I’ve been watching the Showtime series, Billions, on a recommendation from a fellow retiree friend. The wealthiest couple is in their home safe right now, with piles of cash and bars & coins of gold just laying around. They are prepared to leave the country should a Federal investigation against them escalate. They have a bigger homes, a larger safe, more luxurious cars, a spacious library, a helicopter, private planes, yachts, and a lot more problems that we do. At least, that’s the way it’s portrayed on TV.

We have the Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Rewards points, should we need a second residence, a few Alaska Airlines rewards to get there, Hertz if we need a larger or more luxurious car, credits on Viking Cruise Lines as I get the urge to sail, and a Washington County library card for when I need to be surrounded by books. I really don’t have anything valuable enough for a safe, but I could certainly rent a safety deposit box should the need arise. There are billions of ways around not having billions. I also probably sleep better than a billionaire, even through the thread count on my bed sheets might not stack up. Everything is equal once we fall asleep, and this is exactly why a billionaire can’t sleep for long. And what do the wealthy dream about? Being less wealthy or even poor? I at least have the luxury of dreaming that I might win the lottery.

Is being rich a privilege or a curse? Would I want to stay up later or get up earlier to have more time to spend my money? I do know that I would be constantly paranoid that someone would try to steal it and that my friendships were based solely on my bank accounts or connections. No matter how much wealth each of us have, there is a degree of concern about losing what we have. I will never lose billions because I will never have them to lose. Financially, all I have to lose is my freedom to be retired, and I’m confident that having all the money in the world would not change my homebody ways. I would just have a bigger retreat with a larger office to write my words, watch my TV, and play with my zillion dollar dogs. (See Post #440).

Ranks of Wealth

Having great wealth,
Is a burden to bear.
Would I really care?
If I was a millionaire.

I’d try to be humble,
But people would stare.
What would I wear?
If I was a billionaire.

I’d sit on a throne,
Instead of a chair.
Trumpets would blare.
If I was a bajillionaire

The dirt would fly,
It wouldn’t be fair.
Trapped in a snare.
If I was a bazillionaire.

“Filthy Rich” they’d say,
Oh, the bling I could wear.
But I’d need to share,
If I was a trillionaire.

Does money mean smart?
As they start to compare.
I’d have a special air,
If I was a gazillionaire.

Copyright 2018 johnstonwrites.com