In the news, the ex of Tiger Woods demolished a beautiful 12 million dollar mansion to rebuild a house that suits her taste. The backlash has been fierce, and I say with good reason. It makes me sick to my stomach really. Having lived in South America for three years, I try to remember the little things we have to be grateful for in this country. Like running water, cold AND hot, electricity we can count on, sewage and garbage systems. I'm a solid middle class person- we make a decent living to provide the necessities of life and even some luxuries. I think that our view of living has become warped because of the steady stream of information we are fed that make us think certain things are a must in order to be happy. Like granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, jacuzzies, huge walk-in closets, etc.
A program on HGTV called house hunters proves my point. Time after time the families selecting a home to purchase make comments on the outdated features, and although they might be perfectly functional, the couple will say they would have to remodel immediately because they just couldn't live with such a feature. One couple even discussed ripping out the newly installed granite counter top because they didn't like the color!
If someday I have the success to make a large amount of money with writing, (highly unlikely I know), but I've thought about what I would do with it. I would pay off our mortgage, but I would also like to stay true to myself and stay simple. I'd give to my favorite charities, including the local humane society, and build a home for my in-laws in Ecuador that they will never have to lose. (They will be losing their current home to road expansion in the near future) In fact, I would like to make it a business- a property including two cabins that could be used like a bed and breakfast. Maybe here I would fulfill my dream of building a petting zoo so I could work doing something I loved, and give free tickets to underpriviledged children.
What would you do if you were rich?
This is such a prescient posting. Yesterday, for the first time, I bought a lottery ticket, rollover of £6.7m so I was considering what I would do if I won any significant amount. I am very happy doing what I'm doing, making beads and jewellery and I don't think that would change, there would just be less emphasis on having to sell it. My husband doesn't really like the work he does at the moment, I'd love to be able to free him from that and we could realise our dream of a gallery and gift shop on the Northumbrian coast, a home near the sea.
ReplyDeleteAfter I hadn't won (ha!) on the news last night there was a report about Burma and an interview with one lady with a family, her son wanted to go to University with no prospects because of no money, she told the interviewer that if she found work for the day, they could survive, if she didn't, then they couldn't and two tears rolled down her cheeks. I am so privileged to have all that I have now (I never worry about having enough to eat) and here's me wanting more, it made me question whether I'd buy another lottery ticket, so many people have nothing.
Stories like the woman in Burma help put it all in perspective. It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting more; I find myself doing it all the time. But your dream of opening a gallery/gift shop sounds lovely. There is something to being your own boss and doing what you love- then it would hardly seem like work!
ReplyDeleteJust adding a note- it seems she demolished the house because it was termite infested. Sad they did'nt publish that at first because she got slammed in the comments.
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