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When I am rich...
Jun. 9th, 2010 08:53 pmOne of the lotteries has a jackpot of $50,000,000, and Rei and I sometimes have fun talking about what sorts of things we'd do if we won that much money.
Today we talked about something I thought of doing, and that would be setting up an adult-sized playground.
Rei and I have talked before about how so many adults these days do not know how to have fun for fun's sake. At best, senseless fun has to be alcohol-fueled, where intoxicants remove inhibitions and make them think that acting like a juvenile is the best idea ever. Most adult fun comes in the form of electronics, fancy gadgets, casinos, that sort of thing.
And people wonder why so many people find their lives unfulfilling and stressful. Adults, as a general rule, have forgotten how to enjoy themselves in simple childlike ways when they don't have chemical excuses for their behaviour.
But what if places existed for them to use? Playgrounds are intended for kids, and so a grown man or woman swinging on a swingset or playing with a friend on a see-saw just aren't feasible, due to size limitations. But an adult-sized playground could be a good space for people to let loose and have silly kid fun again if they want.
I think it could benefit a lot of people. It could be good stress relief, it could just be a fun place for friends to gather, it could be great for adults with developmental challenges to play, where everything is made to the right size.
I once told my father that when I grew up and had a house of my own, I would put a swing in the yard, because I love swings and didn't get to play on them enough. He laughed and told me that when I was older, I'd grow out of that idea. It's all there in that phrase, "grow out of." Like adults are supposed to stop liking that sort of fun, and if they still do, then something's wrong with them.
I'm proud to say that I still want a swing, dagnabbit, and what's more I would love for other people to be able to experience that joy if they so desire.
That, of course, is just one of the things I'd do with that money. I'd donate a large amount to the asthma clinic in the city. I'd give some to friends, especially the chronically ill ones with lousy income who got screwed over by former employers. I'd do something selfish and pay to have my breasts surgically removed so that my body more closely matched what my mind says should be there. I'd donate money to the local library.
What would you do with that much money?
Today we talked about something I thought of doing, and that would be setting up an adult-sized playground.
Rei and I have talked before about how so many adults these days do not know how to have fun for fun's sake. At best, senseless fun has to be alcohol-fueled, where intoxicants remove inhibitions and make them think that acting like a juvenile is the best idea ever. Most adult fun comes in the form of electronics, fancy gadgets, casinos, that sort of thing.
And people wonder why so many people find their lives unfulfilling and stressful. Adults, as a general rule, have forgotten how to enjoy themselves in simple childlike ways when they don't have chemical excuses for their behaviour.
But what if places existed for them to use? Playgrounds are intended for kids, and so a grown man or woman swinging on a swingset or playing with a friend on a see-saw just aren't feasible, due to size limitations. But an adult-sized playground could be a good space for people to let loose and have silly kid fun again if they want.
I think it could benefit a lot of people. It could be good stress relief, it could just be a fun place for friends to gather, it could be great for adults with developmental challenges to play, where everything is made to the right size.
I once told my father that when I grew up and had a house of my own, I would put a swing in the yard, because I love swings and didn't get to play on them enough. He laughed and told me that when I was older, I'd grow out of that idea. It's all there in that phrase, "grow out of." Like adults are supposed to stop liking that sort of fun, and if they still do, then something's wrong with them.
I'm proud to say that I still want a swing, dagnabbit, and what's more I would love for other people to be able to experience that joy if they so desire.
That, of course, is just one of the things I'd do with that money. I'd donate a large amount to the asthma clinic in the city. I'd give some to friends, especially the chronically ill ones with lousy income who got screwed over by former employers. I'd do something selfish and pay to have my breasts surgically removed so that my body more closely matched what my mind says should be there. I'd donate money to the local library.
What would you do with that much money?