If I won the lotto I would resign from my job immediately.

Let’s say I won enough to live comfortably without having to worry about earning to survive what would I do with myself?

Let’s see:

….. in no particular order:

• I’d get the painters in and paint the inside and outside of my house and garage while I watched. No more painting for me.
• I’d finish furnishing all the rooms in my house and get an interior designer in to advise me about co-ordinating furnishings and accessories. I need to decorate some of my bare walls!
• I’d build that patio area I’ve been planning for the last few years. I have definite ideas about what I want to do. I’m hoping (lotto or no lotto) to put in a decorative pond and fountain that will be overlooked by a gazebo/summer house where I can take my book and relax on summer evenings! That’s the dream anyway.
• I’d consider going back to college full time to do an IT or web design related course – just for fun! I loved student life when I was training to become a teacher … maybe I could recapture some of that. It would be worth a try.
• I’d buy my mountain retreat immediately. I wouldn’t want a monstrocity of a build …. one up, one down with a bathroom. The living area would be covered with flag stones, have a large open fire with necessary crane. The dogs would have an opportunity to enjoy the heat also. An area of ground around the house for a veggie garden would be a bonus. A river or a stream nearby would be nice too.
• I’d buy a little boat and go fishing now and again. A kayak would be nice for paddling up and down the river.
• I’d buy a double axle Ifor Williams trailer …. don’t ask why ….. i just would!
• A camper van ….. VW Transporter size would be great for travelling through the counties of Ireland. Me and my dogs would have a great time! I’d document the whole trip with my camera and post the whole story on the internet! I could spend years doing the trip.
• I’d take some historical trips around the world. I’d visit the battlegrounds of World war I and II, I’d do the architecture of Rome, I’d visit Pompeii and Greece. All the continents would receive a visit from me.
• There’s a retired actor in England that I would visit. He lives in a retirement home and he isn’t in the best of health. I send him gifts on a regular basis. He hasn’t got any immediate family. I started by sending him a Christmas gift when I heard he was ill. He brought great enjoyment to my life when I watched him on television as a child. So I thought the least I could do was thank him.
• I would like to think I could do some good for other people with the money. I’m not a money hoarder so I reckon I’d have to do something with it! Maybe it would help me to leave a legacy after me …. a good legacy …. a legacy that isn’t teaching.
• I’d take my father to West Yorkshire to visit the village of Holmfirth where ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ is set. He’d love that.
• I’d set up some kind of bursary in memory of my mother. She was a good, kind and down to earth woman. She lived for her family and she died before her time.
• I’d buy a state of the art PC and laptop.
• I dabble in web design and websites so I’d love to buy into a successful web based business.
• If i was to start up my own business it would have to be outdoors based …. as I like machinery I could see myself getting into landscape work or into the tool hire business. Anything in that vein that would keep me out of an office, expose me to some physical work and allow me to enjoy my work.
• I’d get my dog’s cataracts seen to. The vet told me that it can be done in Dublin. The cost would be between €3,000 and €4,000. Crazy I know …. I have him since he was a puppy, he’s 15 years old now and he’s been very loyal to me during those years. I’d like to keep him in the best of health if possible.
• I’d plant more shrubs in my garden …. I’m not great with plants so I’d have to get advice.

I do realise that money doesn’t bring happiness ….. it probably doesn’t bring satisfaction either …. the one thing it could bring is independence …. independence from having to work and the independence to be able to do some good.

I’m sure there are many more things I could add to the list but winning the lotto is like the Bank of Ireland ad ….. ‘it’s all just fantasy … right?’