This is the first in a (maybe) series of “What Would You Do?” creative exercises I’m thinking about. Today, I’ll explore the first five things I’d do if I won the lottery (or at least a million dollars).
Of course, the Number One item would be to hire an accountant to advise me on how to spend my new-found wealth! I’d be tempted to pay off all my debts in one fell swoop, but I’m not certain that would be a good idea, credit-wise. It might be best just to make larger monthly payments and pay everything off over a shorter time period. A professional would be able to tell me things like that, as well as steer clear of any scams or totally ridiculous ideas I might have.
Number Two on my list would be to upgrade the house a bit. I haven’t had the money for the sorts of upkeep and revitalization projects I have in mind. I’d like to enclose the back deck, for one, and have a screened-in area instead of just a platform. And I’d like to redo the kitchen in a Southwestern theme with new appliances and maybe cabinets. I know I have trouble storing everything in the space I have now.
Number Three would be to help my friends and family out. This step would depend on how many millions I won in the lottery. I’m not sure it would be feasible with only one million (I have a good many friends I’d like to help). But if possible, I’d like to set them up with a small place wherever they’d like to live, depending of course on cost of living. I don’t think I could swing a condo in downtown San Francisco, for example. And I’m not buying cars or boats or other luxury items. But a place to stay is a necessity and I’d like them to be safe and secure with a paid-for dwelling they like.
For Number Four, I think I’d like to travel some. Spend more than just a week seeing the sights, then come back home and relax. I’d take the roomie with me, of course. I hate to travel alone and we get along nicely. I’d start in Ireland. Maybe a few million dollars would allow me to take my favorite band out to the pub for the night. The Irish are far more relaxed about that sort of thing than Americans are. Nobody would bat an eye if U2 and I chilled out in the neighborhood pub for a few hours. Then, it’d be off to England and Europe. Not sure about visiting the Middle East. I’d love to see the pyramids, etc., but I’d hate to wind up on the wrong end of an assault weapon or bomb. I would go to New Zealand and Australia, though. New Zealand for the same reason as Ireland–it’s fecking gorgeous!–and Australia to see Uluru and the Great Outback along with the Barrier Reef. I’d have to see about visiting China, too, because of the tense relationship between our countries. But I’d love to see some of the countryside if possible. After seeing the world, I’d take a break before seeing America and Canada and Mexico. I’d like to visit each of the 50 states if I have time.
And Number Five would be to really promote my books. I’d like to do some tours, book signings, etc. that I haven’t been able to afford on my own. After that, I’d start looking at worthy charities, but before giving anything away, I’d like to see if I could start getting a little royalty money coming in for my old age!
What would you do if you won the lottery?
