We've been watching The X Factor, Simon Cowl's new talent search show and the prize for the winner is five million dollars. They ask the contestants "How would five million dollars change your life?"
I have been thinking about that question and it just doesn't resound in my heart like it might have when I was a young upstart.
The things I value the most are friends and family, fresh air and the garden, space to work, good health and creativity. Money might enhance those things but mostly they are working for me just fine. Can't buy a sweeter husband, altho I wish I could buy a cure for his PD, and can't buy cuter pups, altho I am willing to rent them out on occasion. I don't care about traveling anymore, and don't want a boat or summer home (have a summer home already, don't I?) and more clothes only means more laundry!
Yet I still manage to find stuff on Ikea.com that might be fun to have...if there was any more room for furniture. Nevermind.
You're so right Melody, money can't buy the really important things, and it would be an awful responsibility. Though I wouldn't mind a cleaning lady...
ReplyDeleteYep, you have it right. If I had that kind of money, I'd give a chunk to family members, to charity, and then treat us to a large house with a sewing/knitting room. and a couple of nifty machines. Don't care about cars, would probably save the bulk of it for elder care.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. As I get older the desire for money has faded. As long as I can afford to feed my friends and family when they visit and of course buy fabric I am happy.
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective...although I personally would love a bigger studio ( and maybe someone to come in to organize it, as I am organizationally
ReplyDeletechallenged! )
You are so right on all counts. The only thing I would buy would be a slightly bigger patch of nature.
ReplyDeleteYour place is just beautiful!
You're absolutely right
ReplyDeleteMy DH and I were talking about this very thing the other day and we came to the same conclusions :) The only thing I think we would change would be to help our kids out and buy a home on the lake here.
ReplyDeleteWe've done our traveling, lived in warm climates (and traffic!!) for years and we're very happy to be settled in a small town community a mile from town with our 2 cats on an acre of land where we can enjoy our morning coffee on our (enclosed) back porch (or our deck in warmer weather) and watch deer and turkey in the field in back of us. We have good health and a decent income for what we want out of life at this stage of the game.
If money could buy it, I'd get a shoehorn that would put in about twelve more hours each day for genealogy research. Then I'd like a private jet to make air travel fun again. As it is, I'm grateful for good health and a big fabric stash and sewing machines that I can understand, and a new kitten to keep the other cat company.
ReplyDeletewho NEEDS 5 million??
ReplyDeleteEven setting aside 1 million for "a rainy day" would leave a huge chunk. It would be fun to send big checks off to random people you read about in the newspaper or give a huge donation to charities that you've supported on a smaller scale...be Oprah for a day and give it away!
The only thing money will give a person is the freedom to do what they want.
ReplyDeleteFive million dollars would buy me time.
ReplyDeleteTime to make quilts and develop my voice, take art classes, play with pets, make delicious meals for my family, write, paint.
As it is, I work full time and come home and try to do all the things that a wife and mom does and try to eke out some time for friends, and then spend some time in my sewing room.
Even a million dollars would buy me time.
The four million leftover can go to someone else.
As anonymous said, it would give me the freedom to do what I want to do. I could probably enjoy a quilting cruise and a large studio. I would also eat healthier food because I would be always able to afford fresh produce.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would change a lot though. (but I wouldn't mind finding out - grin)
Great post! Isn't it nice to be content with what we have. I think I'm also at that stage in my life; don't feel the need for "stuff" so much nowadays. I'm all "shopped out". With the one exception of fabric of course ;).
ReplyDeleteHealth and happiness can not be bought.
ReplyDeleteI live in a state that keeps cutting back services for the poor - most recently dental care. It would be swell to go to the state and say, "here, go out and provide ongoing dental care to families in need." I don't know how far the $5 million would go, but in a state with 9 million people, it would have at least some impact.
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