patrick.net

The same reason they say you will be rewarded after this life in heaven.

Just kidding.

"The best things in life are free; But you can keep them for the birds and bees; Now give me money (that's what I want)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilnz6hyk3oU

The Beatles are such hypocrites. Only a few months after that song, they then say 'Money Can't Buy Me Love' so they don't care for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d834SzBm8m8

Money can relieve stress but it wont buy happiness.
Sure it will distract you for a while, but after you get used to having money.
You'll be the same person you were before in terms of the degree of Your happiness.
Happy rich people are happy, because of other factors, a strong family, and friends relationships is probably the best happiness indicator.

Anyone who has family issues, and has trouble making or keeping friends, are often the most doomed, when they get money.

CaptainShuddup says

Money can relieve stress but it wont buy happiness.

Sure it will distract you for a while, but after you get used to having money.

You'll be the same person you were before in terms of the degree of Your happiness.

A few points ... no one pays you to do your own independent research.

And then, if/when you have an original invention, that's easily $5K for a US patent alone, nevermind global markets.

In addition, living in New England, I'd rather have an indoor pool at home, when it's 10 degrees outside, than putting on my snow gear and heading over to the YMCA and then, being forced to use a hair dryer, before leaving again. Today, I bite the bullet and use an exercise bike at home.

And finally, when I do want to *get away* from let's say January, I'd rather stay in a nice apartment in Leblon Rio & have some pleasures with a Brazilian model. And finally, if I do want a more semi-permanent change in scenery, would starting a lab in Rio come free of charge?

And next, if I decided on my summer lab being in the city of Boston, let's say near Boston Univ, I'd be paying bubble prices for it.

My conclusion, money buys me happiness.

Rin says

In addition, living in New England, I'd rather have an indoor pool at home, when it's 10 degrees outside, than putting on my snow gear and heading over to the YMCA and then, being forced to use a hair dryer, before leaving again. Today, I bite the bullet and use an exercise bike at home.

You could be missing an opportunity to meet a Brazilian model at the "Y".

Rin says

And finally, when I do want to *get away* from let's say January, I'd rather stay in a nice apartment in Leblon Rio & have some pleasures with a Brazilian model.

Yeah, then about the time she has your arms and legs tied to the bed posts, for a bout of kinky sex. Her Boy friend Raul, will pop out of the Closet, take your belonging before torturing your Credit card pin info out of you.

Money takes the stress out of making those decisions, but the happiness after that is up to your being content with your self, and the decisions you make.

u be happy iff u marry into it...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgve0i1IgU0

CaptainShuddup says

You could be missing an opportunity to meet a Brazilian model at the "Y".

Been there done that. I'd a much better time in Rio than with Yankee-Brazilians in the Bay State. And yes, I've done Rio without Raul or Renato showing up with their machetes.

Plus, the Y sucks; too crowded, just to get in a simple swim in the wintertime. That's why I have an exercise bike at home.

CaptainShuddup says

but the happiness after that is up to your being content with your self, and the decisions you make.

I'm content with myself. I'm not, however, content with corporate America or the faux academic research machine.

Rin says

I'd a much better time in Rio than with Yankee-Brazilians in the Bay State

Let me help elaborate via anecdote. I knew a Brazilian woman, who'd grown up in Rio and later emigrated to the US with her cousins. She went to school there, met guys at school, parties, etc, but had a tough time meeting/getting a decent enough guy, who wanted her for a long term relationship.

After her first year in Boston, she was hounded by American guys, all of the time. She then raised her standards and finally, decided to settle down with some tax attorney, working in Boston's financial district. Clearly, this type of guy was out of her league back in Brazil.

Thus, that Brazilian at the 'Y', now that she's deemed a Gisele Bundchen or Sofia Vergara by many American guys, has lost the South American charm, which makes Brazilian women special to begin with.

Rin says

I'm content with myself. I'm not, however, content with corporate America or the faux academic research machine.

Well that's where the stress reliving part of having money comes in to play.

At the time when I bought my house in 2010, I was working at home, was doing an easy contract, where some weeks I would only have to do about 5 hours of work a week. While I waited on Business unit decisions to be made, for the next step in the project. Now even though I really didn't have deliverable to meet at that moment. I was billing them the full 8 hours each and every day. As I couldn't even run to the store or do an errand, or be out in the yard doing gardening. I had to be available for a call instructing me on what to do next.

