I started this post about 6 months ago after I watched a video called "Stories from the Stage" one of my newer loves is someone standing up in front of total strangers and telling a bit about them self. That day a woman of about my age told of wanting to quit everything to live her dream and after much anguish she did. Since I am the reliable steadfast type it is hard for me to imagine sticking my neck out that far. I mean I wouldn't have a steady paycheck or insurance. How could I be so reckless?
My dream would be to sail a sailboat up the Mississippi River and then the Ohio River. Why? Because it is something my dad talked about when we were kids building a boat and sail it up to Ohio and see if he could get all the way to where his brother, my Uncle Chuck lived. That was from when I was less than 10 years old. Uncle Chuck died when I was in middle school but I have never forgotten that my dad wanted to do that. Maybe it was his dream to get away but more likely with him it was to prove that he could do it. That is why I do most of the things I do. Just so I can prove to myself I can do anything I put my mind to.
Dad did build that sailboat in our driveway as kids. We used to sit on the deck in the driveway sunning ourselves. We have pictures of every step of the building process from plans. First the wooden frame and then he built the fiberglass hull and created something from nothing. He had a party when the hull was finished to flip it over. I can't remember how many guys it took to get the hull flipped from upside down to right side up in a cradle that still holds it today.. That boat moved from one driveway to another at least 3 times. That boat has never floated. It has never quite been finished and now that I am well past the age which he started it still seems like a project that needs to be finished and honestly I have no idea what it would take other than hard work.
I think about the sailing adventure and stopping along the way and meeting new people and having old friends visit me as I travel along. I have watched plenty of movies about sailing adventures and most don't end up as the sailor expects. There is always that unplanned hurricane, crashing into a cargo container or the mast breaking. These are scenes from one of those movies Brian wouldn't watch All is Lost. Now the title does kinda give away it isn't gonna be the best trip ever. But it is one of those movies that there is no dialog except for a few expletives that Robert Redford says to himself. Even though this isn't a movie about visiting lush islands and sinking barefoot into the sand as you jump off your boat on a tropical island. It is about how things can go.
In the months that have past since I started this I found a book by an author that I really liked his first book that I read Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. I really love travel adventures. Finding places you have never been and then going. Another thing I have in common with my dad. Since his retirement every few years there is a trip that lasts a month or so. He plans from the time one trip ends until the next starts. I am not sure which part he likes more planning or doing but when he does it he goes all in and lives the life. Well William Least Heat Moon has a newer book called River-horse about crossing the United States by boat. Trying to use rivers and interior bodies of water. I read the first chapter online the other day and ordered the book.At the beginning he speaks of his road atlas the way some would speak of their favorite book. It may be taped together but it can not be replaced.
It is like I tell Brian just because we don't know where we are we aren't lost. I love turning the corner and finding a new way to get somewhere. Maybe one day the boat will be finished and I can sail it.
Showing posts with label dreams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dreams. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Saturday, August 29, 2015
What do I want for my birthday?
September is right around the corner and that means one of the hardest questions of the year will be asked of me and I will not answer well, because well is me.
My birthday is this month and since I am not a jewelry person or a music person or movie person I don't collect anything I never know what I want for gift. Not for any holiday throughout the year. There are things I would like but none are within my means that I would want someone else to pick. I love books but I love going to the book store and choosing. Not someone standing over me tapping their toe waiting for me to make the perfect selection in 15 minutes. It doesn't work that way.
So if money was no option what would I want. A sail boat about 25 ft long goes for well I am surprised anywhere from maybe $3,000 to $15,000 or more of course. Big enough to take overnight trips but not to big that I would need help sailing. But then you need a place to store it and a trailer and a vehicle that can tow it or a slip and that is expensive. See how that could get very expensive. Another wish of mine would be for an old Mustang something between 65-67 maybe a fast back. Or I even saw a company out of Lakeland that makes new Mustangs that look old. Only $125,000. So you see my taste is not cheap.
