I Won The Lottery!!! (my fantasy)

I just won the lottery. It's a big one - multi millions! What a rush. I always thought I'd win something someday... my numbers just had to come up. I've been playing $2 every mega game for just over a year. And in all that time, I'd only won $6, so it was bound to happen.

First thing we did was to consult our financial advisor and then our lawyer. Who knew so many things needed to be figured out before any money is actually handed over. We want to make sure that we don't mess this up. We didn't go public - we don't want many things to change. We also don't need any long lost family or friends - or even close family or friends - to think of us any differently than before.

We started our own company. We are going to work as a family on creative projects, traveling to far away places and experiencing other cultures, other cities, other people. We are going to learn so much and live a life of giving.

I've already started that novel and can't wait to see it published. But I'm taking a sabbitical for a few months - maybe one year. I've splurged on some professional advisors - dietician/ nutritionist, personal trainer, landscape designer, remodel architect. I'm going to spend my days getting my house in order - clean out stuff we don't need and/or use, clean every nook and cranny, find all those things I've been looking for in the last several years. I'll be able to work out daily and get healthier. We'll get together with friends and family more often, go camping and ride bikes on weekends because the chores will all be done during the week. I'm going to be able to take the kids to all their activities and meet the parents of their friends. I will even be able to volunteer in the schools!

We are fulling funding our retirement - no more worries about money running out before our lives do. And the kid's college educations are secure - no more worries about having to get 2nd and 3rd mortgages to pay off student loans.

We have set up a foundation that gives back to our community and we are able to give so much more to organizations in need that we want to support more - the Red Cross, foster children, Center for Missing and Expolited Children, stem cell research, etc.

And yes, we did buy ourselves a couple of toys. Myron tricked out a studio with all the equipment and gear needed for really good production. McKenna and Julian chose to get horses and have them boarded close by. I did get a pair of diamond earrings and a BMW Z4. We upgraded our house a little and have a view of the Sound, we rented out our old house and got a hot tub/pool combo in the backyard ... Love IT!

We allotted some funds to family - a one time deal. Our parents will never have to worry about their affairs, though. We are thrilled to be able to take care of them. We had a few of our close and good friends along on a wonderful cruise vacation in the Caribbean -sun and fun and fabulous lifelong memories. We sent everyone a book of pictures to remember the occasion.

We finally have time to see that counselor and work on our communication. And we can spend more time with the kids, reading and playing games, as well as homework and practicing sports/music, etc.

Money didn't solve all of our problems, but it gives us the freedom from financial burden and freedom of time. And that is they key to our happiness - time with family and friends and our nuclear family. Time to learn and love, time to explore and experience.