for your retirement. But if you can afford it, here are some of the most desirable places to lay down your final stakes.
Kaanapali (Maui):
The beaches of Kaanapali are some of Hawaii’s most iconic and famous. As such, it’s also one of the most expensive. Expect to pay upwards of $900,000 for your retirement home.
Honolulu:
As the third-most expensive city in all of America, Honolulu isn’t going to be the retirement option for many. Still, this major city located right on a gorgeous beach that could make South Beach in Miami seem a bit insecure is the perfect place to retire if you can afford it especially as Honolulu will give you access to prime healthcare.
More Affordable:
Hilo:
This often overlooked city on the island of Hawaii is one of the more affordable places you could retire. Situated between Mount Loa and Mount Kea, Hilo offers over one-hundred miles of fantastic hiking, gorgeous rain forests, waterfalls, beaches and access to hospitals and a major airport.
Kailua-Kona:
On the western coast of Hawaii’s big island is a quiet, volcanic paradise loaded with fantastic golf courses and minimal rain fall: only about 10 inches per year, as opposed to Hilo’s 128 inches. Certainly an exotic retirement locale.
Paia:
Paia is a tiny little beach town on the northeastern side of the ever-popular and eminently-gorgeous Maui. A quiet town, Paia has a population of under 3,000 and offers a small town feel on this popular island. Don’t worry, it’s only a short 8-mile drive over to the main city of Maui, Kahului, where you can find more shopping, restaurants and hospitals.