Today while we were at the movies seeing Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, I thought I wonder what Tom Cruise got paid for this movie? What would I do with that kind of money. Hmm. I looked it up in the car. Tom made $25,000,000 for the movie. That is crazy money. Well crazy for me. So I thought if I had $25,000,000 what would I do with it. I mean maybe Tom would realize that I have been a good fan and I have seen quite a few movies(just counted 18 of 38 listed) and my share must add up to something. Well I just did the math and drum roll...$288 well I guess that is not that much that I have spent. So I won't be surprised that Tom isn't going to give me $25,000,000 either.
But since I can have anything let us just say he did. Here is how I would spend it. This is a blog not a legal binding document. If your name is mentioned I do not have said money and probably never will but in my dream land here is what I would do with it.
Family first. My mother would like to live another 20 years which with her health may or may not be a reasonable expectation but in this world it is. So let us just give her $500,000 to keep her comfortable in the house she has which she wouldn't trade for the world. I would give my brother and sisters and father the same. So that is $2,500,000 more. Brian is mad because I have given money away before I have done anything for us. So Brian can have a new car and motorcycle $65,000. Brian would like a pool but our yard does not really fit a pool so I have always wanted to buy the house next to mine and tear it down and put a pool and build an addition on to our house. with a reading room that I could write in and be inspired by wonderful books around me some beautiful rich wood cabinets a nice kitchen, patio and a few spare bedrooms to have room for sleepovers with my nieces and nephew before they are grown. $350,000. Man it goes fast with good taste.
Speaking of my nieces and nephews I would set them up with some money here we go another $2,500,000.
So we have taken care of the family and I am already seeing my bank account dropping quick but the money is really only the means to the end which is taking care of everyone. So far I am almost $6,000,000 in. Brian's family we would give the same amount which would be $3,000,000. We have a couple friends that I would give probably a total $500,000 and we are good. I have as well a few favorite charities that I would give to but nothing crazy because I would rather help a lot a little that give it all to one. And I need to live off of the rest you know. I would want Brian and I to be able to travel and live a comfortable life so lets say we would have to live for the next 50 years off of $5,000,000. So now I am up to almost 15 of my $25,000,000. I now see why Tom has to keep making movies. I don't own a jet or a chateau or a vineyard. I would like to visit Rome and Monaco but don't need a house there. I would like to go on cruises in the Caribbean and in Tahiti but don't need a yacht. I would like new things but nothing outrageous. I would want to well obviously have to keep my head about me that money since it is going fast.
So what is left a good life with my family to be able to share the bounty that I have been given. Be it $25,000,000 or more likely the estimated 1.2 million Brian and I will earn over the next 20 years of our lives and then retire and hope that our earnings will last us the rest of our happy lives together.
See what I see when I read this whole thing. There are only 3 things that I listed that I want. Everything else would be to share and enjoy with others. I want to be happy and I would love to have a boat and teach the kids to sail and a really cool car to teach them to drive in but if I can't have a cool car I will teach them in my Sebring and I will rent a boat for an afternoon so I can teach them to sail. If I can't go on a cruise with them all maybe we can go to dinner at a nice restaurant and if we can't go to Rome, Italy maybe Rome, Georgia or Paris, Texas. So I do know that after the lemon cake I shared last night with my friend Tracy and her daughter and grandson I do know what kind of cake I would like and we can afford that.
I just read what I have written so far to Brian and it has brought tears to my eyes but you know he rattled off that I forgot about his man cave that would be somewhere near my library with a big screen tv with recliner seats theater quality sound and arcade games and whatever other cool gadgets he can dream up. See the I have no problem finding a gift for him. So good luck babe with my birthday gift. Good thing in my mind it is still better to give than receive.
My birthday is this month and since I am not a jewelry person or a music person or movie person I don't collect anything I never know what I want for gift. Not for any holiday throughout the year. There are things I would like but none are within my means that I would want someone else to pick. I love books but I love going to the book store and choosing. Not someone standing over me tapping their toe waiting for me to make the perfect selection in 15 minutes. It doesn't work that way.
