Without

The thing is, money doesn’t really matter.  It comes and it goes.  Well for most of us it’s like that.  Sometimes you have some, sometimes you’re without.  The thing is to not be emotional about it.  Maybe you’re without for a bit, but that’s not so bad.  It’s ok if you’re a little broke.  I think it’s ok. Right? 
Ok, maybe don’t take this as the gospel people – I’m not suggesting you do as I do.  In fact, don’t.  This is just a blog about how I’m without money at the moment and how it’s not really bothering me so much.  But then again, there is that scrip about Paul saying - I’ve had plenty and I’ve had little and I’ve learned how to be content either way.  Yah, that’s what I’m talking about.

So, money.  I think the problem comes in with consumerism.  We don’t actually need all that stuff.  I even cut down drastically on my salad ingredients.  Instead of all the crazy good stuff, you can just narrow it down to maybe four or five serious must-haves for your salad.  It’s not about quantity, it’s about selection.  Tastes that go together really well, that sort of thing. 

One excellent way of saving money, when you’re in between, is to just not buy stuff.  Very effective way of saving.  Really helped me today.  Could probably do a teaching on this if I have to.  Don’t buy stuff.  Ok, it’s a very short teaching...

Some of the money, sadly, went to fixing my car.  I use the word fixing very loosely.  See, I didn’t really think it needed fixing, but apparently it did.  I felt pretty safe and the car went to point B every time I left point A, so yah – it was great.  But it turned out that my car needed me to chuck a few thousand under its hood.  What a concept.  Can’t help but feel a bit of a fool for this, but some experts assured me that I was doing the right thing.  Sure does make you feel old.  Like a parent.  You know, lots of responsibilities etc. 

Then the other thing that greatly attributed to my empty wallet is a sailing course that I paid for in cash.  Found a good course with excellent benefits, loaded the new beneficiary on my internet banking, put 50% of the money in the Amount box, deleted it and put the full amount in, thought for a moment, and then did it – closed my eyes and clicked on “pay”.  And now I can do twelve different knots with a rope. 

The great thing about sailing is that it’s on water.  Generally, if you don’t spend a lot of time on water, this is quite something.  Rocks your boat so to speak.  Apparently most people get sick at some point on the sea.  You can have years of sailing experience and still get sick.  It’s some imbalance that occurs in your ears and then you’re disorientated and you go queasy.  Most travel sickness medication is basically antihistamine, which basically restores the balance in your ears.  Ok, that’s my version and I’m sticking to it. 

Anyway, I didn’t get sick, but I got a little queasy the one day.  Only because we were motoring for a bit.  When the sails are up it’s actually much better because the sail sort of stabilises the boat.  While when down, the boat is all over the place and it can be a bit disorientating.  But didn’t get sick nevertheless.  Instead, went out again into more gale force winds, had top speed of gushes at 38 knots that same afternoon.  It’s quite fun.  Until the skipper hands over the helm to you.  Then it’s not so much fun because all of a sudden you have to keep a straight course while the wind is pulling you to one side and the waves are pushing you to another and the boat is heeling to its side from having a little too much sail out and you’ve never done this before. 

But I guess it’s like driving a car.  At first it just seems so much to take in and you’re out of your depth, but then eventually you do it blindfolded.  Ok, not quite.  But yah, the technique does improve with practice.  And I thought I saw a mischievous glint in the skipper’s eye.  We had strong winds that first week, that’s for sure!  What a great way to learn – and you learn fast!!

So the bonus of having spent all my food, petrol and basic surviving money on a sailing course, is that once the four day course is over, I get to actually continue sailing with the skipper.  Provided that there’s space and availability and good sailing weather, I’m good to go.  So I get to sail.  Cool hey?  I get to sail.   For free. 

So I’m thinking 2011’s going to be awesome...  Already living out some of my new years’ resolutions.  Actually, come to think of it, I’m living out all of them right now.  Hold on to hope no matter what, trust in Jesus no matter what, have an adventure.  Tick.  Tick.  Tick. 

Good thing I didn’t put “save and hold on to your money” in there... that would’ve been a bit awkward...  But the good thing is that I don’t regret spending it, even with the car thing.  I mean, I feel so grownup since I’ve “fixed” my car.  And definitely not the sailing until whenever thing.  My salads may look a little basic and my petrol tank’s empty light a little bright, but I feel rich and as though I had a long holiday and have much to look forward to.

Yah, life is good.  Much to be thankful for.

So maybe I’m not the best person to do a finance or budget seminar, but hey, I can’t be good at absolutely everything right?  If you want to know about great salads, sailing, doing something you’ve always wanted to do and just pursuing life and God, I’m your person.  You better believe it.

Arios amigos.