I was getting over $75 an hour for this. I had money to do almost anything that a person like me would want to do. I should have been doing cartwheels, but for some reason I was depressed, isolated, and growing increasingly introverted at home. My home office was like my prison cell, I was only let out to eat and go to sleep at night.

Then last year I worked for Company about a year, that I loved the culture until the Parent company bought out the guy I went to work for. And injected the worlds biggest non techie, Asshole as the Boss of all of the IT.

Now I'm back to doing what I was doing before, working contracts for two companies simultaneously, being up front with both, about my obligations with each. And now I'm happy. But I think it's because I'm charging a set fee for the projects, where as I'm working based on deliverables not quantified by the hours I work, but the obligations to commitments I fulfill.

I think the difference is now, I'm being so transparent with these companies, I'm able to work in the fashion that I am, while not feeling like I'm somehow getting over on someone.

Even though I wasn't. There were many weeks or even a month or two where I was working 16 hours straight to meet deadlines. They took their time getting back to me with the next imput, but when they did, they expected it lickty split, like by the next day's morning meeting.

I think that's why I was depressed the last time, even though I wasn't doing anything wrong, it just felt wrong, as everything while understood was really unspoken. Plus charging by time the way I was doing it before, was really just an 8 hour day guaranteed salary. Was why I tied to my home office like a ball and chain, waiting on the word from my employer. Where as now, I'm doing the work that would normally take an employee three to six months to do, in just over a month or two, but I don't get paid until it's done.

I consider my self a Vendor and not a Contractor. I answer to the business units who hire me, there isn't a file on me in HR. I think that makes me happier, more than the money. That I don't have to do the HR corporate monkey dance.

I'd like to meet a Brazilian model's Y.

Wasn't Philip Seymour Hoffman happy, he looked like a happy dude?

One of the great equalizers, rich fucks and their kids die like flies from addiction/alcoholism. On the other hand, they support a lot of needy rehabs.

Happiness as a goal: unobtainable.

Happiness as a by-product of living correctly: doable.

CaptainShuddup says

That I don't have to do the HR corporate monkey dance.

You'll never get an argument out of me on this point.

I have an idea.

For anyone who believes money does not buy happiness I will be happy to take your money.

New Renter says

For anyone who believes money does not buy happiness I will be happy to take your money.

If you remember my earlier thread on being a rich scientist, Rin Rockefeller, a trust fund baby of the Rockefeller clan, I was going to put you up in LeBlon Rio with a $1M sign on bonus, to run my winter time research facilities.

New Renter says

For anyone who believes money does not buy happiness I will be happy to take your money.

But wait a minute we're still talking about unwanted Fiat currency here right?

I already called dibs on it.

Rin says

New Renter says

For anyone who believes money does not buy happiness I will be happy to take your money.

If you remember my earlier thread on being a rich scientist, Rin Rockefeller, a trust fund baby of the Rockefeller clan, I was going to put you up in LeBlon Rio with a $1M sign on bonus, to run my winter time research facilities.

Oh I remember :) But a guy's got to do something to pass the time.

New Renter says

Rin says

New Renter says

For anyone who believes money does not buy happiness I will be happy to take your money.

If you remember my earlier thread on being a rich scientist, Rin Rockefeller, a trust fund baby of the Rockefeller clan, I was going to put you up in LeBlon Rio with a $1M sign on bonus, to run my winter time research facilities.

Oh I remember :) But a guy's got to do something to pass the time.

Several moons ago, when I was in IT consulting, the clients who'd footed the bills, flew us to global cities like Rio, business class, & I'd the pleasure of using the first class lounges there. And believe me, they blow away the lousy Red Carpet et al lounges stateside, with their high level of service and hospitality.

That's when I knew that money brought happiness. This whole notion of forging these meaningless relationships flying coach, catching bed bugs in the common areas, esp in crappy airports like Heathrow London, is for the birds. Likewise, when I take an overnight train ride, I have no problems enjoying the sleeping cabins than in hanging out with the stragglers in the economy areas.

Money is needed. Well at least in America you have the welfare state, where the gubmnt takes care of you. In other countries you could be close to starvation and experience extreme physical distress.

But apart from that, hapiness is fleeting. Sometimes you are happy, sometimes you are sad and sometimes it is in between. I have long since stopped trying to be in any given state. Things happen, life passes and one day we will be just a memory in someonelse's head. It just is .

Money is like good health: its presence does not guarantee happiness, but its absence can certainly cause misery.

bdrasin says

Money is like good health: its presence does not guarantee happiness, but its absence can certainly cause misery.

