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Comment by switch007 | Hacker News Reader

I was firmly in the experiences over possessions camp for years. But now…

Without a doubt owning a nicer house would make me happier. More room for family and friends to stay over. More room for hobbies (a workshop would be great). Nicer views, quieter, fewer neighbours.

“Possessions create experiences”, very true. Buy a games consoles to play with friends. Build bonds. Buy a bicycle to go to a riding meet-up. Get fit. A holiday to Asia is much more ephemeral

A part of me feels the message was pushed as part of an agenda. Own nothing and you’ll be happy…!

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I bought a Tesla five years ago and it still brings me so much joy. It looks nice, it's comfy to drive, it gives me the freedom to go wherever I want and I've made some wonderful memories with it.

Experiences are great, but my favorite experiences are the ones I've had for free or close to free. Drive in cinema with a date, a hike with friends, Christmas with family. Sure I could go places with a cheaper car, but I'm really happy with the way I spent that money.

My experience too. I drive daily and trading in my old sometimes non-dependable car for a new (somewhat) high end luxury model worked great. It cheers me up to be in it every day even when I'm just running local errands. On the other hand, when I look at photos of past trips, and can't even recall being there or even where it was half the time.

It's not just the discovery of a new and pleasing sightseeing that will engrave the memory in your brain, also the company you were with, or what happened during that visit, especially if there were funny or crazy anecdotes.

That's why I noticed that traveling solo never brought that much joy, and meeting people in some hostel or tour group was a poor substitute than going with friends who you also happen to share something in common with.

Ok but if you have a mansion and no friends or family what's the point? You want the experience of spending time with people you like.

Why are you making this an unnecessary binary decision?

The same points of having friends and family but living in a poverty-ridden slum, where you can have the experience of watching your loved ones die of cholera.

I am not in favor of pursuing wealth at all costs, but there's a balance in having enough material wealth to live in a decent place in a safe, aesthetically pleasing neighborhood, having freedom of movement, being able to access healthcare and education, not starving, being physically fit, etc.

Things beyond that are superfluous and won't make you happier by themselves.

This is a false dichotomy. There is jo binary choice. This brings forth useless statements like money can't buy happiness.

You don't want a house, you want the experiences that come with owning one. Conversely, you can't have the experiences of that Bali trip if you don't purchase it. There, solved it for you and forever :).

It's almost as you needed a bit of everything, in moderation.

In medio stat virtus.

Goddamn Greeks already knew.

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