I want, I want, I want ...

I want to:
- start playing guitar/banjo/mandolin again
- go back to school and finish my degree
- buy a PDA
- read philosophy and classics
- build a shop/storage building
- put in a garden and a compost pile
- go kayaking (even though it's not warm enough yet)
- build or buy a bookcase and put all my books in one accessible place
- take a multi-day bicycle ride
- build a larger desk
- think of a way to make extra income to support my hobbies

If Money Were No Object ...

If you suddenly came into a fortune, what would you do? It’s a fun idea, and I guess we’ve all day dreamed about what we’d buy, where we’d go, and what we’d do if we had more money than we could possibly spend.

Like you, I’d first quit my job, pay off my bills, invest for retirement, send the kids and grandkids to college, provide for the parents, buy the dream home, and take the long cruise.

But what would you do after all that? Ok, here’s my list:

• set up an experimental community to research and demonstrate
  - large and small scale organic farming utilizing animal and human power
  - alternative natural, renewable, non-polluting domestic and commercial power sources (such as solar, wind, and others)
  - rediscovery of traditional living skills and crafts
• open a shop to promote, sell, and maintain alternative transportation and recreational vehicles:
  - bicycles, tricycles, and other human-powered vehicles
  - kayaks, canoes, rowboats, sailboats, sailboards, kite boards
  - hiking and ultra light camping gear
• promote local, small businesses, musicians and artists through grants and no-interest loans
• open a free “life university” with programs for everyone, from infants through seniors citizens

Then, in my spare time I’d travel extensively and study music, languages and philosophy. That should keep me pretty busy.

What would your list look like?

Principles

Spiritual
Acknowledge and revere God – worship, study, and meditate

Intellectual
Live a contemplative life – read, write and think

Social
Care for and celebrate with family and friends – create a tradition of celebrations with food

Physical
Live without discomfort – exercise, rest, good food

Material
Less is more – live a simple life without concern for financial matters


Live well, love well, receive graciously, give freely.