Let's pretend, you just won the lottery and now have more money than you could possibly spend even if you live extravagantly every day for the rest of your life.
Would you just isolate yourself from the rest of the world or would you use your resources to help the world continue the enlightenment?
I would judiciously help, but with the understanding that it has to be done right or you're pouring money down a hole in some way. People have a tendency to ultimately resent you for bestowing largesse upon them because it subtly diminishes their own potency and effectiveness in the world, and/or makes them feel beholden to you. I would focus on causes that help people save themselves, not causes that save people. Also causes that create an environment that tends to lift people out of poverty and disease and want by providing the basics that society often fails to provide -- clean water, vaccines, healthcare services, etc.
But sure, there's no way to enrich my life beyond having a couple hundred grand a year to spend in perpetuity, which might require a few million in investments to live off the gains. Beyond that you can bet that every dime would be given away, somehow or other. I wouldn't have to be shamed into it like Jeff Bezos or something.
I would help family, friends and charitable entities. (environmental, civil rights, abuse of power etc)
For myself, a house and car in the U.S., Australia and the U.K. just because I can, ? with access to a private chef, masseuse and housekeeper. AND a private jet big enough to take all my family and friends with me when I fly to all these wonderful places. ?
oh well i have had a dream for years now, and a newer one too, but the newer one is more expensive. i'll tell you about both, since the money is so ample. the first dream, which i still have, is to establish a shelter for abused women and children, with equine therapy, cottages and gardens, and a main house for me and my guy and our pets, on the same premises. we would have experts hired (equine therapists and caretakers, shrinks and doctors and nurses, social workers if need be) and there would be no driving on the premises, but some cars and drivers to serve the guests when they needed groceries or anything else. there would be no more than a dozen cottages, each private for a woman and her children. the rest of the details i have not worked out because there is no way i will ever be able to make this happen.
the more expensive one is to establish a dementia village to live in with my alzheimer's-stricken guy, based however loosely upon the one in the netherlands.
no, i wouldn't just isolate myself from the world.
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Pick up my little house with construction helicopters & place it where there is a view with water.
Help family & friends
Do good with the rest....Heifer International, Smile Train, ACLU
I would only isolate for the first year or so. Just enough time to invest the money and start using it to make money.
After things got settled down, I would determine how much of the monthly interest I required to live comfortably and invest the rest in various charitable and plilanthropic causes. The principle would only be used in cases of dire emergency.
What? Where is fun in isolating? Why would anyone choose that? I don't know about helping the enlightenment. I just want to feed the kids. Hell with the enlightenment.