Investing in what matters...

The purpose of investment, as I understand it, is to enrich oneself. Obviously, if we invest money, we want to buy something that will increase in monetary value over time. To be able to have enough money to invest, we often have to sacrifice instant gratification. That means saving instead of spending. Maybe we don't buy a new car every few years, or take a big vacation to some exotic location. The thought is that if we invest now, we will have something later. We can have a nice car later and travel when we retire.


My parents are depression era. I was raised to believe that saving and investing was wise, and even virtuous. There are a lot of wise and virtuous people suffering right now and some of them don't even have a nice car or the memory of a great vacation to show for all of their hard work and self-discipline.



If you think I have any financial advice to offer, you don't know me very well. I don't have the slightest idea how long or how deep the recession will get before it is over. However, I would like to say that during these difficult times, maybe it is a good time to reflect on what we hold most dear. At the end of the day, what will we wish we had invested in, and what sort of wealth do we want to accrue?



At this point in my life, I realize that the most important asset I have is time, and that what I value the most are the relationships I have with family and friends. I have not always spend my time well, or with the right people. I have a college buddy that used to get exasperated because, as he said, I was prone to dragging "U.F.O." people into any plans we made. I have always been gregarious, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I have met a lot of wonderful folks and actually introduced a lot of people to one another. However, what he was trying to point out is that when I included people I barely knew myself, I unwittingly diluted the quality of time we spent together.



Twenty-five years later we are part of a group of four couples that call themselves the "Golden Friends". We meet quarterly for dinner and rotate houses. Sometimes we invite additional guests, but only close mutual friends, or family members.



All the couples have been married over 20 years, except my husband and me. At this point in our friendship, we have supported each other through innumerable joys and trials, including; dating, marraige, divorce, cancer, brain tumor, infertility, child birth, child rearing, and even college graduation. We escaped our youth in one piece, and now in middle age, we are collectively experiencing the aging and loss of our parents. You can't put a price on that kind of friendship.



It is kind of funny, but I would say that in some respects, I have eaten my desert first in this life. I have not placed a high value on material things or "getting ahead", compared to many people. I have spent a disproportionate amount of money, for someone of my age and income level on travel, food, arts and entertainment. In short, I am a bit of an experience junkie. I don't have a huge house or a fancy car, but I have had a pretty good time. Let's see someone try to take that away from me!

These days I am more settled and content to be home. I have a job I like, and a husband I love.
I still enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them. I always will. However, I am more careful how I invest my time these days. The stock market may rebound, and I hope it will, but I know that I will never recover one minute of mispent time. You know the Beatles were right when they said , "and in the end the love we take is equal to the love we make."