If

What would you do if....

Lately Dad and I have been playing the what if game. I stumbled across the websites of a couple of lottery winners, or near lottery winners and it was interesting to see what they did and what they learned after their wins. It isn't as if we intend to win the lottery, or are even purchasing tickets.

But what I found interesting is that the exercise of defining what you think you might do is revealing. And if you can define some of your wants, and needs, you can actually consider pursuing them, with or without lottery winnings, to the degree that is actually doable. And, it is fun to dream.

So far we have visited many foreign countries, and beautiful beaches. We have paid off all of our debts, and some of yours, and we have helped you with your financial pinches, i.e. houses, investments, etc. We have extricated ourselves from this full time job of keeping the ranch afloat, and we have relocated to Hawaii and Panama.

We have envisioned family parties, reunions and excursions to Hawaii by our children. That is a destination few people object to. We have racked up lots of skymiles so we can, as Dad said, "visit my children more often."

We have boxed up our prized personal possessions, and we have given to you children whatever else we have that you want for yourselves, and we have sold everything else. How freeing it is to own so little. We have quit our jobs: our sports photography business , our Wyoming corporation business, our writing pursuits, and we have taken up new interests, i.e. surfing, ceramics, travel photography, and cruising.

Doesn't it all sound so nice? I bet you can't wait for our new life to begin. I know I can't.