Money And Happiness

[Heng]

...but for example I want to be able to eat where ever I want whenever I want but this is some sort of freedom that is not too expensive.

Eating is a major source of happiness for me, especially since I don't smoke or drink (much). Not just wherever one wants, but you'd be surprised how many people don't even have the "freedom" to eat whatever they want from the supermarket. People shouldn't have to rationalize why they don't want/need to eat a certain cut of meat or cheese.

[Lost in LOS]

I have been poor and rich and rich is way better and I am much more content and happy. I did it not by getting handouts or complaining about the rich, I did it by working hard and smart 6 days a week, 12 hours a day for 45 years, while the poor guys now were drinking beer in the favorite pub. I do help those that i feel work hard, are not looking for a handout but just cant get it together. i help with advice and with money as I deem fit.

my favorite quote about taxing the rich was by a black lawyer who has a radio show in los angeles. his name is Larry Elder. [one of only two black men I would vote for president, Colin Powell being the other]

his father grew up picking cotton, then saved enough to go to the city to be a dishwasher, then saved enough to be a waiter, then saved enough to own the restaurant he was working in, then saved enough to send Larry through Law School. when Larry as a young man told his father that the rich should be taxed more to help the poor people his father replied with my favorite quote:

"A poor man never hired me"

just my two cents that I worked hard to earn

[bendix]

Of course money and happiness are inextricably linked. Anyone suggesting to the contrary is naive and foolish.

Who do you guys think is the happier? A teacher living in a one room Prakanong apartment, looking forward to the Friday night buffets in downtown Nana, or our very own Warren Buffet, Naam, puffing his cigars and drinking his fine wines in Chateau Naam in Pattaya? I know who I'd rather be.

[disgruntled]

Ant colonies get bigger and bigger. They want to take over everything. When city people get board they start buying country houses driving up costs forcing the locals to join their game. In the past poor people coudl run away to unknown lands; now, there are fewer and fewer places to run to. Eventually everyone will be in the machine driven by the haves.

[Pierrot]

Our researcher might have saved himself a lot off effort if he had only watched 'The Treasure of the Sierra Mardre ....... with that great actor... what's his name?!

Walter Huston. The father of the director of that film, John Huston.

Marlon Brando, " QUEIMADA ", an other great actor, an other great movie.

W. W. : "Gentlemen, let me ask you a question. Now, my metaphor may seem a trifle impertinent, but I think it's very much to the point. Which do you prefer - or should I say, which do you find more convenient - a wife, or one of these mulatto girls? ...."

[Pierrot]

Back to 2008.

Original post : "I'm a beautiful 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year..."

Answer :

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.

Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."

I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

[qwertz]

But when one day there's not enough water oil and food to go around - what you can't do with it is eat it or drink it.

And your car and your yacht won't won't run on it either.

When there is no food or water left on the planet, sure. No doubt no one will be eating or drinking at all.

When there is limited supply, as it is NOW, no need to wait "one day," some people will have access to it, and some won't. And what do you think people will use to gain access to it?

That wasn't my point but if we look at it from your viewpoint, the people who don't have it will then come and rob you and if

necessary kill you for it. So you'll have to spend most of your fortune on a private army which you'll have to feed.

Speaking of happiness, two of my friends in England became millionaires, one through hard work and the other by winning the lottery.

Are they happy? No way, one envies me because his dream is to do the fleshpots of SEA but if he dared his wife would take him for all

he has.

The other has indulged his particular fancy i.e. expensive booze and is currently drying out in a care home while his wife goes

shopping in Rome or Paris.

[Heng]

But when one day there's not enough water oil and food to go around - what you can't do with it is eat it or drink it.

And your car and your yacht won't won't run on it either.

When there is no food or water left on the planet, sure. No doubt no one will be eating or drinking at all.

When there is limited supply, as it is NOW, no need to wait "one day," some people will have access to it, and some won't. And what do you think people will use to gain access to it?

That wasn't my point but if we look at it from your viewpoint, the people who don't have it will then come and rob you and if

necessary kill you for it. So you'll have to spend most of your fortune on a private army which you'll have to feed.

That's just wishful thinking. Although there are examples from history where peasant uprisings can overthrow the establishment, history also shows that things return to "equilibrium" (with the same groups that were previously "on top" back in place) soon after.