Part of my indoor swimming pool idea, during New England winters, is mainly about good health, as swimming is a great year round exercise whereas it's rather easy to develop knee/ankle problems from jogging.

It's not a keeping up with the Jones, ala showing off thing.

Thus, I also treat money as a way to celebrate and enjoy one's health.

BTW, private adult stem cell treatments in Japan and/or Thailand can costs from $6K to $30K, depending upon conditions, clinics, etc.

It's all about the Jones with me...
Them sick fucks don't stand a chance with my 23/6 workout regimen...

Rin says

bdrasin says

Money is like good health: its presence does not guarantee happiness, but its absence can certainly cause misery.

Part of my indoor swimming pool idea, during New England winters, is mainly about good health, as swimming is a great year round exercise whereas it's rather easy to develop knee/ankle problems from jogging.

It's not a keeping up with the Jones, ala showing off thing.

To blend into a typical New England dwelling, my indoor pool won't be some extravagant showpiece for the neighbors.

I think the following is modest and discreet ...

Then, I can swim daily in the months from Oct to Mar, without needing to deal with the weather outdoors.

Rin says

Then, I can swim daily in the months from Oct to Mar, without needing to deal with the weather outdoors

Now that I think about it, make that Oct till June. The water temperature's only decent from late June till Sept around here.

Rin says

To blend into a typical New England dwelling, my indoor pool won't be some extravagant showpiece for the neighbors.

I think the following is modest and discreet ...

Then, I can swim daily in the months from Oct to Mar, without needing to deal with the weather outdoors.

Where are Fiddle and Faddle?

Ceffer says

Where are Fiddle and Faddle?

You see, that's the problem.

I won't be filthy rich, only independently wealthy down road, so the orchestra will have to go.

Thus, once again, money brings happiness because I'd love to have my own live band at home.

Wrong Fiddle and Faddle:

"Two others, Priscilla Wear and Jill Cowen, were secretaries who were known, respectively, as Fiddle and Faddle. Wear already had the nickname Fiddle when she joined the White House staff, so Kennedy aides applied the name Faddle to Cowen.

“Neither did much work,” says former agent Larry Newman, who was on the Kennedy detail."

Fiddle and Faddle were secretaries who couldn't type who hung around the White House pool naked for his regular sex therapy trysts.

Ceffer says

Fiddle and Faddle were secretaries who couldn't type who hung around the White House pool naked for his regular sex therapy trysts.

Oh sorry ... that's the Rio lab. And that's already handled :-)

I haven't worked out the details on setting that up in Massachusetts.

Rin says

Ceffer says

Fiddle and Faddle were secretaries who couldn't type who hung around the White House pool naked for his regular sex therapy trysts.

Oh sorry ... that's the Rio lab. And that's already handled.

I haven't worked out the details on setting that up in Massachusetts.

Wait, I hope you aren't talking about me!

As stunning as I find myself to be I'm no Brazilian supermodel!

happy or not i think it depends on what kind of drugs they do.

happy:

unhappy:

New Renter says

Rin says

Ceffer says

Fiddle and Faddle were secretaries who couldn't type who hung around the White House pool naked for his regular sex therapy trysts.

Oh sorry ... that's the Rio lab. And that's already handled.

I haven't worked out the details on setting that up in Massachusetts.

Wait, I hope you aren't talking about me!

As stunning as I find myself to be I'm no Brazilian supermodel!

If you'd ever seen 'Fantasy Island', you're Mr Rourke ...

And these are your hostesses ...

Do you see why you'll never need to leave the lab? It's an all encompassing experience.

The best problem-solving is rooted in survival. It is almost an art unto itself. By forklifting this problem-solving from the equation altogether, you foreclose upon one of the very fundaments of human creativity. The most creative people who ever lived were not rich, or certainly didn't start out that way. And if they ended up rich, their shit quickly sucked. Most rich kids suck, also.

The only exception I can think of offhand, is, really...me.

Most intelligent people don't want to be rich. They simply desire enough money to be able to maintain a standard of living peculiar to themselves.

Drilling down even further -- fuck happiness. There's more to life than that. The injunction to be happy is absurd and harmful to the psyche. Notice how the happiest fucks are always the least interesting of the bunch. In the same way that polemical blowhards are more illuminating than platitudinous bullshitters, I'll take a good ol' fashioned miserablist with a fractured soul any. day. of. the. week. over some high-thread-count having kale-chips-eating twatwad with his conformist ideas about what happiness is.

