I just finished reading Lucky You, by Carl Hiaasen, which is an interesting story about two winning lottery tickets and the individuals who possess them. I frequently fantasize about winning the lottery, even though I almost never play. The main reason I don’t play is because gambling really doesn’t appeal to me. The Boyfriend and I have a friend who bets on football and has been down for the season by a grand or more. Merely thinking about that is almost enough to cause an anxiety attack.
But it doesn’t stop me from dreaming about what I would do if I won. I’d like to think that life wouldn’t change much. I’d like to think that I would donate a sizable amount to the university from which I graduated, specifically the communication department. I’d like to think that I would pay off my debts, including my car, as well as the debts of some family members and friends. And I’d like to think that thinking about all of these things I would do for others would increase my chances of winning, if I actually played. 
But if I had anything left after that, I might consider investing in a luxury home, somewhere close to water perhaps, where people would want to come visit. (Obviously, I’d also hire someone to help keep it clean!) Somewhere with lots of light and inspiration.
Quitting my job would be an option, but I’d probably stick it out for a while. If anything, it would give me the freedom to explore some of the other career possibilities that interest me. You know, like sleeping in.
I have those dreams every time I set foot in a casino. I don’t gamble much. I usually make a trip to Wheeling, WV once every 3 or 4 months and Atlantic City once a summer. I gamble about 20 dollars at Wheeling and maybe 50 in AC. I never win a darn thing. I think $60 was my biggest winnings.
BAH!
But I do like the pretty lights and the whirring of the slot machines. I’m so easily amused.
v, if i had a million dollars, i’d buy you a green dress (but not a real green dress… that’s cruel)
Andrea, the only casino I’ve ever set foot in was in Reno (with “m,” in fact) as we were passing through on our way to San Francisco. I lost my budgeted $10 pretty quickly. Those lights and whirring noises caused a sensory overload on my part. I can see how people can lose track of time in casinos and I think that was one of the things that frightened me off about it.
M… what? No K car?
Yeah, I dream of winning the Lottery too, but my dream is of going to the lawyer’s office and setting up a trust, which would cash in my winning ticket anonymously.
Nothing in my life would change until I retired and moved away.
Then, my new neighbors still wouldn’t know the source of my wealth and neither would my family.
Money changes family, friends, and neighbors, but not necessarily for the better.
Sure I would gift certain institutions and relatives, but anonymously, and from within the trust.
Nothing like keeping it quiet to make for a controlled, sane life, after hitting the big one