It's your lucky day!
- Thread starter Oskaar
- Start date
-
Love Gotmead and want to see it grow? Then consider supporting the site and becoming a Patron! If you're logged in, click on your username to the right of the menu to see how as little as $30/year can get you access to the patron areas and the patron Facebook group and to support Gotmead!
-
We now have a Patron-exclusive Facebook group! Patrons my join at The Gotmead Patron Group. You MUST answer the questions, providing your Patron membership, when you request to join so I can verify your Patron membership. If the questions aren't answered, the request will be turned down.
$300 million, eh? Assuming the Shrub (AKA President Bush) gives me a tax break I would bring home about $330 million.
1st tell my boss I quit.
I would buy a 300 acre ranch in Colorado with a river running through it so I can fish, hire a beekeeper to teach me about the apery business so I can have all the wildflower honey I want, travel around the world to learn about wine/mead making, build a proper meadery, open a B&B to serve the mead at (mead IS for breakfast ya know!!) and maybe have a party or five.
1st tell my boss I quit.
I would buy a 300 acre ranch in Colorado with a river running through it so I can fish, hire a beekeeper to teach me about the apery business so I can have all the wildflower honey I want, travel around the world to learn about wine/mead making, build a proper meadery, open a B&B to serve the mead at (mead IS for breakfast ya know!!) and maybe have a party or five.
Hehe, Hmmmn...
First things first, pay off my debts and the debts of my immediate family.
Buy a summer home in Doolin, Ireland, by the Cliffs of Mohre (sp?).
Travel, alot.
Buy property in Vancouver, and build a house. Big enough for a family, a craft room, a woodworking shop, a brewery/meadery in the basement, a proper wine cellar, and an arcade (for my boyfriend). Also, dogs. Lots of dogs.
Would try to make a go of starting a home-based business w/ my weaving and spinning, and if not, have fun weaving and spinning!
Might open a brewpub as well.
So many options
First things first, pay off my debts and the debts of my immediate family.
Buy a summer home in Doolin, Ireland, by the Cliffs of Mohre (sp?).
Travel, alot.
Buy property in Vancouver, and build a house. Big enough for a family, a craft room, a woodworking shop, a brewery/meadery in the basement, a proper wine cellar, and an arcade (for my boyfriend). Also, dogs. Lots of dogs.
Would try to make a go of starting a home-based business w/ my weaving and spinning, and if not, have fun weaving and spinning!
Might open a brewpub as well.
So many options
Invest the money as I take a couple of years to find the perfect place to build. Must have a year round river flowing through with a decent elevation drop to support a midsize hydroelectric generator, enough to power about a hundred homes. I'd build a Commercial Winery/Meadery and a small town of sorts to supply the workers. This would include a bakery, a pub and pool hall, a grocers, a bed and breakfast, a public library (any title supplied on request), I'd hire Oskaar at twice his going salary to head the Commercial Winery/Meadery and let him hire a cute little redhead or two to staff the tasting room to keep his morale up. 
I'd also employ him to search out a stellar beer brewer interested in going commercial. A few Beekeepers to keep the Honey flowing.
Maybe turn it into a destination community... live theatre, festivals of all sorts, some Renaissance Fairs, Maybe host a SCA gathering or two, Oktoberfest, Mardi gras, a haven for artists, craftsmen and musicians. I have some friends and contacts who have run some major music festivals in Northern California I could call on. Both the High Sierra Music Festival and the Strawberry music festival.
Since my 401K investments have 3 year annualized returns of 16.41 to 19.88% , I figure if I invested my winnings the same way I'd be in pretty good shape to pull it off. In case your wondering where I find such wonderful returns...
Hennessy Cornerstone Growth
Neuberger Berman Genesis
Merrill Lynch International Index
Wrathwilde
I'd also employ him to search out a stellar beer brewer interested in going commercial. A few Beekeepers to keep the Honey flowing.Maybe turn it into a destination community... live theatre, festivals of all sorts, some Renaissance Fairs, Maybe host a SCA gathering or two, Oktoberfest, Mardi gras, a haven for artists, craftsmen and musicians. I have some friends and contacts who have run some major music festivals in Northern California I could call on. Both the High Sierra Music Festival and the Strawberry music festival.