So if money was no option what would I want. A sail boat about 25 ft long goes for well I am surprised anywhere from maybe $3,000 to $15,000 or more of course. Big enough to take overnight trips but not to big that I would need help sailing. But then you need a place to store it and a trailer and a vehicle that can tow it or a slip and that is expensive. See how that could get very expensive. Another wish of mine would be for an old Mustang something between 65-67 maybe a fast back. Or I even saw a company out of Lakeland that makes new Mustangs that look old. Only $125,000. So you see my taste is not cheap.
Today while we were at the movies seeing Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, I thought I wonder what Tom Cruise got paid for this movie? What would I do with that kind of money. Hmm. I looked it up in the car. Tom made $25,000,000 for the movie. That is crazy money. Well crazy for me. So I thought if I had $25,000,000 what would I do with it. I mean maybe Tom would realize that I have been a good fan and I have seen quite a few movies(just counted 18 of 38 listed) and my share must add up to something. Well I just did the math and drum roll...$288 well I guess that is not that much that I have spent. So I won't be surprised that Tom isn't going to give me $25,000,000 either.
But since I can have anything let us just say he did. Here is how I would spend it. This is a blog not a legal binding document. If your name is mentioned I do not have said money and probably never will but in my dream land here is what I would do with it.
Family first. My mother would like to live another 20 years which with her health may or may not be a reasonable expectation but in this world it is. So let us just give her $500,000 to keep her comfortable in the house she has which she wouldn't trade for the world. I would give my brother and sisters and father the same. So that is $2,500,000 more. Brian is mad because I have given money away before I have done anything for us. So Brian can have a new car and motorcycle $65,000. Brian would like a pool but our yard does not really fit a pool so I have always wanted to buy the house next to mine and tear it down and put a pool and build an addition on to our house. with a reading room that I could write in and be inspired by wonderful books around me some beautiful rich wood cabinets a nice kitchen, patio and a few spare bedrooms to have room for sleepovers with my nieces and nephew before they are grown. $350,000. Man it goes fast with good taste.
Speaking of my nieces and nephews I would set them up with some money here we go another $2,500,000.
So we have taken care of the family and I am already seeing my bank account dropping quick but the money is really only the means to the end which is taking care of everyone. So far I am almost $6,000,000 in. Brian's family we would give the same amount which would be $3,000,000. We have a couple friends that I would give probably a total $500,000 and we are good. I have as well a few favorite charities that I would give to but nothing crazy because I would rather help a lot a little that give it all to one. And I need to live off of the rest you know. I would want Brian and I to be able to travel and live a comfortable life so lets say we would have to live for the next 50 years off of $5,000,000. So now I am up to almost 15 of my $25,000,000. I now see why Tom has to keep making movies. I don't own a jet or a chateau or a vineyard. I would like to visit Rome and Monaco but don't need a house there. I would like to go on cruises in the Caribbean and in Tahiti but don't need a yacht. I would like new things but nothing outrageous. I would want to well obviously have to keep my head about me that money since it is going fast.
So what is left a good life with my family to be able to share the bounty that I have been given. Be it $25,000,000 or more likely the estimated 1.2 million Brian and I will earn over the next 20 years of our lives and then retire and hope that our earnings will last us the rest of our happy lives together.
See what I see when I read this whole thing. There are only 3 things that I listed that I want. Everything else would be to share and enjoy with others. I want to be happy and I would love to have a boat and teach the kids to sail and a really cool car to teach them to drive in but if I can't have a cool car I will teach them in my Sebring and I will rent a boat for an afternoon so I can teach them to sail. If I can't go on a cruise with them all maybe we can go to dinner at a nice restaurant and if we can't go to Rome, Italy maybe Rome, Georgia or Paris, Texas. So I do know that after the lemon cake I shared last night with my friend Tracy and her daughter and grandson I do know what kind of cake I would like and we can afford that.
I just read what I have written so far to Brian and it has brought tears to my eyes but you know he rattled off that I forgot about his man cave that would be somewhere near my library with a big screen tv with recliner seats theater quality sound and arcade games and whatever other cool gadgets he can dream up. See the I have no problem finding a gift for him. So good luck babe with my birthday gift. Good thing in my mind it is still better to give than receive.
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