Building monuments

[wdfifteen]

The thread about divesting ourselves of possessions reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend a while ago. It was about how successful people tend to build monuments to themselves. For his it was a house he couldn't afford. He struggled to maintain it, but hated to let it go because it said "success" to him. He finally did sell it, and says he has no regrets at all.
For me, my monument to myself has always been my businesses, but businesses are boring, so like him I sought more tangible evidence of success. At one time I had: 3 Porsches, 2 BMW cars, 2 BMW motorcycles, a Roadtrek camper, a Lexus SUV, 3 pickup trucks, a big ass house, a ridiculous watch*, a ton of camera equipment and a shop that would be the envy of many. I did it, and now I don't care. I sold the bikes, Lexus, BMW 535, camper, some cameras, and I'm working on selling off more. I'm done with the monument thing. I did it. I know I can. I'm ready to move on.

* I found the story of the watch that I posted here some time ago. I can still hear the sound of that champagne bottle screeching across the top of that glass counter.
Originally Posted by wdfifteen
Looking at the watch brings back good and bad memories. I bought it as sort of retail therapy because I'd been dumped by a woman I was head over heals about because I wasn't of the right faith. It turned out to be worth it. My friend and I were in New York and had closed a business deal that was going to do very well by us and we were feeling pretty good about things. We took our morning run in Central Park and went looking or breakfast. Passed Cartier and I was hooked on this watch in the window, but they wouldn't be open until 10:00 AM - another half an hour. The more I thought about it the more I wanted that watch, so we were at the door when they opened at 10:00. I talked to this very prim and proper salesman "Charles" while my friend chatted up the guard - big, big guy. My friend asked if they didn't normally serve champagne to good customers, and Charles sent the guard to get a bottle. We finished it off in about 15 minutes, with my friend laughing and telling me (loudly), "Buy it! You deserve it. It's prettier than that b&%$# anyway and probably gives better blow jobs." My friend finished the bottle of champagne and slid the empty across the glass counter and said, "Hey Chuck! Ya got any more of this stuff?" That kind of set the theme for the rest of the day. I bought the watch and we finished the second bottle of Champagne before 11:00. Then we went a couple of doors down to Hugo Boss and had them model dresses for us for about an hour and serve us more champagne. The day got a little crazy after that. We got thrown out of Chef Bobo's and as I recall unsuccessfully hit on some 20 year old Swedish girls at that bar at the top of the Marriot Times Square before we called it a day. The watch and I have been through some good times. Kinda hate to sell it now that I think about it.

[Nostril Cheese]

True success is waking up every morning and being happy.

Took me a long time to figure that one out.

[Seahawk]

Being "successful" is ephemeral, impossible to define, although NC is on the right track.

I don't like to collect things, if I don't use it I sell it. I have always had a sense of self, don't burden others and hate to be.

What I consider success would flummox most. My monument is space, room from others.

Peace.

[Baz]

Great thread thus far.

I concur.

To thine own self be true.

March to your own beat.

Let no one (or material thing) dictate your happiness...

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

True success is waking up every morning and being happy.

Took me a long time to figure that one out.

Yep!

The older I get, the less and less I'm impressed by material things.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

True success is waking up every morning and being happy.

Took me a long time to figure that one out.

I have to agree.

I often go to sleep with a smile on my face and wake up the same way. And that is not a euphemism, I really have grin on my face. I am fortunate enough to have good health and a wife that loves me and I have more income that outgo. Money in the bank and no real worries are just icing on the cake.