I know it's a little early to be calling 2012 the year of anything. Or is it? According to the drop down in the Google search bar this year is already the year of the girl, the year of the encounter, the year of the collapse, and the year of mathematics. Mathematics, really? I haven't done more mathematics this year than any other. I'm confused. Was I supposed to decide what the year would be about at the beginning of 2012 when I made all those resolutions I kept for 12 days? Did some mathematician somewhere say last December "Yep. This is it. This is gonna be our year."? I digress.
So far this year I have been to one music festival. Next week I am going to another. And another the week after that. My city's annual Folk Festival is in August. And I've just decided to try to pull off one last festival in October. Am I excited? Of course. Can I afford this? Not really.
Today I had a conversation with a friend of mine about getting a large sum of money *ahem divorce settlement ahem* and what her plans are for it. Her response - down payment. This girl already owns a home. A twice over home owner at 26? Where have I gone wrong? She then asked what I would do. I told her I would sell the house I live in (if I was her - I'm not a home owner) and take the whole whack of cash to go spend as much time as I could seeing everything I've ever wanted to see. It was then that I realized I'm not practicin what I'm preachin. I've worked really hard (ok pretty hard) to save up some cash over the last year, why not use it on what makes me happy? My dad and brother will always tell me I'm financially irresponsible (but love me anyway). I will always have responsible friends who do the sensible thing like buy an income property and not quit their jobs. I will probably have to work until I'm 95 (so will everyone people, our economy is in the shitter). I would rather spend my money on the things that make me truly happy and create memories that will last a lifetime. Austin City Limits come at me!
Plus, I get to see this IRL and that's way sweeter than watching my pension grow.
- Kayl
