Let's have some fun -- What would you do?

[mjr]

Let's say, for whatever reason, you woke up tomorrow filthy stinkin' rich (amount is up to you), so you didn't have to work anymore.

What would you do? Hobbies? Interests? Travel? Charity work? Etc? Whatever...

And...GO!

[Ghel]

There's a once-beautiful old building downtown that I would love to buy and renovate. It's got some beautiful brickwork, but it's been painted over so many times that it's hard to see. Some of the windows on the second and third floors are boarded up. There seems to be a copper decoration near the top, but it's green from tarnish.

After renovating the building and bringing it up to code, I'd put a used bookstore in the storefront. I'd stock it with tons of great books, which I would sell cheaply. I'd also foster cats and use the bookstore as a site for cat adoption. Maybe I'd call it "Cat Corner and Pre-Read Books".

I'd also donate a lot to charity.

ETA: I'd also go to conventions, such as NerdCon and GeeklyCon. And I'd support the convention in Duluth, Berserkon.

[MoonCat]

I would quit my stinkin' job so fast I'd leave my shadow behind.

Pay off my house, fix everything in or on it that needed fixing, then sell it and get the hell out of here. Go somewhere where the neighbors didn't believe that grass over 1/16th of an inch high means you're evil, somewhere with a little privacy without a paleolithic meddling old bat living next door.

Give some money to charities that help animals like Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Get certain people in my family counseling. The excuse that we can't afford it would no longer apply.

And tell off the boss. Once that money was in my possession I'd tell them exactly what I think of their attempts to kick my dept to the curb, as well as the mess they've made of the company in the last 15 or so years.

[Kittish]

Find or build a house for Boyfriend and myself and our monsters, one with a huge kitchen and a room I could turn into a crafting room and plant conservatory. Pay off houses and vehicles of immediate family. Plunk down a few tens of thousands of dollars on my favored charity, Critters In Need. Find no kill animal shelters locally and hand them each a few tens of thousands. Maybe do the same for local food banks and services that help the homeless. Set up trust funds for 'rents and kids of sibs, to pay for schooling and old-age care. Maybe open a bakery or coffeehouse (or combine them) and run it without having to worry about making profits. However, there would be no wi-fi in my shop. People would have to actually talk to each other.

[AnaKhouri]

Buy a farm and write full-time. And put away money for family, kids etc. And then start a nonprofit that lets schools apply that are interested in starting tabletop RPG clubs for students. We'd send a starter box and then a couple times a year send new, age-appropriate games and new dice and stuff. I think having creative things to do like that can help keep kids engaged and not loitering around the streets getting into trouble.

[Dreamstalker]

I'd still work, because my managers now are awesome. I'd give some money to a select few CW's who I know are having money problems--to be paid back when they can.

Pay off all debt, replenish my trust fund and put strict stipulations on who besides me can access the money and when. Refill mom's IRA (it was gutted to pay for everything when my grandparents died) and make sure she has all the help she would need when she can't work anymore.

Give money to the charities we support (EFF, homeless pets, education, etc).

Pay my dad back for the untold amount of $$$ he's helped me out with over the years when I was planning to be supporting myself (plus interest), pay off his mortgage and give him money so he could pursue some 'silly' things he's wanted to do.

Buy one of the Victorian houses in town that would otherwise get knocked down for some modern condo monstrosity, rehab it if needed and make sure we both have all the hobby spaces we need. Mom gets a darkroom, painting/drawing studio, and knitting cave. I'll have a room dedicated to my computer/gaming, room for books, fully equipped workspace for props/electronics. If the house/property is large enough I'll open a nonprofit makerspace for town use and maybe a community garden too.

There's a huge old commercial building in the next town with some amazing brickwork and ironwork that mom's always saying she would buy, fix up and turn into affordable housing (which there is a distinct lack of in that area). We'd maintain it perfectly and offer various classes (hobbies, marketable skills, etc) for tenants.

Flying lessons.

[notalwaysright]

Same as a lot of you, build a house, and give a lot of animals very nice lives. I'd travel first, though. Once I was done traveling, and my house was built, I'd do glass art. I've done it before, it's fun. I'd take a bunch of cooking classes, and maybe a class to try to teach me to like wine. I'd sew and knit, and always pre-order all future gaming systems. I'd make awesome soap.

I'd have a swimming pool and swim every day. I'd hire a cleaning service. I'd garden and have chickens. Whenever there was some exhibit or show or convention that sounded interesting, I'd fly out to see it. I'd learn to weave. I know this is really stereotypical and superficial and lame, but I'd buy a lot of shoes.

I'd make sure my parents would be well taken care of, when they can't take care of themselves anymore. I'm an only child, this all falls on me, regardless of if I magically become wealthy or not.

[Pixelated]

The same as many others here, although I can't decide whether I'd rather buy/build a house or just buy a really nice large condo. The former, of course, would mean I could take in all those kitties (and some doggies) who desperately need a good home ...

I would absolutely donate to some animal rescue/protection agencies, literacy groups, groups that help the homeless and at-risk kids, food banks. I'd make sure area food banks offered pet food as well. Also, I know of one group that 'tracks' people who receive (for example) Meals on Wheels, and if they have a pet, this group makes sure they are given pet food because sometimes these people might have only that one meal for the day, and they will share it with their pet. I'd set up something similar here.