Life: I think about 2/3 of the package is a regular bitch; but you can squeeze in some real good stuff in that other 3rd, and you can do it without being rich.

JodyChunder says

The injunction to be happy is absurd and harmful to the psyche.

This.

JodyChunder says

Life: I think about 2/3 of the package is a regular bitch; but you can squeeze in some real good stuff in that other 3rd, and you can do it without being rich.

And this.

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling."

Nothing against any particular subset of people, but there are lottery winners who became worse off because of the jackpot. The most famous money-induced tragedy is probably Anna Nicole Smith, who sought money to protect her firstborn child, then saw him die in front of her eyes because of addiction, and who died at 39 of too many Rx pills that she might never have afforded if she'd stayed poor.

Rin, I like and/or respect many of your comments, but you take a lot for granted, including the benefits of education, which remains the best predictor of longevity. (Money and medical insurance "pale in comparison.") Kurt Cobain had plenty of money, but it didn't make him happy.

curious2 says

Rin, I like and/or respect many of your comments, but you take a lot for granted, including the benefits of education, which remains the best predictor of longevity. (Money and medical insurance "pale in comparison.") Kurt Cobain had plenty of money, but it didn't make him happy.

Folks, we have postdocs working for less than $40K per year, with little hope for full time employment. We have actual scientists, publishing half-truths and lies, because that's what's expected, for them to continue getting grant money. As far as education goes, that's the highest level of schoolwork that a person can do. If you're simply talking about someone getting through a BA in accounting and working on some Excel sheets, sure, that's a good way to segue into the white collar workforce but that's not what this is about because I'm pretty sure that many accountants, didn't dream about accounting when they were 8 to 10 years old. It's when they gave up on their dream of becoming [ astronaut, actor, novelist, etc ] that they took up accounting, just to find a job.

And as for Cobain, the man was clinically depressed since childhood. If you listen to Nirvana's music, it's the most downtrodden stuff, even eclipsing Pearl Jam in the area. On the other hand, I wrote an entire thing on The Offspring's Dexter Holland (same generation as those Seattle acts), who's now, a multimillionaire and gone back to school in SoCal for a PhD in molecular biology & is doing research. Yes, he's doing quite well with his cash.

http://patrick.net/?p=1236968

curious2 says

Anna Nicole Smith, who sought money to protect her firstborn child, then saw him die in front of her eyes because of addiction, and who died at 39 of too many Rx pills that she might never have afforded if she'd stayed poor.

Anna Nicole has been the poster child for *money bringing on a downfall*, however, I think it may have more to do with her aspirations in life.

Well ... when a bimbo faux actress wants to copy another bimbo, Marilyn Monroe, isn't it conceivable that they'd both go down the same road, substance abuse with an eventual overdose?

I mean for all intense purposes, I wouldn't be too surprised that Anna Nicole didn't really want to live past the age of 39, just to see herself get old, every time she looked in the mirror. That's not money's problem, that's her nature and that's to be a lifelong drama queen but we all know that the world doesn't get erotically aroused by a Joan Rivers or a Betty White these days, so I suspect that unconsciously, Anna Nicole didn't want to live past her youth.

Rin says

Do you see why you'll never need to leave the lab? It's an all encompassing experience.

Now I understand - its to be a CLONING lab! Nice!

curious2 says

Nothing against any particular subset of people, but there are lottery winners who became worse off because of the jackpot. The most famous money-induced tragedy is probably Anna Nicole Smith, who sought money to protect her firstborn child, then saw him die in front of her eyes because of addiction, and who died at 39 of too many Rx pills that she might never have afforded if she'd stayed poor.

Poor people have plenty of cheap ways to check out too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_lethal_dose

JodyChunder says

The best problem-solving is rooted in survival. It is almost an art unto itself. By forklifting this problem-solving from the equation altogether, you foreclose upon one of the very fundaments of human creativity. The most creative people who ever lived were not rich, or certainly didn't start out that way. And if they ended up rich, their shit quickly sucked. Most rich kids suck, also.

Well that depends on how they were raised. I've met plenty of average kids who were spoiled rotten by their formerly poor parents and were as bad attitude-wise as any similarly spoiled rich kid. The difference was the average kid had less power (money) with which to make others miserable.

OTOH I have met and/or know of a few wealthy people who live modestly and have used their wealth to make the lives of others better.

JodyChunder says

Most intelligent people don't want to be rich. They simply desire enough money to be able to maintain a standard of living peculiar to themselves.

