A to Z Challenge: Weird Thoughts on Wealth

[livingdeb]

I like to think of wealth as savings, by which I mean things that you have that you can save for later use. If you already have things, you don't have the stress of trying to get them. For example, after a shopping trip, you may have enough food to last you for a week.

Of course some things don't save well. For example, bananas turning black are about to stop being wealth, unless you turn them into baked goods in which case you can save them a little longer. But plenty of things do save well.

The most common measure of wealth is net worth. Typically, you add up the current value of anything you own and subtract your debts. You do not look at whether the value of these things is constant, appreciating or depreciating--it's a point value. Today, those bananas are perfectly good.

You also don't typically look at maintenance costs or costs that would be entailed in actually acquiring the market value of a good. Also, only things that in your name count, not other things that you also have access to like library books or water fountains.

And money is not the only asset. So are tools. And stockpiles of supplies. And skills. And social networks.

And money can be involved directly, indirectly, or not at all. For example, to get exercise, you can pay for a gym membership, join a sports club, exercise along to online exercise videos, power your own transportation, or get it as a side effect of your job other other interests.

What about socializing? Maybe you like the cash flow to go to bars and restaurants. But if you have a family or roommates (and you are at home the same time as they are) you can have easy access to regular socializing.

Of course relationships can shrivel up or go bad. Or the relationship can be fine, but one person has to go (evil jobs, grim reapers).

And not just relationships. All kinds of things can be destroyed. Or your tastes can change (thus reducing or negating the value of your assets to you.)

And you can't really save up enough of everything to be all done. You want to have new experiences, accomplish new things, meet new people. But having some savings can be very nice.

Having a low-stress, physically easy job can leave you plenty of energy and excitement for your personal life from which you can then recover a bit at work. A stable home life can make it easier to take risks out in the world.

Some people have to start over in just about every way--alcoholism can lead to loss of job, house, and spouse; imprisonment can take away youth and connections and make your experience out-of-date; trauma can change your personality and make you question everything you thought you knew; you can escape a fascist regime or natural disaster with just your life.

Here's wishing you enough wealth of the best kinds to help you in your endeavors.

Comments

[piefessor.livejournal.com]

Great post, thanks!

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! Glad you liked it.