I'd love to travel. I haven't travelled nearly as much as I'd like to.

Quit work, although I'd probably just trade work in for school. I'd love to find a university with a fantastic language program and spend the rest of my life learning various languages. Nobody will ever mistake me for anything other than an English speaker, but that's OK.

Put away enough money to ensure I get a nice place when I can no longer live on my own ... a private room for sure. Because I expect to get increasingly grumpy as I get older.

[Blue Ginger]

Breathe, just breathe. And stop stressing constantly so I can focus on my uni course.

After a week of 'oh fuck', I would pay off my credit card and my parent's mortgage, buy my 2 siblings a house each where ever they wanted. Buy myself a new car. And one for mum too.

Then I would buy myself a cute 3 bedroom place near my parents. 1 room for me, 1 for the library and a guest room. (I would buy near my parents because 1: they live by a great surf beach and 2: I'll need someone to keep an eye on it for 3-6 months of the year.)

Then I would fly to London and talk my ex-housemate into buying a bigger apartment so I had a place to live during northern summer. Or a house if that's what she wanted. Oh and give her money for a new car and to help her parents too.

Then I would fly back to Oz (after a holiday of course) to pay off my best friend's mortgage and help her business grow.

Then I'd invest and live on the interest. And invest for my nieces and nephews so they never have to worry about trying to pay for higher education.

After I finish uni, I'd work part of the year with charities that help kids stay in school when the world turns to shit around them and then travel the rest of the time.

[lordlundar]

Pay of by debts first and foremost, then get new, state of the art houses built for myself, my parents and my sister wherever they want. Finally after all that is handled go on a cruise. Beyond that Just live my life my way.

Would I still work? Sure, I like the work I do, love the fact that I can accept or reject sites on my own, though the average pay stinks. Given pay wouldn't be an issue after this it would be perfect.

[Eireann]

I would have an accountant figure out how much I would owe in taxes from here on out, and put the money (most of it, anyway) into mutual funds.

I would buy a huge land lot and build a house on it. I can't stand dogs barking or children shrieking, which is what you get when you have neighbors within earshot, so I would be sure to be far from them.

I would help out family and friends, being very careful as to whom I would help, and how much.

I would plant a huge garden and grow fruit, vegetables, berries, and herbs. The overflow - and there would be a lot of it - would go to food banks and homeless shelters.

I would adopt at least two more kitties, and give to cat shelters.

I would give to associations that get homeless people off the streets, into permanent housing, with all the psychological and physical care they need, and find jobs for them.

I would travel a hell of a lot more.

I would explore my creativity.

The great thing is, I'm already doing some of these things. I'm getting into having a little garden where I live (my landlord agreed), and I'm working in creative areas.

[Trixie]

All the boring stuff, pay off debts, pay off family, blah blah blah. Then I'd either buy myself a house. If I want to be practical maybe one that's not very large but comfortable. Just go out and buy all new stuff. New car, new appliances, new furniture, new clothes, new everything because that's something I've never really had.

But if money really is no object I'll be honest. Wouldn't mind living like a Kardashian for awhile. Giant house filled with too much stuff, a way too expensive car that I probably shouldn't be driving, flying off to some location just for dessert. Just a completely over the top decadent lifestyle. Because I can.

I'd give to charity to help animals because mostly they're nicer than people and don't ask to be in a bad situation. Probably find some worthy charities to help people out too.

I'd travel and just do all the touristy things out there. There wouldn't be one tourist trap that I would overlook.

If money really was no object I don't see a reason to be practical.

[Aragarthiel]

First thing would be to set aside a chunk of it so my daughter can go to college/get married/other expensive life event without having to worry about the cost. I'd probably want to start my own web design firm, and there's a bird rescue in my area that I'd like to volunteer at/donate to. Other than that I don't really know.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I've actually thought about this sort of thing more than once.

First, take at least half of the money and stick it in a mutual fund so the wealth can accumulate. Take a decent amount (maybe 10% of what's left) and donate it to some worthy charities.

Next, set up Mom and Dad with a good place to live with accommodations for their health issues-- and set aside plenty of money to take care of their medical expenses.

Maybe tell my sister and her husband to pick a trip they want to take, and bankroll it for them.

I'd get myself a nice house. I'm thinking a four-bedroom place. Master bedroom for me, a guest room, an office, and the remaining room would be for two of my friends-- they're engaged anyway, and they're looking for a place to live.

In the new house, get a few entertainment set-ups done. One in the man-cave. One in the den on the main floor. Lesser ones in my room and the office. And hire some professionals to get the entire house wired up for internet and everything. Get the best data connection I can.

And PCs. A server set up for Plex and/or gaming purposes. A computer for video editing. Maybe some other gaming rigs so friends and I can multiplayer together on-site.

And I'd definitely go on some overseas trips. Take my ex (whom I'm still on good terms with) and go to Japan. Maybe take a cruise. Visit England.

[flybye023]

I love my job and the people I work with so I wouldn't quit until I was good and ready. I would, however, quit school in a heartbeat. I'd pay off debt, move out of my parents' house and buy a house closer to work and buy a car. I would travel more--I'd like to visit all 50 states . I'd fix up a room in my house to be a craft room and spend more time (and money ) on my hobbies and maybe take up some new ones. I'd really like to have a harpsichord (I already play piano) so I'd probably have a music room too.

I'd also figure out some way to share with my parents so they could retire early.