Wealth

Just what it is to be wealthy?  What is the definition, these days, of weath?  Are Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffet an example of what it is to be wealthy or do they just have a lot of money?  By worldly standards, money and wealth seem to be interchangeable terms.  How many of us are discounting our "net worth" because we aren't millionaires?  I could launch into all the other things in life that are of value, like relationships and health, and those are clearly important; but I'm going to keep it practical and tangible.

My children think I live like a squirrel in winter and I suppose a number of people think living off the land is a sign of poverty, but the truth is, I like the way I live.  My total monthly bills are less than the average car payment.  That's not to say, expenses don't come up, because they do.  Things break and they wear out, but those are incidents rather than regular expenses.  By maintaining a low monthly budget, financial stress is minimal.   Also by maintaining a low monthly budget, when expenses do arise, they are simply met and life moves on.

As a society we tend to measure wealth by accumulation of money and status, but I have a different perspective.  A friend and I were talking the other day and I don't think I gave indication of my shock, but she mentioned expenses and what it would take to live "comfortably."  To be honest, I don't think I'd be comfortable having to deal with that much money.  I'd be trying to figure out what I was supposed to actually do with that much money.  I'd feel obligated to start some sort of philanthropic organization or something.  That would be a huge responsibility for me, a burden actually. 

My definition of wealth affords freedom from financial stress.  One of my true marks of freedom is the way I handle my bills.  On a monthly basis, I have two personal bills and usually one business expense.  Those three bills go over the visor in the buggy, until my semi-monthly trip to town.  In less than five minutes, those checks are made out and in the mail.  All other expenses are handled in cash.  

Living debt free, and stress free is wealth.  Less junk to dust would be even better.  More importantly, though; when it comes to true wealth . . . Having enough to share, at a moment's notice, is wealth.