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From: kdchute (no email)
Date: Mon Jun 21 2004 - 11:45:31 EDT
Some philosophical and practical thoughts on this issue, not that
some of the other notes haven't also been philosophical and practical.
Many of us have a finite supply of money. Most of our decisions,
sometimes not consciously, are based on the knowledge that there is a
finite supply of money.
Almost all of us have a list of things we would like, many of which
we cannot have. So, from that finite supply of money we bought a
boat. We probably gave up a bigger house or a nicer car, because the
boat was higher in priority on our list of "wants".
Now, we still have a finite supply of money and a boat which will
draw heavily on that supply. We also have a list of "boat" things we
would like to have.
I believe all of the previous notes on this list were correct in that
they reflected the writer's perspective on his prioritized list
of "wants" vs his "finite" supply of money.
So, let's first consider what we know from history. All we really
need is a boat that floats, a form of propulsion (wind) and the sails
to capture it, some way to navigate if we are going offshore, food,
water, and clothes. Lots of people have sailed oceans with not much
more than this.
Personally, I would like a little more for my sailing experience and
I have a list of items. Based on my thesis in the previous
paragraph, I can get by without anything on my list. But some of the
items are important to me. All of the items are related to "safety"
and "comfort". Again, remember, I don't need any of this stuff.
Safety is first on my list. If the boat breaks, I want spares and
know-how to fix the boat and /or the rig. I want a liferaft in case
I can't fix it. That's number one on my list. However, there are
people who would choose refrigeration over a liferaft. That is
number one on their list. And, given there is a "finite" supply of
money, if they choose refrigeration vs a liferaft they will have
money left over for something else. You get the idea.
Let me now look at one of the items on the first writer's list....a
water-maker. I like a shower everyday. My boat holds 200 gallons of
water. For drinking, I carry back-up water jugs (safety first). I
want a water maker, and I don't care if I can't fix it, because I
don't really need it (as with many other "wants"). To have a water
maker, I also need the electricity to run it. So, while I think my
priority is a water maker, the first priority is electricity. Water
maker is not at the top of my list, it comes below some other safety
and comfort stuff, but it is high on my list, and fortunately I have
enough in my finite pot of money to get one. If it breaks, and I
can't fix it, I will again look at my money supply to see where its
repair or replacement falls with regard to priorities. This is how
life works. We all know people who fly a plane, but live like
paupers in other aspects of their lives. "Priorities"....their's, not
mine.
I won't go further with this, I'm sure you get the picture. Anything
we want should be prioritized and compared to the funds available.
Each of us personally chooses what comes first, it may be safety and
it may be comfort. Within each of these categories the level of
priority in our own mind drives whether or not we should be able to
fix it, back it up, or do without it.
The most important thing a person can do is "think it through".
Gettng other's opinions is fine, but the decision is personal.
I am often amazed by how important it is to human beings that their
opinions be adopted by others. It is the cause of all conflict in
the world.
Sorry this took so long.
Ken
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