Jan 26, 2021
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If $$$$ was No Object, I’d …
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Here’s a fun What If … game to play while waiting for God to throw the ON switch activating The Yellowstone Caldera.
My inside sources are telling me THAT will be some time between “next Thursday” and St Patrick’s Day.
He (God) is so disgusted with Mankind. He is considering vaporizing the entire Milky Way Galaxy. Totally starting over from scratch. Oh well … que cera cera.
Today’s What If … game is …
If $$$ Was No Object, I’d …
…. also known as … If I Won The Mega-Millions Lottery, I’d … but that has a limit, absurd as it might be. My version has no limits.
Before any of you’ans go all self-righteous on us … lets dispense with …
“I’d keep my lifestyle just as it is. And I’d donate whatever it takes to provide a mosquito net for every child in sub-saharan Africa” … OR …
“I’d fund research for “an Integrity vaccine” to inoculate every elected official on Earth.”.
We’re going more for your choice of sports car … private jet … sub-zero refrigerator … or villa on Lake Como. OK?
Without a whole lot of deep thinking … I’d opt for:
- A concierge medical team to provide annual full-body physicals on our entire family … and any/all healthcare needs
- Trust funds in a Swiss Bank for our grandchildren … sufficient for for-real educations and “a start” on the careers of their choice. But NOT enough for a “trust fund” life.
- A very comfortable Log Home … On a Lake within easy driving distance of/for “the kids”. No more than 3.500 sq ft … with a boat dock, of course, and a 16′ fishing pontoon boat.
- A fully tricked-out Dodge Ram 1500 Warlock for me … and whatever car(s) Blondie wants.
- Membership in a jet-share service for (almost) spur-of-the-moment “lets go to ….” jaunts.
- Trips as often as desired for Blondie & me to assorted “faraway places with strange sounding names” such as Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Montana … and Rio Negro Brazil (to fish for Peacock Bass).
- Some other similar silly stuff I’ll think of later …
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It occurred to me putting together this somewhat pedestrian list … that
… My List 15-20-30+ years ago would have been MUCH more extravagant with “bling stuff”.
Those lists would have included a lot of crap that “everyone is suppose to want” but many of us would quickly realize “isn’t us”.
For instance … “membership in private clubs” Aaaaiieeee! Or various vacation homes in exotic locales. YUCK!
This scenario excludes concern for insuring the on-going availability of said “unlimited funds”. So “a sound investment strategy” need not be a factor. If necessary, we’d ask our buddy “JoCo Bob” to handle that.
I noted a few columns back that I have FOUR friends battling various levels of Cancer today. A year ago none of the four knew what was in store for them. One of the four is wealthy and can afford the very best oncologists. The other three, I’m not sure what their treatment circumstances are.
In thinking about their circumstances, I recall that Apple’s Steve Jobs and Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen have both died of cancer in recent years. Ergo … if $$$$ could protect one from tragic health misfortune, they would both be alive today. They aren’t.
In this game today … That Rule applies. A Long Life cannot be bought …
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Blondie and I have had “The Wisconsin 5” – a/k/a “Kid”, Rev. Danny and our three grandchildren – ReRe, YaYa and Little Danny – here in our home over the past three weeks. That time …
… Was Priceless !!!
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Feel free to share Your “I’d …” list with us … or just for your private pleasure.
Many (but probably not all) of you might enjoy BobLee’s SAIDWHAT mini-columns – CLICK HERE … they have become QUITE a Facebook Phenomenon… They would SCARE THE CRAP outta Katie Couric!
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More BobLeeSays Columns – HERE
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I would use the money and figure out a way for all of the Bob Lee Says column readers to get together for a day and talk about life.
Be careful what you wish for. I don’t say that because it might someday happen but would you really want it too? . There is a certain comfort in “imagination” versus “reality”. I share my thoughts, my opinions and elements of my life here for the past 20 years. I am pretty much who / what you imagine / think I am from all the clues I’ve given you over the years. I can’t guarantee that about anyone else you read on here. I “personally know” several dozen of the folks you “meet” here. The rest are simply words in… Read more »
I would finally break down and buy that boat knowing good and well it was a bad investment.
When $$$ is no object … the “bad investment” option is eliminated. Go for It!
Deep inside, I was meant to be an ag boy, I think. I don’t need a Dutton or Wendell Murphy sized spread, but maybe 100-200 acres and the funds to make sure my family doesn’t depend on me making any money out of that land. Farm pond, chickens, goats, cows, veggies, and silence from the outside world.
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And for it to be within a 30 minute drive to a SuperTarget so my wife doesn’t leave me. I try to explain to her that the brown truck delivers anywhere, but that infernal red circle is a beacon calling her in.
