From San Francisco to Chateau Dreams: A Pirate's Take on Trading Tech for Tapestries!

Why San Francisco? Why Not the Caribbean?

Savvy? These landlubbers Malana Moberg and Roland Salvato decided to abandon the foggy shores of San Francisco! Thirty years a project manager says he? And her a marketing consultant? They've traded spreadsheets and presentations for… *gasp*… dust and old stones. 'We love traveling and entertaining,' she squawks to CNBC. Well strike me down with a yardarm so does this pirate! But instead of chasing doubloons they chase… breakfast bookings? Seems a bit dull even for a Monday eh?

Chateau Hunting: Not Quite Treasure Hunting

Now here's a twist worthy of a rum soaked yarn! They didn't want gold not really. Just 'a challenge.' Experience over material wealth they say! *Sniffs* I've heard tales of less daring exploits from me parrot Cotton. They started sniffing around Spain Portugal North Africa... but settled on France because this landlubber already spoke French! They found a chateau in Druelle Balsac a town I've never heard of... probably because there's no rum to be plundered! But they wanted enough space for guests and animals probably more animals than Jack can handle after a night in Tortuga.

835,000 for Old Stones? Blimey!

A chateau mind you! A grand rambling thing with three bedrooms three and a half bathrooms and a guest house. Parts of it dating back to the 12th century. *Twelve*! I've seen newer shipwrecks. Cost them a pretty penny – $835,000 in your American dollars. They sold their San Francisco pad for $1.45 million paying for the chateau in *cash*. Cash I say! Where's the fun in that? Where's the daring escape from the clutches of the law eh? Not all treasure is silver and gold mate... sometimes it's just a very old building.

Renovation Rhapsody: Shiver Me Timbers It's Expensive!

Now comes the real adventure! Renovations! Apparently the place hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint in half a century. Half a century! Probably covered in more cobwebs than my compass has directions. They've already sunk $332,000 into the place. Dining room living room kitchen… sounds suspiciously like a *house* not a pirate ship. All this work is not for naught as they are indeed getting some income from it. $238 a night for the guest house and $187 for the chateau. I may consider trading the Black Pearl to spend a night there.

Profits? What Profits?

Ah the sweet taste of rum… I mean revenue. Workshops on yoga cooking book arts drawing and painting for roughly $4,500 per person! I bet I could teach them a thing or two about 'artful negotiation'… or 'the art of distracting pursuers with a well placed parrot.' Last year the chateau hauled in a measly $22,000. Peanuts! Expenses? A couple thousand a month. They're not making a profit mind you. Just using their savings to stay afloat. 'A very expensive French lesson,' he quips. Tell me about it. I've had more expensive *Tuesdays*.

Caretakers of History: A Noble Plunder

In the end they don't care about the money! They care about… *sentimental voice*… breathing new life into the old stones. 'We are merely caretakers of this piece of history,' he says all misty eyed. Well I suppose even pirates can appreciate a bit of history especially if it involves buried treasure or a good ghost story. So to Malana and Roland I raise my glass! May your chateau be filled with laughter good food and maybe… just maybe… a secret passage or two leading to a hidden stash of rum. Now where's that horizon?