Since my 401K investments have 3 year annualized returns of 16.41 to 19.88% , I figure if I invested my winnings the same way I'd be in pretty good shape to pull it off. In case your wondering where I find such wonderful returns...
Hennessy Cornerstone Growth
Neuberger Berman Genesis
Merrill Lynch International Index
Wrathwilde
"I'm gonna start a foundation to help homeless children".
But seriously, open a farm for abused animals, travel to every country in the world and try their national dish, start a scholarship for Engineers at Marquette University, open a Microbrew Pub and Meadery (common theme here), buy 1000 acres in the beautiful English countryside (must include a large wood and small lake to fish in).
Then with the interest earned in the second year.....
Angus
Oh, and buy a big, shiny, silver car.
But seriously, open a farm for abused animals, travel to every country in the world and try their national dish, start a scholarship for Engineers at Marquette University, open a Microbrew Pub and Meadery (common theme here), buy 1000 acres in the beautiful English countryside (must include a large wood and small lake to fish in).
Then with the interest earned in the second year.....
Angus
Oh, and buy a big, shiny, silver car.
Angus said:
Where I'll eventually slaughter and eat them. >
Otherwise it would be a Sanctuary or Zoo.Wrathwilde
Muirghein Tarot said:
Premium Gas offers no benefits unless you are experiencing engine knock due to premature combustion. They don't offer any more detergents, better gas milage or anything else of benefit to the average consumer. If you have a high performance sports car with a high compression ratio, then yes you might need premium fuel. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
On a side note - The best gas I ever put in my vehicle came from a single pump station in the middle of the desert, no cement tarmac, just dirt and gravel, the station was a mobile home trailer, and if I hadn't been on empty I would never have even considered buying gas there. I filled up the tank and the car leapt out of there like it just had a nitrous injection, seriously it felt like the horsepower had increased 50%. I've never ever had another experience like it, I wish I knew what type of gas it was.
Wrathwilde
Immediately after the stupidly immense garage attached to a house about half its size, filling same with cars and motorcycles, a month long drug addled bender worthy of Hunter S. Thompson (just to get it out of my system)...
buy a monstrous piece of property somewhere in the middle of the US, establish three week SCA all kingdoms Norse vs. Irish themed war (no troll feees, of course) that culminates in an invitational tourney of all current kings and princes (expenses paid trips, natch).
Hire Oskaar to be my the chief brewmeister in a ridiculously well appointed, licensed meadery. Gotta have mead on tap for the three week war, right?
spend the rest of my days in a pleasently mead-sozzled buzz, sobering up only long enough to armor up and fight. Probably eventually get bored with the house and cars, sell them. Buy a couple of tour busses and spend all year bringing my harem and courtiers around from Kingdom to Kingdom hitting an event every weekend, and every major war.
I'm pretty simple in my tastes really. Don't tell me you're not thinking something along the same lines.
Michael
buy a monstrous piece of property somewhere in the middle of the US, establish three week SCA all kingdoms Norse vs. Irish themed war (no troll feees, of course) that culminates in an invitational tourney of all current kings and princes (expenses paid trips, natch).
Hire Oskaar to be my the chief brewmeister in a ridiculously well appointed, licensed meadery. Gotta have mead on tap for the three week war, right?
spend the rest of my days in a pleasently mead-sozzled buzz, sobering up only long enough to armor up and fight. Probably eventually get bored with the house and cars, sell them. Buy a couple of tour busses and spend all year bringing my harem and courtiers around from Kingdom to Kingdom hitting an event every weekend, and every major war.
I'm pretty simple in my tastes really. Don't tell me you're not thinking something along the same lines.
Michael
I'd retire, with all my family, to St. Winston Village. A large house near the river and within walking distance of Gloria's Chinese restaurant. Plenty of room for us and pets and visitors (human and otherwise). A lot of the other stuff you guys have mentioned: wine cellar, meadworks and winery...a still room for my work with the herbs, and a soapworks. Big gardens, small orchards, beehives, and staff to help me run everything. Happy, busy days, and long, relaxed evenings with family and friends...
