What does 'the good life' mean to you?
 

I know this will be different for everyone, but I am interested in seeing if there are any similar things that everyone agrees on, or some things that might be nice, but most people could live without. And then again, would I still want more after I got all of the things that I think would make me happy today? Are there things I could do with my life today that wouldn't cost much that would enable me to have a better life? I was at the beach last week drinking a margarita and I was thinking that life can't get much better. Maybe if I was sailing on a yacht to the virgin islands with a cute girl...

But getting a raise at my current job won't make that happen, having the government lower or raise my taxes won't impact it... I would need to do something big that makes me a lot more successful to get to that level. The next question would be have you ever wanted something, got it, but were bored or disappointed in it?

My list would be something like this:
1. Health and fitness - I feel like I accomplished something when I exercise, and eating healthy food and being in shape are good things to do no matter how much money or what job you have.
2. Love and a stable long-term relationship with someone who is perfect for you - This is missing from my life.
3. Friends that you can trust and know how to have fun - I have some work to do in this area. While I am a friendly person, it is hard to have similar interests and plan to do activities together on a routine basis with my schedule.
4. Family - You need to have a functional family.
5. City you live in is safe and has decent people - I don't live in the best city, but it is far from the worst. It actually is pretty good, and there aren't too many things that I would change.
6. Travel - Money would change a few aspects of where I travel to, and what I would do, but it wouldn't change things very much.
7. Money - Have enough money to get what you need and what you want. I think my number is 3 million. Anything under that won't change how I live my life, and if it is greater than that, I will be able to do whatever I want. I think I will buy a lottery ticket tonight. Then again, I am happy with the amount of money I have now, and don't worry about paying bills, taxes or other expenses (they are taken care of automatically)
8. Hobbies - I fell a sense of accomplishment when I build something, so I would still want to learn and do things for myself.
9. Security - In order for me to feel good, I need to know that I have a plan to get out of any situation. I am a survivor.
10. Free time - I want to be able to do what I want, or choose to do nothing at all.

Admittedly, the first thing that springs to mind is the song "Lush Life" by Billy Strayhorn. It was the first really decent jazz piano piece I ever learned. I was maybe 16 at the time, and for the first time in my life, I was aware that my life was heading in a good direction. I'd gotten good grades and such before, but at 16 grades were morphing into college applications, SAT scores, and, ultimately, a future. I had a nice girlfriend, great friends, things in the family weren't perfect, but they were far from troublesome. I was living the good life.

The good life is living in the moment of promise; maybe things are good, maybe they aren't, but they're about to get better. You can feel the dawn coming. If I could, I'd live in that moment for the rest of my days.

Easy. Arnold's Genghis Khan paraphrase in "Conan the Barbarian" says it all for me:


I live for challenge, triumph, and the screaming of women (but only in a toe-curling fashion). The rest are social constructs that will change with time.

Money would definitely solve ALL my problems!!!

My ideal number would be $____ million. (Insert number greater than 1)

Think about it. My illitracy, health, social ties (more time on my hands) would be cured. I hate working with all my spinal fluid. Why do I do it all the time then?!?!?!?!