Ah yes, the rush to get rich, quick. Well, not too quick because the rush isn't really a rush at all. It's wait-in-line-with-five-hundred-other-hopefulls. If you're an extrovert, you can chat it up with fellow waiters. If you're an introvert or haven't had enough coffee, you may be more introspective, wondering why you're even bothering as the odds of winning dampen your dreams. But then you think, I can't win if I don't play. So you step closer to the front of the line and check your phone and think of all the other things you should be doing.
I just made all that up. I'm not really sure how it all pans out because in my fifty-five years on this planet, I've never played the lottery. Not even a scratch-and-win.
Back in my church-going days, my reasoning was simple--it's a sin to gamble. Not exactly "reasoning" but I was busy with other things and didn't really care.
Now that I'm older and doing a lot more free thinking, I'm wondering if the lottery might be a fun "hobby." If I budget my dollars, do some research and keep track of everything, like I do my other hobbies, maybe, someday, I'll actually come out a winner.
I don't want to win the Powerball jackpot. I don't want the headache that managing a billion dollars would cause. I mean we can see how cranky billionaires are be by looking at the republican party. I think I'd rather chew glass than have to hire a slew of lawyers and accountants to deal with my instant wealth.
But on the other hand, wouldn't it be fun to withdraw say, a thousand dollars in fifties and hand them out, one by one, to people on the street, just because you can? Write a big fat check to my local Humane Society or homeless shelter? I would love that. And I admit it would be cool to go on a shopping spree without thought of how much things cost.
Maybe there is a middle ground. Maybe I can be sensible about it all and figure out a strategy and have fun. What are your thoughts? Do you bother with the lottery?
We talked about getting a couple tickets tomorrow when we go out for our errands. A couple bucks and you get the dreams of what could be. My husband plays every week...wins a buck or two. His attitude is that if nothing else he has good dreams for a night or two. It isn't the 'milk money' so it isn't an issue for us. There are those who spend far more than they can afford, that I believe is a problem.
ReplyDeleteThe Oregonian had a piece this morning about how your odds of getting mauled by a bear (and other unlikely scenarios) were actually better than that of winning the Powerball.
ReplyDeleteBack when I worked an a huge office everyone (who wanted to) would pitch in on tickets, the idea being that we'd all split the winnings. That's the only time I ever "bought" a Powerball ticket. I thought of it as cheap insurance that I wouldn't be the only looser still coming to work.
Oh I have great fun fantasizing about all the good things I'd do with the money. Grow the business faster. Support ailing relatives. Save the animals. Those fantasies alone are worth the buck to me.
ReplyDeleteI have never bought a lottery ticket or whatever any of them are called. I have no interest in throwing my money away like that. Plus, when I get into things, I really get into them, so I don't think it would be a good idea for me to get into gambling. I don't think my husband normally does, but a few days ago, he gave $6.00 to participate with a group who bought some tickets together.
ReplyDeleteWe got our two dollars worth last week. And probably will again before the drawing. But the night we crawled into bed, and Lon told me no one had won, and how much it would be going up to, I said, that's just stupid. NO one should be allowed to win that much money. Now, a million would be nice. ;)
ReplyDeleteSome of us are Republicans and some of us are Democrats, like some of us are gamblers and some don't have the inclination to take risks. I think a happy medium is fine as long as you don't go overboard on any issue. I lean toward being liberal and taking a few risks and it works for me. Whatever floats your boat. :)
ReplyDeleteThe last - in fact the ONLY thing I ever won was an easter egg in a play school raffle 28 years ago! I reflect on that fact if I ever feel tempted to buy a ticket !
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