On a realistic note, 10% has to go to charity, right off the top. That's ma'aser, tithes, and a Jewish obligation. After buying property and setting up trust funds for everyone, I'd invest most of everything else to let the money keep growing quietly while I figure out what else it should be doing. I also have several friends who have skills in healing and the arts, whom I would help set up in their own clinics and studios. It would be great to take some advanced classes in herbology, languages, and literature. Travel? I would very much like to spend several years in leisurely travel around the world, but even being very rich, I couldn't leave the family members who can't travel, and who depend on me. Sigh...even in one's fantasies, reality has to intrude...
Miriam
On a realistic note, 10% has to go to charity, right off the top. That's ma'aser, tithes, and a Jewish obligation. After buying property and setting up trust funds for everyone, I'd invest most of everything else to let the money keep growing quietly while I figure out what else it should be doing. I also have several friends who have skills in healing and the arts, whom I would help set up in their own clinics and studios. It would be great to take some advanced classes in herbology, languages, and literature. Travel? I would very much like to spend several years in leisurely travel around the world, but even being very rich, I couldn't leave the family members who can't travel, and who depend on me. Sigh...even in one's fantasies, reality has to intrude...
Miriam
Interesting how many of us would jump at the chance to establish a meadery - if only the money was available.
Well now, I'd like to think that I would be terribly wise and responsible with that kind of windfall.
I'd love to set up a foundation to financially assist families in adopting orphans into good homes.
I would spend as much time as Miriam could stand touring Israel with her.
I'd travel to Poland, buy Apis, and move the entire operation to some scenic location in Michigan... Now that may be a bit much for a mere 300 million, but I can guarantee you a sudden worldwide shortage of Jadwiga! ;D
David
Well now, I'd like to think that I would be terribly wise and responsible with that kind of windfall.
I'd love to set up a foundation to financially assist families in adopting orphans into good homes.
I would spend as much time as Miriam could stand touring Israel with her.
I'd travel to Poland, buy Apis, and move the entire operation to some scenic location in Michigan... Now that may be a bit much for a mere 300 million, but I can guarantee you a sudden worldwide shortage of Jadwiga! ;D
David
I would pay some cryogenics lab to keep my head frozen after I die so I could be brought back to life at some time in the future .... hopefully when technology allows for mead to be completed - to perfection - in 30 seconds or less.
Other than that, I wouuld'nt change a thing ! ;D ;D ;D
Other than that, I wouuld'nt change a thing ! ;D ;D ;D
Smile, open a bottle of mead and keep my mouth shut about my good fortune. After that increase my apiary and travel in a new RV to see the United States. Get a nice shop together and spend the rest of my years carving, sculpting, metalworking and making mead.
Wow, 300 million....... Let see...
Parents
Pay off all debt. Hire enough staff to keep them from ever having to lift a finger for chores unless they want to. Buy them a home in Ireland.
Sister
Her family has no debt..so that is easy. Set up education trust funds for her children and give them a long deserved vacation.
Myself
Pay off all debt. Buy a home in the Keys and make it hurricane proof. Let the wife finish her ARNP degree. Open a hospice for her to run. Buy all new equipment for the fire/rescue service I work at, ensuring they have all the latest toys and gadgets and also increase pay. Buy a 28ft center console to run out on from the dock at my new home. Retire at 45 and go to the Keys to lay in my hammock at sunset drinking a glass of pyment and listening to the waves crash the beach.
Slainte,
Chris
Parents
Pay off all debt. Hire enough staff to keep them from ever having to lift a finger for chores unless they want to. Buy them a home in Ireland.
Sister
Her family has no debt..so that is easy. Set up education trust funds for her children and give them a long deserved vacation.
Myself
Pay off all debt. Buy a home in the Keys and make it hurricane proof. Let the wife finish her ARNP degree. Open a hospice for her to run. Buy all new equipment for the fire/rescue service I work at, ensuring they have all the latest toys and gadgets and also increase pay. Buy a 28ft center console to run out on from the dock at my new home. Retire at 45 and go to the Keys to lay in my hammock at sunset drinking a glass of pyment and listening to the waves crash the beach.
Slainte,
Chris
Day 1
Drive to KC, and buy a gunmetal F430 Ferrari Spider with charcoal leather interior and maroon top.
Drive it to the Saab dealership and by my lady a 9-3 (her dream) Have it delivered home.
