[Sage]

Originally Posted by Fairygdmther

Okay, now let's try something more personal. Suppose you've just been given a huge amount of money - $5 billion. How would you live your life?

To the fullest extent possible.

Where would you live?

On a big plot of land outside Fernley Nevada, about thirty miles East of Reno.

Who would you live with, if anyone?

Hopefully with $5 billion in the bank I'd finally be able to scare up a boyfriend, so that's at least one other person. I'd have a second house near mine for my Mom and Stepdad, so that's two more. My house would have a few guest suites for when friends and family come to visit, so there would probably be four or more people in the house at any given time.

Would you work? At what?

Yes. I'd have a jaw-droppingly well-equipped garage and I'd start building custom cars. Learning the skills to do this properly might mean apprenticing for a while to established masters in these individual and varied crafts.
A chopped and channelled '38 Buick Roadmaster with a dual-quad nail valve 401 from a Riviera would be one of my first projects. A mildly customized '56 Lincoln coupe and a phantom* '74 Lincoln convertible and '79 Pontiac Grand Safari two-door might be less ambitious projects to start with, though.
(*"phantom" customs are cars that appear completely stock, but are configured in ways that were never offered by the factory. Lincoln's last factory convertible was a '67 model.)

What would you invest in? (not just stocks, etc, but what kinds of things).

Land. Northern Nevada is a fast-growing area, and land is the only thing in the world they can't make more of.

Would you travel?

Between car projects, yes. I've seen very little of the world and would like to see much more of it in person.

Would you learn to fly planes?

Uh-uh, no way. History has shown that whatever supreme being there is takes rich people flying their own planes as a personal insult. Flying model airplanes might be an interesting diversion, though...particularly those that I design myself.

Would you hire people to work for you or be independent?

I'm a pig and I hate housework, so I'd hire a maid right off. A maintenance man who's a licensed electrician would be nice to have around to keep everything running smoothly as well.

Would you give lots to charity? Which ones, if so?

Once my own ducks are in a row, yes. A no-kill animal shelter and a preserve for wild mustangs would be my top priorities. People can generally help themselves, but animals cannot. A safe house and scholarship program for gay teens who have been thrown out of their homes or subjected to anti-gay "reparation therapy" would be excellent causes to champion and fund. Children's Hospitals and burn centers are worthy charities as well.
My house would have several three-legged dogs, one-eyed cats, and similar critters wandering around making friends.

What is the most significant change there would be in your life with the ability to have anything you want?

Never having to punch a timeclock again.

ScottMate