Wishing better than having?

[ChattanoogaPhil]

When I was younger and didn't have much coin to spare, I'd regularly visit stores to look at the latest and greatest electronics, computers, guns, motorcycles... and wish I had the money to buy it. Now I'm older and got a couple extra bucks... but don't see anything I really want. What's up with that?

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I find that you expressed exactly how I feel. Makes no sense. I've wanted a S.A. M1-a forever, got the money, just can't get motivated to buy one. Same way with spending a bunch on a new scope. I think about it, even shop on the internet but just don't buy. What's with that?

[hsguy]

Phil, I am in the same boat as you. I am at the point I have about everything I need or want. I am more interested in experiences such as travel rather than things. Perhaps it is a function of age as I am 68 and have accumulated way too much stuff.

[rwsmith]

Now you can pick and choose what you want and having a lot of stuff isn't as important. Moreso the things we really care about.

Being older we know that just having something doesn't really make you happy.

We also know that having stuff can just make life more complicated. We also have to maintain and pay for something AFTER you buy it. I'd like to have a Porsche, but I couldn't afford to keep it on the road.

Your priorities change a LOT. Who was it that said when they were a child, they thought like a child and wanted childish things. Be as an adult he said goodbye to those things.

When I was a kid there was a department store that had big bags of plastic army men for like a buck fifty, which was way over my head. One day the store caught fire and burned to ground and I remember thinking what a shame it was that all of those bags of army men were getting melted. Heck with the clothes and appliances and everything else.

I always seem to have a specific hobby that I put my limited resources into. It's no use for me to have a boat when what I really want is guns.

[pawngal]

Originally Posted by hsguy

Phil, I am in the same boat as you. I am at the point I have about everything I need or want. I am more interested in experiences such as travel rather than things. Perhaps it is a function of age as I am 68 and have accumulated way too much stuff.

I feel the same way. Want to travel more & do things while I'm still physically able. I have way too much "stuff" Selling said "stuff" is good for funding travel.

[loknload]

I think we're all past the age of "Gotta Have" and just appreciate everything we already have!

[TheHobbyist]

One of my mentors and my relation is well to do in retirement. He mentioned to me the other day that when he was young, he always wanted a Porsche. He could now buy numerous cars for cash and not even sweat it. I asked him the other day, 'are you thinking about getting that car'? 'He goes naw, no need. I don't have anyone to impress, comfortable with who I am, and I'd only use it a few days out of the year so why bother. I'd rather just travel.'

Funny how people who have a lot don't feel the need to brag or show it. Although if you want to, that's fine too. You earned it. Just one my family members observation.

[DeathGrip]

Phil, I've seen your pictures of your deck and yard. That's gotta be a happy place. It's all about enjoying life.

I'm not saying that we can't enjoy getting out and doing other things we like. Most of us have other hobbies and even change those as we change.

I have a lot of toys I don't play with and more projects than I can do in a life time and am in the process of thinning out my stuff. I don't use 90% of the things I have but getting rid of some of it still ain't easy.

But I'm wanting a change of scenery an if it all works out I gotta move. I put a escrow deposit on a house today. more on that later.

[Rintimtin]

On more than a few occasions I have saved for something I really wanted. And when I had enough money talked myself out of it and because i really didn't need it anyways I felt good for having been able to save the money. If only I could do that with chocolate lol

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[vonn]

"Stuff" has lost its appeal to me as well but I don't really care to travel any place except for hunting and fishing. Have 10 acres that I want to turn into where I finish up and spend time with my granddaughters though.

[old bear]

Originally Posted by hsguy

Phil, I am in the same boat as you. I am at the point I have about everything I need or want. I am more interested in experiences such as travel rather than things. Perhaps it is a function of age as I am 68 and have accumulated way too much stuff.

John, hit the nail on the head. The normal progression is, when we are young we don’t have the toys we want. Generally, as we get older, we end up having most of the toys we thought we could not live without. Once we got them there was somewhat of a letdown. Ok I’ve got whatever, fill in the blank, what’s next. Then most of start to understand all things are just stuff taking up space. Finally, we understand that memories and friends are what are really important, and don’t take up a lot of storage space and almost never need to be dusted.

[LMWIS]

I retired and moved in the space of a couple of months. I was building my house the following year, so I had to move everything I owned into a 24x20 steel building.

The boys got a huge amount of stuff, I threw out or donated the same amount again, and I still filled the garage from floor to ceiling. I haven't missed much of it, and have to go over it one more time so I can move around in the garage again.

Don't think I'll replace anything I gave up.

[Lee's Landing Billy]

I have never enjoyed a "thing" as much after I got it as when I wanted it. I am in a position now to get anything a working man has a want for. Instant gratification has lost it's shine.
SO!!! Yesterday I ordered an new truck, I have several weeks to look forward to it getting here. Manufactured "want".

[gman51]

I think one of the reasons we don't buy a lot of things is because we know inside that we just will not use it often and it will just sit in a closet most of the time.
I bought a Marlin 336 30-30 because I just wanted one. I don't hunt and I bet the gun hasn't been shot, by me, even a dozen times. This has impressed on me to determine whether to buy something or not. Heck if I wanted something I was just going to end up looking at then I would be better off just going to a store and looking at it for free.
We often justify to ourselves what we really might not enjoy having as much as we thought we would.

[Mike G 0351]

I'm in the same boat, I have the Money but now don't want the stuff.
I think the anticipation of getting something far better than getting it....

[johngalt]

I've pretty much lost interest in acquiring 'stuff'. Part of it is I have enough as it is, and don't need any more clutter. I also remember the work and diligence required to save my money, so now I am reluctant to spend it.

Also a lot of the new stuff just doesn't interest me

Guns? Non-1911 autos don't interest me, and I already have plenty. Revolvers? I have enough variety that I can shoot with any frequency. Rifles? No place to shoot them.

Computers? None of the new ones are as good as my old one (17" Mac Book Pro).

Cars with their little downsized engines? No thanks.

[loknload]

johngalt,,,,I've pretty much lost interest in acquiring 'stuff'. Part of it is I have enough as it is, and don't need any more clutter. I also remember the work and diligence required to save my money, so now I am reluctant to spend it.

Now I'm more interested in getting rid of stuff! So much stuff and nobody bothers with it anymore?

[vt_shooter]

It might be something along the lines of wanting what another generation can generally have but you can't have. Expensive guns might be out of reach for most 20-something males, whereas the expensive guns might be within reach of us older guys but the 20-ish pretty ladies are now out of reach for us. Funny how these things work ...

[crankyoldlady]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

Who was it that said when they were a child, they thought like a child and wanted childish things. Be as an adult he said goodbye to those things.

Attributed to Paul in the Christian Bible
1 Corinthians 13:11

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Achieving satiation with material things-like eating your fill-is a good feeling.
I haven't bought a firearm in years, taking a gun you haven't shot in years-or have never fired-is the same as getting a new one IMHO.

[Just another 22 shooter]

I'm in the same boat as Phil,got the cash but just don't have any gun I really "need" right now; but I do enjoy going into my safe and picking one out on of 6 handguns in one of 9 calibers to take out and shoot. to be truthful, I never saw myself owning 6 handguns. When I was younger, i was a varmint/target rifle guy and also enjoyed trap and skeet. Always wanted a Perazi Trap gun and never bought one.....but I DO have 6 handguns!