What Would You Do with a Billion--with a B!
Did you read about that billionaire (with a B!) space tourist? He paid a cool $25 million to fly into space. If you had the money, and it was a lifelong dream, and you go with the idea that you only live once--why not? What an experience, right?
Of course, my first thought was . . . What a neat thing to write about. I can't even imagine there are words to describe actually being in space.
So what would I do with a billion? Not go to space. I think I am too much of a chicken--or, to be more specific, WAY too much of a claustrophobic--to go into space, as much as I adore studying about space and quantum physics.
I would, I am sure, adopt a dozen children. Maybe more. I would buy a big farm, and live until I was an old granny, loving children and raising horses.
That aside . . . my lifestyle itself wouldn't change. Yeah, yeah, I know everyone says that, but I MEAN it. I don't care about clothes or cars. Jewelry or anything flashy. No bling. I don't care about much of anything that costs money. Except land and the peace of looking out on pasture.
I would donate boatloads to charity.
AND, as it relates to writing . . . I think I would become a perpetual student. I would go back to university to study physics, comparative religion, and anything else that struck my fancy. I would just study until I was that old, gray granny with a bunch of kids--and beyond.
So, writers, readers, blog pals, what would you do with a billion--and would you write about it?
Of course, my first thought was . . . What a neat thing to write about. I can't even imagine there are words to describe actually being in space.
So what would I do with a billion? Not go to space. I think I am too much of a chicken--or, to be more specific, WAY too much of a claustrophobic--to go into space, as much as I adore studying about space and quantum physics.
I would, I am sure, adopt a dozen children. Maybe more. I would buy a big farm, and live until I was an old granny, loving children and raising horses.
That aside . . . my lifestyle itself wouldn't change. Yeah, yeah, I know everyone says that, but I MEAN it. I don't care about clothes or cars. Jewelry or anything flashy. No bling. I don't care about much of anything that costs money. Except land and the peace of looking out on pasture.
I would donate boatloads to charity.
AND, as it relates to writing . . . I think I would become a perpetual student. I would go back to university to study physics, comparative religion, and anything else that struck my fancy. I would just study until I was that old, gray granny with a bunch of kids--and beyond.
So, writers, readers, blog pals, what would you do with a billion--and would you write about it?
Labels: lifelong learning
posted by Erica Orloff at 5:27 PM
9 Comments:
I would buy my friend first edition copies of The Great Gatsby and The Sun Also Rises. ;)
Interesting question. I would give lots to charity, but I believe in doing that anonymously. So I wouldn't write about it. Basically just try to bring moments of joy to as many people as possible.
I guess I would have to get a few new toys. A Ferrari, maybe. Restore an old theater and have private screenings for my pals. Build an estate on a lake in Canada, and do lots of fishing with my son.
But when you get down to it, I can do all of these things now. Only on a smaller scale. We don't have to be billionaires to do the things we want to do.
Unless it involves space travel. :)
Hmm. I like the idea of doing things on a smaller scale. And charity should be anonymous, UNLESS, like Bill Gates, you do it in a way to inspire people by making that foundation public.
That is a good question, Erica..
I'd buy a huge place in the mountains with at least ten acres. I'd have a dozen dogs, give away boatloads to charities--and set my kids up for life, so they'd never have to worry. They could be what they wanted, who they wanted without playing the survival game.
Nice daydream...thanks for that!
Maureen:
Yes, wouldn't it be lovely to let our children explore without the pressure of the rat race. Two of my four want to be musicians. The oldest we are going to violin-shop for college . . . to spend about 10-15K on a violin and bow. And all that? No guarantee of earning a living in a country that does not, as far as I can see, support the arts at all. Pathetic. So . . . yeah. I would love that she could play and not have to worry about paying the bills.
My son needed twenty bucks, so he's outside washing my truck right now. I could have just handed it to him. I can afford it.
He and I had this conversation not too long ago, about if I won the lottery. He said I would have to give him at least a million dollars. I said I would set up a trust fund, contingent upon him finishing college.
He didn't like that. He said, "If we're rich, why would I need to go to college?"
He has a lot to learn.
I don't think setting him up for life would do him a bit of good. He needs to pay some dues, learn to live independently. That's the only way he'll ever really appreciate wealth, IMO.
I have nothing against giving a kid a head start. Setting them up for life? Not good, Kemo Sabe.
Jude:
I disagree. Work isn't the only measure of a person. I have raised four awesome (so far) kids, and if I wanted them to be able to spend the next fifty years studying the arts, playing music, and creating, I think that's a beautiful life. It depends--if it's about tossing them cars and "stuff"--NO. But if it's about being a student of life, I think that's great.
E
It really does sound like a beautiful life. If you become a billionaire, will you adopt me? :)
Charity anonymous? LOL, I don't expect points in this life or in the next, so I don't feel a need to do the whole ... you know, holy or sacrificing or whatever. I side more with your point on letting people know. Sometimes people just don't think of donating, in their everyday lives, but if people talk about it, then they'll think of it. But who knows.
A billion. Ohmigawd, total lifestyle change. I donate a ton, but I'd go, too, just so I could get my hands dirty. Africa would be first on my list. And I'd want to see India, the middle east, Russia, Alaska ...
I'd buy a shiny, brand new, top of the line laptop that was fast, fast, fast. I'd get one of those Tomb Raider Jeeps and make it new again. I'd buy a house on the ocean in California. I'd set up a college fund/trust fund for my nieces and nephew. I'd adopt kids, like ... three or five or so.
OH! And best of all, I'd have a HUGE library with every single book that struck my fancy, even if I couldn't read them all.
(Um, can you tell this is a favorite fantasy of mine, LOL? Did I ramble too much?)
Spy:
I'd love to visit your library!
E
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