"Money is freedom, because you can (in limited effect) trade it for time. I think most people love money because they love the time it can buy them, not because it is an end in of itself."
1. I live in one of the richest counties in the United States. My neighbors are very wealthy. That said, they don't seem to do much with their free time.
They take, usually a couple of two week vacations, usually to touristy places. They come home, and seem like they can't wait to get back to work. You look in their garages, and you don't see much besides a few nice cars. Maybe a bicycle--that's never ridden.
They don't seem to have any hobbies. If the have a boat, it just sits in Sausalito.
My point is they don't seem to relish the free time they could have. It's almost like they think they will live forever?
Money can buy freedom, but if your determined, and don't have a lot of responsibilities (basically kids); I think the average person, with an average income can live a pretty adventurous life. I really think it's more about just doing it? You don't want to end up homless though.
We all read about the fabiolous lives some new tech legend lives, but in my county, the wealthy just don't seem to do much. It doesn't make sence. Actually, it does. If you young, and make millions in tech in a few years; it's different than spending 20 years building up a business.
I'm not knocking the huge amounts of money some guys make seemingly overnight. I just think the average multimillionaire is a workaholic, and even though they could retire early, and climb Everest; they are so used to their daily grind--they live seemingly boring lives? Not boring, but not how I would live, if I had that money. They do have problems, but they, and their kids, don't have the stress poor/middle people have. Even with the added stress of being poor/middle class in a rich county; the people I see at the beach, mountians, actually sailing are not the wealthy ones. Antidotal---yes!
Maybe I'm missing something?