What Would You Do with Unlimited Funds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of having unlimited funds and what individuals would choose to do with that wealth. Participants share a variety of personal aspirations, ranging from leisure activities to philanthropic endeavors, without reaching any consensus on the best use of such resources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express desires for luxury items, such as cars and boats, with one suggesting the purchase of a ski-boat for recreational skiing.
  • Others propose more whimsical ideas, like buying a penguin or creating a ping pong arena.
  • A few participants mention a desire to invest in personal development, such as obtaining a pilot's license or pursuing higher education.
  • Some express intentions to use their wealth for altruistic purposes, such as helping the sick and poor, or funding environmental initiatives.
  • There are contrasting views on the value of money, with some suggesting that having too much could diminish its worth or lead to a desire for isolation.
  • Several participants engage in humorous exchanges about penguins and their potential roles in various scenarios, including as navigators in airplanes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features a wide range of individual perspectives and no clear consensus emerges regarding the best or most meaningful use of unlimited funds. Participants express differing views on personal desires, values, and the implications of wealth.

Contextual Notes

Participants' ideas vary significantly in scope and feasibility, with some suggestions being lighthearted and others more serious. The discussion reflects a blend of personal aspirations and philosophical musings about wealth and its impact on life choices.

  • #31
Jimmy Snyder said:
Emphasis mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin"

You're right, they need a pilot.
 

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  • #32
Pengwuino said:
Oh heck YES! I would be able to fly around with my penguins as navigators! (Unfortunately... or maybe fortunately... i wasn't able to find a pic of a penguin in an airplane cockpit :( )
You obviously missed the movie.

[PLAIN]http://blog.mlive.com/james_sanford/2008/11/large_20081107-madagascarescape2africa-penguin-pilot.jpg

You need to get with the program.

[PLAIN]http://shadeone.com/penguins/gamepics/airpenguinflightschool.JPG
 
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  • #33
I'd quit my job and focus on taking more classes per semester. I'd also probably move closer to campus.

I'd still aim to get a PhD after undergrad, because even billions and billions of dollars can't make somebody call you "doctor."
 
  • #34
Pattonias said:
I would buy a ski-boat...and ski

Really? With all that money, you'd think you'd splurge and get two skis.

:biggrin:
 
  • #35
Ivan Seeking said:
I hope to fly a fighter jet before I'm too old, through Incredible Adventures, or a similar company. Some dreams are within reach without first getting rich [or joining the military!].
http://www.aircombat.com/
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LECDwRhs4w

My Bucket List just grew by one...
 
  • #36
DaveC426913 said:
My Bucket List just grew by one...

Ditto on that!
 
  • #37
I was perhaps a job or two away from having the money for "MIGs over Moscow", just before the economy started to crash. That is one week of training, a five star hotel, a Russian security clearance, and your choice of any of about five different MIGs. I was still torn between the MIG-25 Foxbat dogfight, and the "Edge of Space" flight.

But, since then, a much less expensive alternative has come available - The US F-104 flight. It wouldn't be nearly as cool as the MIG flights, but it ain't bad! When I last checked it was less than 25% of the cost of the trip to Russia.
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/starfighter/index.html

EDIT: YIKES, that's not the right one. That is $30K. However, you can [or could] fly a fighter jet for about $5000. There were a couple of flights operating, including one that went out of Las Vegas. There was another in the Sacramento area, but I think that one quit operating a few years ago.
 
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  • #38
Literacy programs, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development of energy, clean water, agriculture, and silviculture (reforestation), in the underserved areas of the world.
 
  • #39
Astronuc said:
Literacy programs, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development of energy, clean water, agriculture, and silviculture (reforestation), in the underserved areas of the world.

Yes, but how about after you save the world? :biggrin:
 
  • #40
I would buy a haunted castle, or a farm.

I would have serfs, which are, in essence, slaves.
 
  • #41
Evo said:
I would buy a haunted castle

Haunted castles are hard to find on the market? People are dying to get into them!
 
  • #42
Ivan Seeking said:
Haunted castles are hard to find on the market? People are dying to get into them!
:smile:
 
  • #43
Evo said:
:smile:
I have an abandoned haunted Olds Rocket 88 in black-bear country. For all that excitement and quality lodging, you should expect to pay a premium for rent. Not here! $500 a month will get you a nice place. If you want, I will offer you clean water at a discounted rate and if you can offer payment-in-kind in the form of skinning and butchering critters, I might be persuaded to reduce the water fee.

