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Wow.. it's been 2.5 years since I've uploaded a deck review! Went through a big life change... having sold my house/car/etc, quit my job, and backpacking around Europe. Anyway... now I'm excited to back making YouTube videos!

This deck review is for the GOLD Gatorbacks by David Blaine. Spoiler alert: I really like them and am impressed by the MetalLuxe foil. It looks great and doesn't interfere with the handling.

By the way... the "cards in action" sequence on this video (about 2/3 of the way into the video) is I think my best version yet! (Essentially it's just me trying to show off with card moves.)

Here it is ----> https://youtu.be/E88S9h631rc

Let me know what you think!

You've piqued my interest and since your post, I've been checking out some of your older vids too; mostly because I actually also had made the less than conventional life decision to turn my life upside down to travel a few years ago (also in the same backpacking & couchsurfing manner lol) Ironically enough, it also was intended to only be for like a year or so, but almost 5 years later, I'm still here - I ended up settling down for the most part in Germany but still enjoy the nomadic lifestyle and try to take any opportunity I can to travel for more extended periods of time if I'm able to. I'm not so certain I'll be returning to States any time very soon, but I still often consider the possibility... maybe someday lol (that is of course if someone here can offer me their couch lol)

Anyways, great to see you're back (although it's not like I actually ever realized that you left) and thanks for introducing me to your deck review channel; I know it's not "new" but it is for me and I look forward to your content

Hey PipChick, thanks for replying. Cool to hear from someone else who has had a very similar experience. Yeah it's been 2.5 years since I left the United States (I'm from Texas). The first 1.5 years was constantly traveling... hostels / couch surfing... and the last year it's been just living in one place (mostly) in Eastern Europe.

I was doing software development before, and now I'm full in on trying to grow my YouTube channel. I really enjoy making videos.... really enjoy magic.... so I want to see if I can somehow make this my career. So I'm working very hard now on this goal. Which is partially why I am not on-the-go traveling now.... so I can focus.

So how do you like Germany? I visited Munich and Berlin (and only very briefly Cologne). I saw the Castle Neuschwanstein (sp?) which I thought was spectacular.

Yeah I don't know if I will be returning to the states myself either.

Have you been learning the language? Or you get by well enough in English?

Also glad to hear you enjoyed the video and my channel! So thanks. I'm planning to upload one new video a week. Instead of one every 3 months like I did in the past.

I actually like Germany a lot; before making the final move here, I had also considered laying down roots in possibly the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Denmark & Sweden, but for many different reasons & factors (too many to really go into detail about lol) I ultimately determined that Germany would be the best fit for living, working and traveling long-term. For the most part, it's been pretty great but that's also not to say that I don't often think about moving back - I'm just not sure it would be any time soon, if at all lol. I admit, I also like the freedom of being able to pick up and move if/when I so desire and I often feel averse to prolonged states of stagnation, so who knows, maybe I will return to the States - or maybe go somewhere else entirely

I did learn German and speak pretty fluently as I sorta have to for work lol but, with the English language having significant roots derived from other Germanic languages, being a native English speaker gives a huge leg up in learning German compared to other languages. It's very logical and I think there's far less exceptions that stray from the grammatical rules as opposed to English - so, although it takes some time (as with learning any language), it's actually not so difficult. What I did find difficult though was recognizing and understanding the different dialects - but that's also with any language lol.

I really enjoy learning languages in general; at the moment, I'm trying to learn Arabic, but that's much more challenging and I feel like I don't have the time or motivation to invest in order to make the progress that I'd like to in my language skills. Are you learning or have you also learned the language of the country you're currently in? Or is it even worth doing so??

whoops - sorry for eating up thread space on your vid review post - anyways, I like the humor you inject into your reviews and I look forward to watching more

Yeah I considered the Netherlands also. Nice place! I didn't get the chance to see Denmark or Sweden. Yeah I understand your not wanting to be rooted down in one place. I had a house for a while in Texas, but I sold it and I feel more free knowing I am living where I want to live because it makes sense at this point in my life. If I end up getting married and having kids, then I would want to get a house again, but probably not before that.

Interesting to hear that learning German might not be as impossible as I had imagined! Why are you trying to learn Arabic? Are you wanting to move to an Arabic speaking country? I've only learned Spanish in high school and 4 courses in university. I can survive in a Spanish speaking country.... but just barely. No I'm not learning the language where I am living.... ONLY because I am trying my best to say no to many interests so that I can say yes to focusing on my primary goal now... which is growing my youtube channel. I love magic and making videos.... and it'd be awesome if I was able to support myself by doing this. So I'm trying it out!

Don't worry about eating up thread space on here. It's not like a lot of people are commenting anyway!