Once Again … we are in synch. My Log Cabin on a Lake must be within 15 miles of a town of at least 10,000 “with a Wal-Mart”. Not necessarily a SuperCenter but I need reasonable access to more than A Dollar Store. I have ever-decreasing material needs but I want what I want. Having to wait 24-48 hours for “a brown truck or its equivalent” is fine for 90% of my “wants”. . I have no yearning for land or to sink my hands in the soil … but Blondie does. She dearly loves to “reap – sow –… Read more »
The private club thing. My sample is very middle class, but I only know 3 families who are members of a Country Club any longer. 2 are avid golfers, 1 is a work thing. That seems to be a vestige of an older era. I don’t see the social stigma of not being a member of THE CLUB that probably hung around in past generations. You can have stinking money without being one of those folks nowadays.
In the early 80s, I moved to Dallas. At the height of the “Fake Rolexes and You Are What You Drive” Craze. A darling of the Lifestyle magazine set was the local guy who was The #1 Porsche Salesman in America. He had almost “Cowboys QB” fame.
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I recall thinking “someday I want a locker with my name on it at a fancy country club”. Reflecting back 40 years later, that was as scary as when I said “I’m a people person” in a job interview in my mid 20s. Aaaaiiieeeee!
According to Q, they can do this, so…
How ’bout one of those Lee Majors’ things?
A million dollars wouldn’t come close.
I figured you were still lurking out there…
Okay, at your request, here we go, and I’m not ashamed to put it out there: . A penthouse in town for easy access to events (if we are ever allowed to escape lockdown). . A mansion outside of town with land. The mansion for entertaining and fundraising (see above) and land for horse stables and refuge for dogs/cats that cannot be adopted. . Beach house. . Mercedes coupe and Porsche 911. . Private jet with pilot on call. . Superyacht in which to travel to far away lands. . Invest in land projected to increase in value. Market being… Read more »
Ahhh! The PERFECT combination of girlish pampering and dutiful daughter/sister humanitarianism.
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I know most folks want 2nd / 3rd get-away homes. Thats never appealed to me. I just want “HOME” with all my stuff albeit “all” isn’t all that much as I have grown to detest “clutter”. … but HOME Where I want it and How I want it.
Timely and relevant for me in several respects. Thought about winning the big one and what I would I with it for over 25 years. Never have had a long wish list of luxurious things. However, one of the first things I would have done remained constant for a long time. Disconnect the telephone. That of course changed when the kids moved away, got married, and started producing offspring.
The only telephone calls I get these days are FaceTime from Wisconsin and, of course, those infernal Car Warranty calls.
Well shucks. I thought that the nice guy from India, Divyansh, was my real friend.
I would hire all those know-it-all ‘coaches’ over on PackPride and then my Wolfpack would never ever lose again to any of our hated rivals no matter how much they cheated. . Have you taken the little on ones on a fishing expedition yet? Enjoy every moment with them. Waitng now on my second vaccine so that we will be a little more comfortable in moving about the world. Actually went to a HS soccer game Saturday morn and sat in sunny below 40F temp but it was worth it to watch one compete. As I have said before, it… Read more »
That would be A LOT of coaches to hire !!! No, not yet but first have to get one-year old “Little Danny” to appreciate Vienna Sausage and Slim Jims !!!
BL, you’ll see I got carried away. Use this or not as a comment. At least, you and your in-house Friar Tuck may enjoy it. . I live in a place (not Las Vegas) where it is not uncommon to see, hear or read about people who suddenly b come “wealthy.” Some years ago, a new “game” was added to the one-dollar slot machines. A player had to “invest” $3 to be eligible for the multi-million dollar jackpot, which began with a $10 million payout. That grew until someone won, at which time the pot was reset at $10 million.… Read more »
There is some sage wisdom about “May the last check I write on my death bed … bounce”. A Life well lived?
Great looking crew, BobLee (but what else should be expected). Glad you had that precious time with them.
DH
Hi DH. We are very proud of them. Three more months on The Frozen Tundra of Wiscy then escape to Richmond. YIPPEE!
Well just so happens the wife and I were discussing this very topic yesterday. We did the house at da beach some 9 years ago, we bought the car of our choice with no regard to cost about a decade ago, and decided we were set. Then health issues became an issue as you note and after several long conversations of where do we want to spend the last decade or so of life and settled right back in our long inland home in Johnston County. We consider it a blessing we did not go for the second choice of… Read more »
Many a King Midas has cried out in desperation when a biopsy comes back positive. How long does it take a man to create his own definition of “Happiness”.
BobLee, If you ever go peacock bass fishing, I’d like to go with you!
That’s a Deal! Check out YouTubes on Peacock Bass … they are HUGE! … 25-40 lbs is not unusual. Of course there IS the matter of the Amazon Headhunters to deal with. One does NOT “wade” in The Amazon what with 20 species of piranha !!!
BobLee,
You and Blondie must be very proud of the Kid, Danny, and those precious grandchildren. Not sure any “what if” could make your smile any bigger.
Their are turning out pretty darn well either “because of” or “in spite of” us. “Kid” is a natural-born Mommy. That helps!