A while back I mentioned my nerdy classmate who became filthy rich by liking comic books before comic books were cool. I heard from him recently. He is seriously considering signing up with Virgin Galactic for one of their suborbital space rides. I was frank about the possible hazards but I suggested he go for it. He then suggested that I might want to do it myself (!). Having been a space buff all my life, literally since before Sputnik, I have always nursed an ambition to go there myself and had given some idle thought to the suborbital ride. It is an awesome idea, in the truest sense, but holy jumping jelly beans, it costs 250K for a few minutes in actual space.
In theory I could do it, but unlike my comic book friend, I would have to consider it a seriously major expenditure. I have never dropped that much for anything personal except my new home, let alone for something that won’t last for decades. Still, considering the frivolous crap I see the idle rich (and not so rich) spending that much and more on, it doesn’t look so bad. Backed by 50+ years of day dreaming, analysis, and pure desire, the experience could be rich beyond imagining. It could also leave me disappointed and space sick or maybe even as a crater in the desert. It would also damage my carefully cultivated reputation as a tight wad and miser (growing up poor will do that sometimes). An unexpected windfall gain in some of my investments might swing the decision. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.