If you will weed the garden, too, I will make sure that you have vegetables.
 
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  • #44
turbo-1 said:
I have an abandoned haunted Olds Rocket 88 in black-bear country. For all that excitement and quality lodging, you should expect to pay a premium for rent. Not here! $500 a month will get you a nice place. If you want, I will offer you clean water at a discounted rate and if you can offer payment-in-kind in the form of skinning and butchering critters, I might be persuaded to reduce the water fee.

If you will weed the garden, too, I will make sure that you have vegetables.
me, me, me.
 
  • #45
Evo said:
I would buy a haunted castle, or a farm.
Why not get a haunted toaster?

 
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  • #46
Want to go into space!
 
  • #47
If I had the money, I would take over the world and you would all be my slaves. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
 
  • #48
For starters, I would open a 24-hour library/cafe. I don't know how many freakin times I've wished for a nice place to study late at night other than my own room.

I would also buy a motorcycle (I'm probably actually going to be able to do this soon).

And a large diameter (~15-20in) dobsonian telescope.

And a 16+ megapixel DSLR with a new shoulder bag, tripod with a decent mount, macro lens, telephoto lens, and the proper adapters for the above mentioned telescope.

And, of course, a big enough plot of land (in the Sierra's perhaps...) with a nice small house were I could live in solitude and play in the woods for the foreseeable future.
 
  • #49
Start a new space program and visit Mars and titan and some other places in the solar system.
 
  • #51
 
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  • #52
Ivan Seeking said:
Yes, but how about after you save the world? :biggrin:
Go walkabout - then find a nice quiet corner of the world and garden, and watch clouds and stars.
 
  • #53
robertm said:
And, of course, a big enough plot of land (in the Sierra's perhaps...) with a nice small house were I could live in solitude and play in the woods for the foreseeable future.
What? No mountain stream teeming with cut-throats or rainbows? You need to re-calibrate. Fishing is critical to happiness.
 
  • #54
A Gibson Sg, Lp Special, Fender Strat, Tele, Ibanez Jem, a couple of decent acoustics (Martins, Seagulls, etc), an analog effects pedal board, and 4x12 cab Jc120's...
 
  • #55
Already owned (and sold) most all of them. When I was collecting guitars and amps, I'd buy the best, play them until my tastes or preferences changed, then sell them. Buy them used, refurbish them, and make money doing so. No need to be rich to pull that off. I got all my walking-around money in college by playing in bands on weekends and buying and selling instruments. College students are notoriously lazy and irresponsible with their parents' money and when they get short of cash, they'll dump music gear that they just HAD to have.

Often, I bought a guitar, performed a quick tune-up (set intonation, bridge tension, string-height) and sell it for almost double what I paid for it. Refrets take a bit longer, but are eminently do-able in a dorm room or apartment with minimal equipment.

If you work it right, trading in musical instruments is a way to make money, not blow it. At one time, I had over 20 acoustic guitars at home. When my company got bought out and I was out of work for a bit, I sold off guitars little by little and made money on them all. I had been doing this for years before I met my wife-to-be, so I never got any flak for buying guitar after guitar. They are portable investments.
 
  • #56
I would buy me a tropical island and a sea plane so any mates could come visit, or a big house on the isle of man.
 
  • #57
wolram said:
I would buy me a tropical island and a sea plane so any mates could come visit, or a big house on the isle of man.
Then you'd have to buy a Manx Norton for the road-course!
 
  • #58
turbo-1 said:
Then you'd have to buy a Manx Norton for the road-course!

I would get two so you could come and play. lol.
 
  • #59
wolram said:
I would get two so you could come and play. lol.
Yay! If you hit the lottery think of me. The thought of once again riding one of those 500 cc thumpers at full chat is quite exciting. (Even if it needs to puke oil all over my right leg.)
 
  • #60
I'd buy my parents and family everything they wanted. I'd go study something else, medicine maybe, I'd fund my own research lab. I'd learn to fly planes, I'd open a cake shop :9 and of course buy a tropical island, but only a small one, and keep geese! and have mango trees... and a chef!
 

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