After the last week or so, I thought I would sit quietly writing, whilst nursing a gin. We had some fish for dinner, so I could even have a slice of lemon also, which I normally don't do. With this particular gin however, it is okay, as it isn't that great, but is quite sweet. Personally, I think my favorite has been Hendrick's with cucumber - but I am not that fussy. Not like an alcoholic "not fussy", just not that snobby that slight differences really matter all that much to me.
This week hasn't been the greatest, but there has been positive movements, since we found out that while our insurance isn't going to cover us, the heating company will. However, we have had a lot come out of pocket unexpectedly, which has left us a little short and there is more coming that we will have to likely replace now, and send the bills forward.
Like a new washing machine.
Our washer isn't that old, but since it froze, isn't draining. Thankfully, we didn't run a load through, otherwise it would just be stuck in there, since the door won't open. I don't know much about whitegoods repairs, but I assume there was a little bit of water in the pump that takes the water out and once that froze, it destroyed the part. It might be repairable, but I think it should be replaced. We haven't been able to test the dryer yet.
Either way, bills for the heating company insurance.
But, it will come out of our pocket first, and it is a little tighter than I had hoped it would be, with still a week until I get paid, and the bills are mounting. Normally, we do have a bit of an emergency fund put aside, but we have used that covering extra expenses and last month, I added extra onto the loan to pay that down faster. It is more of a liquidity problem, but nothing to overly worry about.
However, as my wife was paying the bills and saw her bank account dwindling, the stress was evident. Like it or not, money has an effect on our lives and not having enough at the right times, or having to spend too much at the wrong times, will have an effect. I am not overly concerned at this point, but I think it is good that my wife feels a bit of the pressure right now, because I think at times she doesn't think that much about expenses.
Well, that is not quite true.
She does, but she doesn't think about the opportunity cost of expenses. She is more of the kind that as long as we have enough to do what she thinks we should, that is fine. But, it doesn't look too far into the future at what might happen later. She definitely doesn't have an investment mindset, even though she knows she should think more about it.
But, I think this is common for many people, where we are more short-term thinkers, so as long as we are able to get what we want and need now, we aren't too concerned with the wants and needs of the future. Essentially, investing is preparing for those future wants and needs, under the assumption that they will arise.
And in general, it is a pretty good call, because we tend to want to "progress" in life and one of the ways we feel we are doing so, is by expanding our footprint, which usually has a cost. For many, it is more material things like a better house, car, or clothing. For others, it might be experience-based, like travel, concerts or some kind of event. However, we are pretty much built to expand, not retract.
We are collectors.
What we collect can change. It is easy to think about stamps, or cars, or even money - the things that often "enlightened" people will call materialistic, but they are collectors too. Collectors of knowledge, or the feelings that they get from their spirituality. Even the people who give up everything but what they need to survive, are collecting something, even if it is imaginary points they believe they need, for an imaginary afterlife.
Self-interest.
We are all pretty much self-interested, meaning that we are interested in what we are interested in, even if it comes at the expense of others. We can be self-interested and still add value to others, but there really is very little difference in the mechanics of the process.
One collects money.
One collects experiences.
One collects notches on the bed post.
Is there really that much of a difference? One is addicted to caffeine, one is addicted to cocaine, one is addicted to serving the God they believe in. No difference, they each get a high of some sort, a feeling of satisfaction, a reprieve from the withdrawal, the longing, the compulsion.
Relief from the pain of going without.
They say that we should be grateful for what we have, but perhaps the problem is that that we define ourselves by what we don't have, and maybe that is natural. When we "don't have" we look to get, either through desire or need, and it could be that this is a natural part of our humanity. When we don't have food, we are hungry, and will search for food. When there is no one with us, we get lonely, and will search for companionship.
Maybe not having is what drives us forward.
Of course, if we aren't careful, want turn into need, so we feel that we are missing out, that we must have, that we are compelled. Addicts once again, withdrawals coming in the form of FOMO.
While we are all collectors, I guess we should also consider what we are collecting, and why we are doing so. What is the point of collecting money if it is not to be used? What is the point of collecting knowledge that will never be applied? Or collecting experiences that will never be remembered? What is the point of doing anything, if it doesn't take our species forward in some way, even if that way is negligible?
Maybe it comes down to intention.
Does it add to the collection, or the collective?
I finished my gin.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