Which is how most people define rich. Being able to live the life you want without having to work nor being concerned about the money supply. That doesn't mean you can't work if you want to, you just aren't dependent on the job to live.

JodyChunder says

Drilling down even further -- fuck happiness. There's more to life than that. The injunction to be happy is absurd and harmful to the psyche. Notice how the happiest fucks are always the least interesting of the bunch. In the same way that polemical blowhards are more illuminating than platitudinous bullshitters, I'll take a good ol' fashioned miserablist with a fractured soul any. day. of. the. week. over some high-thread-count having kale-chips-eating twatwad with his conformist ideas about what happiness is.

Well here we have a difference of opinion. I find the people who are happy but have struggled to become so are the most interesting. They also tend not to take their happiness for granted.

Your preference for the "miserablist with a fractured soul", are you sure this is just not schadenfreude?

I'm gonna agree with the Captain that money can lower your stress by elevating you to the top of the dog pile. Those at the bottom tend to be most stressed, and due to the brain chemistry that results, life is actually much less happy for them. They can't enjoy the same things that others with less stress can enjoy.
I'll also agree with Jody Chunder that too much money can make one unproductively lazy which creates a vicious feedback cycle that also induces unhappiness. I believe that when we pursue our creative natures, whatever they may be on an individual basis, we find the most satisfaction from life. Life with purpose is wonderful. Without purpose it becomes a meaningless trudge.

New Renter says

JodyChunder says

Most intelligent people don't want to be rich. They simply desire enough money to be able to maintain a standard of living peculiar to themselves.

Which is how most people define rich. Being able to live the life you want without having to work nor being concerned about the money supply. That doesn't mean you can't work if you want to, you just aren't dependent on the job to live.

Yes, the above is my philosophy as well. And for the most part, it's what I'm attempting to achieve, before I apply to medical school, once this hedge fund thing is over.

On the other hand, being filthy rich ala Rin Rockeller heir to JDR III's billions, is also fine for me, as I'd expand my research activities with the Boston & Rio labs, and perhaps even start a Martial Arts dojo, but this time, having the real Gracies over.

New Renter says

Which is how most people define rich. Being able to live the life you want without having to work nor being concerned about the money supply. That doesn't mean you can't work if you want to, you just aren't dependent on the job to live.

Good call.

Still, this leaves out the disabled stamp collector living in a shed in his sister's backyard who might also feel "rich" in certain ways, but unlike some genuinely heeled mother, is one hairs width from total ruin. My point is, being rich (would wealthy be a more suitable word here?) is not a matter of perception. I can even see how this could be used as a sneaky device for manipulating popular sentiment about wealth disparity. My original point was that the really bright, thoughtful jerks I've known never had machinations of getting rich in the gilded sense. That mindset is as boring and unpleasant to be around as a cheapskate.

New Renter says

Your preference for the "miserablist with a fractured soul", are you sure this is just not schadenfreude?

I don't believe so. Several winters ago, I was sitting in a crispey creme where I noticed this sad, ancient dude hunched in a booth. He looked pretty hard up from where I was sitting (he was nursing a small cup of coffee and discretely eating a napkin). I didn't enjoy that spectacle at all.*

I just meant to say that I like people who look at the blackness head on. I trust them more, and tend to find them more interesting. I also prefer the sorrowful songs to the other ones, so there you go.

*Of course I did.

CaptainShuddup says

Money can relieve stress but it wont buy happiness.

Quinn:
They come here looking for the magic, hoping to find romance, when they can't find it anywhere else.

Robin:
Maybe they will.

Quinn:
It's an island, babe. If you didn't bring it here, you won't find it here.

JodyChunder says

I just meant to say that I like people who look at the blackness head on. I trust them more, and tend to find them more interesting. I also prefer the sorrowful songs to the other ones, so there you go.

This reminds me of an angry Vietnam Vet, who was never happy about anything, after having flown the wounded & dead, from the fields to the various M.A.S.H sites. He was a Huey pilot.

He'd left America for good during the 90s, as he was disillusioned with life here, but the times I'd visited him in Asia, he was never at peace about anything there either.

Do I romanticize about his life's story? Or his particular cynicism on everything? No, I find that he's a prisoner of yesteryear's emotional torture.

Would money have help him? Well ... only if he listened to someone like me and sought hypnotherapy, meditation, qigong, and other types of therapeutic practices to mellow him out. On his own, no, it wouldn't work because he's damaged goods.