A few days ago, my brother asked me what I want for Channukah. I like the idea of living a simple life without so much stuff, so I don’t really have much I want or need.
I’m in my 40s, so over the years I’ve managed to collect most everything I need. And I’m not one to get caught up in all those girly things like lotions and body salts. I have enough earrings and am so picky about my clothes that I would never suggest that as a gift.
The only thing I could come up with was that I need garden tools since I got rid of everything garden related when I moved into my condo 2 years ago. Last week, I sold my condo and bought a house with a yard, so I need everything garden related again.
Last week, during a packing break, I read my blogger friend Jen’s article Money is No Object Christmas List, and it got me thinking.
If I could have anything…not for others but for me…what would I want?
It didn’t take long to come up with some ideas for my own if money was no object fantasy gift list.
If you take a minute to read through my list, you’ll get to know me a little bit better.
10 Fantasy Gifts:
Private Plane:
Photo Credit – Hawkeye UK (Flickr)
While it is totally unrealistic, a private plane would allow me to live my dream of traveling the world without having to leave my dog Milo behind. Milo is too big to fly in the cabin of a commercial airliner, and I think he would have a heart attack if I ever had him fly cargo. If he did survive, he would never be the same (he is terrified of trucks and buses and men in uniforms!).
A private plane with an unlimited supply of gasoline and someone to fly it would mean we could go anywhere and bring along our favorite people too.
Sigh…it will never happen. I did say it was a FANTASY list, so might as well go big.
Camper and 2 Scooters:
Photo Credit – Terry Bone (Flickr)
Actually more attainable than the private plane, a camper or RV with a couple of scooters would allow me to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada with Milo. There are actually a lot of people out there living out of a camper full time. I don’t think I could do it alone, but someday might give this one a try.
Why scooters? Because campgrounds tend to be located on the outskirts of urban areas and I would want to be able to zip around town easily while Milo hangs out in the camper.
Annual Trip:
A few years ago I took a trip to Europe with my friend Pamela. Then I took an East Coast road trip with Cathy and Julie and a trip to Florida with Pamela, Sandy and Rick. All three trips were so much fun, but money just doesn’t let me take all of the trips I want with the people I want with me. Either I can’t afford it or they can’t afford it (or both!).
In my fantasy life, I would be able to cover the tab for me and a traveling companion every year.
Weekly Massages:
I just love massages, but I find myself going much too long between massages. Lately I’ve only gotten them on vacation, which is crazy because there are plenty of wonderful massage therapists in St. Louis (where I live). In my dream world, I would have a standing weekly appointment so I didn’t have to think about scheduling or paying for it.
Cleaning Service:
Photo Credit – Dutch Bieber (Flickr)
I really love a clean home, but hate doing the work of cleaning. I used a cleaning service for years, but when I moved to my condo 2 years ago, I switched from my old service to a new cleaning person and she was constantly rescheduling. It slowly just fizzled out and I never got around to setting something up with a new service.
This year has also been a little tight financially, which is why I didn’t go back to the old cleaning service. I plan to ramp up my real estate business for 2015 so I can afford someone to clean for me again, but even if I do, I would only go back to a cleaning once every 3 or 4 weeks. Having someone come twice a month plus do those extra jobs like cleaning out the refrigerator would be wonderful.
Personal Gardener:
Photo Credit – OakleyOriginals (Flickr)
I love planning a garden, shopping for the plants and planting them. But then I lose interest. I am terrible about watering and weeding and cutting back the plants so they produce as many blooms or herbs as possible. If I had a gardener, I would have cut flowers in vases everywhere, dozens of herbs and home grown vegetables.
And not a single weed.
Personal Shopper and New Wardrobe:
Photo Credit – Marc Roberts (Flickr)
I really hate malls and big clothing stores. While I like having clothes that make me feel stylish, I’m not very good at finding outfits which make me look good and are comfortable. A personal shopper who created a whole new wardrobe for me without me having to go to a mall would be so amazing.
Dream Home Screened Porch:
Photo Credit – Bill Wilson (Flickr)
I’ve never had a screened porch, but I’m going to figure out a way to add one to my new home even if it drives my contractor brother crazy.
More than any other home feature, my dream home would have a big screened porch with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. And lots of comfy chairs with cushions that never get wet.
Whole Food Groceries:
If money was no object, I would only buy organic produce and grass fed meat. My fish would be caught in the wild and my chicken would be hormone-free. I would buy expensive milk from local farmers and fancy cheeses from cows that don’t eat unhealthy stuff.
The groceries wouldn’t actually have to come from Whole Foods, but you get the idea.
Theater Season Tickets:
I love going to the theater, but I am not good about watching the schedule for upcoming shows and finding someone who wants to go with me. If I had season tickets to The Fox Theater and Peabody Opera House, I would never miss the big Broadway show when it comes to town.