Drive the 430 to My lady's work and pick her up. Drive to work and quit my job. Toss my laptop in the river and ask to be billed for it.
Have a Dodge viper delivered to my father's work, and meet him there to suprise him with it. Let him know that he can retire when he is ready.
Drive arround town until I get at least 2 speeding tickets.
Go to my mother's work and tell her the news. Tell her she can retire when she is ready.
Get a PO box for all the new junk mail that I will be receiving.
Throw an enormous party.
Day 2
I think that day two would be very interesting. I have absolutely no idea what I would do on day two of being filthy rich.
Eventually...
By a large plot of land in the nearby countryside. Build a home with all the fixins (absurd cellar, dungeon, absurd pool with absurd grotto, brewery, a huge kitchen with all the gizmos and gadgets I could ever need including a brick oven , a bed that can sleep 8-10 comfortably, indoor dojo, outdoor dojo, enormous garage to store the 6+ other dream cars not listed above, Pond, pirate ship, cannon, pirate play town etc.) 10 fainting goats! 2 male fawn Great Danes. Horses.
Buy a home in Oak Island NC, and one in San Diego. Stay a month in each.
Then travel the world for a year or two.
Lots more, but since I do not have $300,000,000 I can't sit around and yap all day. Got to get back to work!
Cheers!
John
Drive to KC, and buy a gunmetal F430 Ferrari Spider with charcoal leather interior and maroon top.
Drive it to the Saab dealership and by my lady a 9-3 (her dream) Have it delivered home.
Drive the 430 to My lady's work and pick her up. Drive to work and quit my job. Toss my laptop in the river and ask to be billed for it.
Have a Dodge viper delivered to my father's work, and meet him there to suprise him with it. Let him know that he can retire when he is ready.
Drive arround town until I get at least 2 speeding tickets.
Go to my mother's work and tell her the news. Tell her she can retire when she is ready.
Get a PO box for all the new junk mail that I will be receiving.
Throw an enormous party.
Day 2
I think that day two would be very interesting. I have absolutely no idea what I would do on day two of being filthy rich.
Eventually...
By a large plot of land in the nearby countryside. Build a home with all the fixins (absurd cellar, dungeon, absurd pool with absurd grotto, brewery, a huge kitchen with all the gizmos and gadgets I could ever need including a brick oven , a bed that can sleep 8-10 comfortably, indoor dojo, outdoor dojo, enormous garage to store the 6+ other dream cars not listed above, Pond, pirate ship, cannon, pirate play town etc.) 10 fainting goats! 2 male fawn Great Danes. Horses.
Buy a home in Oak Island NC, and one in San Diego. Stay a month in each.
Then travel the world for a year or two.
Lots more, but since I do not have $300,000,000 I can't sit around and yap all day. Got to get back to work!
Cheers!
John
1. Set up living trust for the family and some friends who are down on their luck.
2. Fund Gotmead.com in perpetuity. Set up some endowments for the Non-profits where I'm involved in the organizations.
3. Have mink-lined bathtub installed in my house
4. Get a Rolls-Royce with Sable instead of paint (someone told me Sable is more durable than mink)
5. Buy a small island and a large tuna farm
6. Open a home for wayward teenage girls
7. Fund a Honey and Mead research project at UC Davis
8. Get a mead-based reality show on TV or start a survivor-type reality show called Convict Island where death-row inmates fight to the death for a chance to be taken to Porn-Star island!
9. Establish Helstrom's Hive Meadworks in Northern California (Dry Creek area of Sonoma County) and become a moody recluse!
2. Fund Gotmead.com in perpetuity. Set up some endowments for the Non-profits where I'm involved in the organizations.
3. Have mink-lined bathtub installed in my house
4. Get a Rolls-Royce with Sable instead of paint (someone told me Sable is more durable than mink)
5. Buy a small island and a large tuna farm
6. Open a home for wayward teenage girls
7. Fund a Honey and Mead research project at UC Davis
8. Get a mead-based reality show on TV or start a survivor-type reality show called Convict Island where death-row inmates fight to the death for a chance to be taken to Porn-Star island!
9. Establish Helstrom's Hive Meadworks in Northern California (Dry Creek area of Sonoma County) and become a moody recluse!
