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Post by High Priestess on Jun 14, 2016 16:30:11 GMT
Anyone interested in sharing some dreams....and ideas of how you would change the world...if you could...if you had $50 million?
So if you were suddenly handed $50 million -- from whatever source, winning the lottery, trust fund baby, inheritance, your idea for a new internet company took off exponentially -- what would you do with the money?
Say that this $50 million is the amount you receive after taxes. The only "rule" involved in your decision on how to use it, is that you must use at least $5 million for yourself (even if all you do is put it in the bank and never touch it) -- so you can't give away all $50 million, and you can't refuse the money and give it all back. You could spend the entire amount on yourself if you want, or only $5 million on yourself and give the rest to charities...or you could found a charity, take up a worthy cause, address a need that the world has.
What are some things you would love to do, if only you had the time and/or money? What personal goals and dreams would this help you fulfill? If you had $50 million, would you continue hosting, or not? Would you continue to work, or not? WOuld you start new hobbies, or just spend more time in your current interests/hobbies/activities? Is there something you've always wanted to do, but were never able to do, as money and/or time have been a barrier?
 WHere would you go, what would you do? What fantasies would you like to live?
Do you think being wealthy would help you learn about yourself, and make your life better, or would it cause problems, and make you spoiled? Have you known wealthy people -- and how did they fare? Have you known anyone who's suddenly come upon a lot of money -- or suddenly lost a lot, who didn't know how to manage it?
What would you do with this money? 
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Post by Inanna (Shaun) on Jun 14, 2016 23:12:50 GMT
Wow. What a question. Must carefully consider my investments.
I would probably take a year off and study what to do with it. Five mil is certainly enough for me, so I would study how to turn my five into more in ways that had nothing to do with the markets.
And once I was more of a sophisticated investor, I would be able to make a better decision about how to create something with the money that added value to humans. It would very likely be connected to helping women, through education or work, especially perhaps in developing countries. But it would not be a hand out. Certainly not just a huge donation to a cause. That would be no fun. Building something awesome and having it be run by the people being helped would be very rewarding. Maybe something like clean water access. Education for girls. The two issues together in one solution.
As for my five, I would invest in real estate and continue to host, just with more help and more space for myself.
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Post by High Priestess on Jun 15, 2016 5:57:09 GMT
I posted this question here, to inspire us to enjoy daydreaming, because this is one of my all-time favorite of daydreaming questions. I also realize that, realism aside, it's actually a good question to use for anyone to help prompt ourselves to imagine possibilities about what we want to do, that may in some cases not really require wealth to do. Some of the dreams we can get carried on by this question, may actually not require ANY money....just the will and the intent. For instance, career counselors will often ask this question of their clients. Because they know that in order to find out what they really want to do in life, people need to remove any inner barriers they have to letting themselves dream.
So what would I do with $50M?
Well to begin with, I would not stop hosting! I have found that I really like having guests in my house and wouldn't want to stop that. But I would do less hosting. THe job I would quit is my home repair/maintenance/construction/consulting/home design job. I actually like many aspects of that work too, but there are so many things I like to do...it's hard to find time for everything! So I would focus first on the things I like to do most.
The main thing that I would love to be able to do, is have more time for both spiritual practice and creative pursuits.
I would first determine how much of the money I needed to use for my own needs. I would pay off my home loan and debts, and set aside enough for life expenses.
ONe of the things I would most look forward to is actually being able to reclaim more space in my house for my own use. I have issues with space. WOUld reclaim space, and expand and de-clutter.
Spend more time creatively -- art, writing. And more time for bicycling, hiking. I would buy a small RV/camper, and do more camping trips. I would also enjoy staying in more Airbnb's! One of my first destinations would be Utah, the national parks in Utah. I have hardly spent any time there and want to visit.
I would not actually expand my hosting business or buy other rental property. There is a chance I might buy a 2nd small house as a "retreat" or vacation home ---- ideal for me would be a simple cabin in the woods, or at the coast, ideally a very simple structure, whose simplicity encouraged introspection and meditation.
With whatever $ was left, I would like to use that money to do research into founding a few organizations, based on things I think are needed in the world.
I would like to encourage the development of systems of local economy, run on a trade/barter system, involving as much "off the grid" business as possible. I would like to encourage urban dwellers to grow their own food, make their own clothes...even furniture...and try to become as self-sufficient as possible. I would found a Society for Study into the Reduction of Costs of Housing. HOw to build less expensive homes and communities. Along with this, a Society for Global Population Reduction -- to encourage downsizing our species, to help reduce our ever inreasing demand upon natural resources.
I would like to found the INstitute for the Increase of Imagination. A society oriented to helping people develop their capacity for imagination and creativity -- something which I think is one of the most important aspects of mental, emotional and spiritual health.
I would like to create an organization to create Rites of Passage Into Manhood. I believe one of the major causes of violence in the US today, is too many young men without direction, purpose or a sense of meaning. Traditionally young men in indigenous societies all had rites of manhood, and there were societies for men, which were healthy, not criminal -- involving physical, mental challenges -- not dares to commit crimes. I'd like to create a fund to train men to re-connect with older traditions that could adapt older rites for new times, or take newer ideas/activities and make them into meaningful rites.
Another idea for a fund: (I have many) -- the "Solve a Horrible Problem" fund. Many people find that they are experiencing a serious problem that may be due to government bureaucracy, corporate ineptitude, vindictive relatives or neighbors, an idiotic and unjust "Justice System", or some other form of the system really not working for someone. People could write applications to my "Solve a Horrible Problem" fund and winners would get free legal or media or other help with their problem. In order to qualify for help, petitioners would have to demonstrate that they had put in intelligent and meaningful effort to try to solve the problem themselves. Slackers and perennial beggars would not be eligible.
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Post by helgaparis on Jun 15, 2016 22:20:05 GMT
We had this question, with 10 Millions, or was it 50 millions but still in Austrian currency, about 7 Mio Euros, on a form for job interviews. I always regretted that it was not enough to go to the space station. (I refused to fill in my own form, too nosy, got the job and had to ask a few hundred people nosy questions in the following years. None had interesting answers.)
I would also like to keep hosting, maybe put it all in a foundation (for taxes), buy a house or several apartments in Paris or Paris and other towns and have artists in residence. Maybe let the tourists pay for the upkeep and let the artists stay against art work. Hire some good people for the media work and launch promising talents.
In the sense of your solving of horrible problems, for the last years I dreamed about spending an Euro Millions gain in free legal help against institutions. Sue all the bastards that get away with cheating and exploiting the small people.
As we are dreaming here...
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