$150,000 What To Do

[True Grit]

I've been trying to think what I would want to do and I would probably travel to Africa and Australia and go back to Hawaii. All because of the different floral and fauna, not to lie on the beach but to snorkel with the sea turtles, see the flocks of cockatoos and parrots overhead, watch the humpbacks breach and see the lions and zebras in their natural habitat. I would go to Banff in the Canadian Rockies where the bull elk wander around people's back yards or maybe on an Alaskan cruise from Vancouver. See the jungles and shores of Costa Rica. I would want to be close to the mountains and oceans, woods and nature.
As a child of parents who made do and did their best all their lives, kicked us 5 kids out of the nest at a reasonably young age but offered support from a distance, I want my parents to spend it all and leave only memories. Deerman if you ask your kids I think they will probably tell you the same. Good luck in your fight.

 

[kera!]

save the money and invest in dividends or put in IRa for reitrement...save save save

 

[Cindiloohoo]

If I had $150,000 I'd stop working so stinking hard at trying to be so self sufficient and spend more time visiting the folks I miss. here lately it seems I keep wondering what so and so is doing, how things are going for them etc. Well if I had that kind of money and didn't have to worry...I'd go see them, and take them lunch or supper, just to remind them that I care and haven't forgotten them. Gas prices wouldn't be such an issue then either

$3.30 a gallon now!!!

I know that's less than most places but DANG!!

 

[jen5680]

Hey Mister!! I can't believe what I am reading!! I just saw you at the swap meet in the fall and didn't no you are sick!!!

I will be praying for you!!! Hope to see you soon!!

 

[WyandotteTX]

Deerman,

First of all. Thank you. Thank you for sharing part of your life with us on this very public forum. You have a great attitude and you are to be admired to for your caring and love of your family.

I saw this post and out of curiousity read it and shallowly thought of all of the "things" that the money could buy me or my family. But I kept reading. Then I read your post that mentioned the truth of your circumstance. It is a sobering thought for all of us. SO the real question you have posed to us is not what could we do with X amount of money in a years time but more so what would you do with the most priceless of commodities, life...in a years time. It is the hardest question of all to pose to us but a question we all need to ask ourselves on occasion.
Deerman, after reading your posts you seem a very sensible person and I do wish the best for you. I have the experience of loved ones given a timetable, it is not easy on any one involved.
My heart and my thoughts go with you and your family. Strength of mind and optimism of heart can conquer any battle of the flesh to give you more time, I have seen it. Have faith in your happiness.
John

 

[Mattemma]

If I had that money and limited time I would want my mom,dh and kids home with me.

I would want to fix up things around the house,and spend leisurely time together eating well,swimming,soaking in the hot tub,tending to the gardens and animals.Silly,but I would buy a lot of firewood,because I find fires relaxing.Going to local places like city parks and gardens...places to stroll and relax.Relaxing and fun places.

I would buy a house for my friend who is dying(lung issues),so she would be close to me, and her kids would have a place of their own when she dies.I can get her a decent house for 50k or less,so I would still have money left.

I would put my brother in rehab and buy him a small home too.

I might also indulge in some wine.Not crazy expensive stuff,but probably some import Eger wine which is $10 a bottle.

I would gift some money to each person I cared about.I know you can do a one time tax-free money gift.Not sure on the limit though.

 

[justbugged]

Another thing to do would be to record your family history. My daughter was in the 4th grade when she interviewed her Great Grandfather. She recorded it on cassette tape at the time. There were stories and thing mentioned that my mother-in-law had never known. Tell tales of your grandparents. Tell about what you did while working all those hours. Tell them what it was like to pay off you mortgage, and what it feels like to own the land that you do. There is so much that we can all share with the next generation. You could tell them in person, but will they remember as much as they will if it is recorded, and or written. I hope that you find the peace that you will need as time goes on.

 

[maple]

I adore that idea justbugged.

 

[MSDeb]

I would look to put myself right with God, try harder to live the Gospel.

If it were my decision I'd quit work and volunteer full time working with the homeless and indigent. What for many of us is a natural way of life for many of them are un-learned life lessons; such as the importance of going to school or learning a trade, the importance of getting and keeping a job, getting married before having children, looking to self for support instead of looking for what others will provide... You as a successful person have a lot of gifts and knowledge you could share, raising chickens and children (not in that order) for example.

And by all means get a second and third opinion, too many people die on schedule when given a diagnosis, eat healthy, go organic, exercise in moderation, keep yourself involved in life, and live affirming activities.

And of course, get more chickens. Good luck.

 

[Ema]

If I had 12 months of less left on this earth, and with my family, and had that kind of money, I would give my family some good memories before departing. I would take them to places I have never been before and could never go if I didn't have the money, because I have small kids I would to disney world, make some fun memories and capture them on film or photos. Maybe take my significant other on cruise, or abroad and make some more good memories there.

Something special like seeing something you have always wanted to see and could not otherwise, something fantastic like a couple of the seven wonders of the world, the great wall of china or the Pyramids. But I don't think I would spend the whole thing on travel. But like I said those are fantastic things to do to make memories that mean something and last a lifetime.

with what was left I think I would spend wisely, have a family reunion together and celebrate. Do important things with my family and spend as much time with them as possible. My dad used to say, you can't take it with you so you might as well spend it. But in the end knowing he only had a few months left, he never did cash his life insurance, he left it as it was and each one of his children got a hand written note with their share of the inheritance and what he hoped we would do with it. His hope for me was to finally buy that farming property and get away from the city I disliked so much. And I did, I bought my farm and my home and its fully paid and it gave my family a better way of life.

Before my dad passed away, we like every year traveled to Niagara falls, had a family reunion, he went to the Caribbean, we went out for dinner every week and played the snooker tables (something my dad never thought appropriate to do with his children even though we were grown adults) We went to some amusement parks, took a cross country trip with him. the final 2 months, he traveled back to England, where he was born and raised and made amends with his ex wife and visited with my siblings and got to know the grandkids and had fun with his 4 sisters and the rest of the family. He wanted to die in England and be buried in the family plot next to his mum and dad. He achieved almost everything he set out to do, but 2 major things, making amends with my little brother (he was murdered a week before he was set to travel back to Spain to see him) and making amends with my mother.

Anyhow its not about how much money you spend or how much you leave behind, its the good memories and the legacy of yourself that you leave behind and make with your family that matters.

Ema