Maybe you're being ironic, but it sounds like you're whining... there are "other" Walmart shares, nowdays it's easier and cheaper to buy them...there are houses which'll appreciate in value (most? do) but wealth does have that bad habit of holding you still, those shares need researching, the house repairing... and anyway I'm sure you prefer to travel...

I never did understand why people keep up with their 9/5 5 days a week (and in Europe a month holiday ) when they could save more, spend less (on heating) by heading south in the winter... in a way the most important thing people from the west have is their passport which (unfairly) allows them pretty much freedom to travel anywhere...and a basic salary which would cover a years expenses for a couple months of work...