The Rich List

In being newly weds in Hawaii, one of which is a student, and one of us working a full-time job, there are a lot of things that you budget. Peter and I are blessed to be living so well thanks to generous parents, family, friends, scholarships, and grants, but we definitely live modestly and go without wherever we can.

Even before we were married, Peter and I enjoyed planning our dream home for when we are fabulously wealthy. On one recent night as I lay in bed, I found myself fantasising about some things that I would love to indulge in once we can afford it, and it wasn't anything that I had considered previously:

"We are going to have the BEST health insurance," I thought. "I'm going to go in and get a physical that addresses EVERYTHING, just because I CAN." I constructed this beautiful fantasy of a life with no fear of medical bills, a life that so few Americans know but yet still seem determined to stay away from (but that's a whole different issue). It was blissful.

Peter doesn't much care for our "Rich List" game, thinking that it focuses on all that we do not have currently. For me, the game makes me all the more comfortable in living within our means; I am able to easily justify saving any extra money that comes our way for our future, because our future is looking exciting.

Here is the latest written draft of the Rich List:

• Super cool shower - high powered, lots of settings, radio, lights, large removable shower-head, endless supply of hot water.   
• Big bed with nice mattress and frame, (some people say "but you'll be so far from each other!" Eh, we cuddle enough during day light hours. BRING ON THE CALIFORNIA KING). 
• Fantastic health insurance  
• Ear looky tool, nose looky tool, and stethoscope (I really enjoy cleaning and looking in ears and noses. I am so blessed to have a husband who both accepts and panders to my crazy) 
• Neat kitchen knives (for Peter. I don't cook at all.) 
• Fancy fridge 
• TV! - large, easily connected to Netflix and computer, DVD player, no cable. 
• Fun game systems for group activities - rock band, just dance, DDR, all those cool things. 
• Hot tub and pool
• Large bathtub for bubble baths 
• ***A PUPPY!*** 
• Soda on tap/bar 
• Sauna 
• Garbage disposal 
• Dishwasher, toaster, kettle (those last two really aren't that hard to get, we're just reluctant to buy things that we don't have room for). 
• Drum set 4 Peetah 
• Treehouse 
• Fireplace 
• Big, fancy fish tank 
• Deck/porch 
• Hybrid car with awesome gas milage or electric car. 
• Air conditioning 
• Fast internet that allows us to Skype people without losing the call!! 

Every day I like to think of more entries to this fun, extravagant life. The bigger the better! It doesn't matter so much if we ever have it all, I just find it ridiculously fun to plan it (additional entries include a pet sloth, jet packs, a slip n' slide, a giant, adult sized ball pit/tube town like at Chuck-e-Cheese's). Plus, these days anything that helps me fall asleep is my friend.