I can’t imagine why anyone would continue to be an employee if they hit a big enough lottery. Why spend the day doing what someone else wants you to do? You could spend each day doing what you want to do!
Then there’s the time issue: Most people would want to pick out a new house, a car or two, maybe a nice place in the country. Wouldn’t it be better to take your time and do these things properly than trying to make all these decisions while having to be on a job for 40 hours per week? Add normal commute time and the fatigue/stress factor, and a worker currently has very little time to just do pleasurable things.
Besides, there’s fish that need catching, boats that need sailing, horses that need to be ridden and some cool bars I’ve never visited. I’d be outta’ there the minute the lotto check cleared into my bank account.
Hmm, I love education so much, I don’t think I could leave it. I’d probably agree to work for a standardized testing company. Otherwise, I’d probably end up working or volunteering in some form of education.
I might actually work more. Right now, I work pt at the training barn where I keep my horse. I would probably work more…because I’d have more horses! LOL!
But only after lots of travel. I have a vision of my husband, son and I walking into SFO International terminal and just getting on the next plane out there…wherever it’s going. We keep our passports current just in case.
If I had enough to provide me with about $100,000 a year in interest, I’d quit my office job in a heartbeat. Get bored? What could be more boring than sitting in an office for 12 hours a day taking crap from an illiterate cementhead?
I’d keep my weekend job doing weddings because I actually enjoy doing that. The rest of my time I’d probably fill with doing sports, taking classes, learning new skills, etc. Basically, fun that doesn’t involve sitting on my butt staring into space.
Let’s see… Learning to play the trumpet properly, getting a PPL, leveraging the unearned fame that goes with a big win into getting my book published and writing some more for fun, spending some time and money on model planes, trading in my beater of a mo’bike for some slightly flashier wheels and seeking out roads to ride 'em on (including maybe a New England autumn tour, which I understand is something everyone should try to manage at least once), a yacht in a Caribbean marina to go bum around the islands on for a few weeks every year…
Or stay right here in the office getting fatter and more apathetic with each year that goes by. Mmm, tough call. :dubious:
I’d finish the projects I’m currently working on, while arranging the disposition of the winnings - and once the projects were complete (or hopelessly stuck - I do work with the Federal Government after all) - I’d give my notice and emit a whoop of joy as I dashed for the exit.
I only work to support the leisure portion of my life. The leisure is what motivates and drives me. If I can have the leisure without the work, so much the better.
Providing I had enough to keep me very comfortable without any sort of additional income, I’d have a few modest plans.
Minor upgrades on the existing house.
Private Pilot’s license in “no time flat!”, then I’d buy a small “flying boat” type airplane, suitable for carrying 4 people, and some modest luggage.
Begin a hunting and fishing trip that would cover the entire US & Canada, with perhaps a trip or two to the warm areas south of the US. I figure that’d take quite a few years, and there’s always another pond, or another mountain to find and fly to.
Sundays would be spent at the location of the weekly NASCAR race.
-Butler
Count me in the camp that would disappear as soon as the check cleared. Not working certainly doesn’t mean I’d be doing nothing. I’d travel a bit, take some classes, maybe try my hand at writing. Get a nice big place in the woods and enjoy the outdoors more (at least when it’s warm). Go visit the source of my favorite tipples.
No, sir. I wouldn’t miss the salaried world for a moment.
I’ve got too many hobbies and outside interests to ever have me return to work after winning. One other thing I would not do… I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever set foot in a Wal-Mart again!
It depends on how much I won, but to keep it simple; if I won $10,000,000 I wouldn’t have to think about.
I would quit, spend a lot more time with my kids and traveling.
I would avoid boredom by doing a lot more volunteer work with the Environmental groups I am part of.
I might be willing to run for local office.
I would greatly expand my woodworking shop and become a much better wood worker.
I would build an expansion to my house for a small gym.
I might move to a bigger house instead.
I would definitely hire someone to clean the house and do the lawn.
I’ve been working with the same firm and some of the same employees for over twenty years. There really aren’t a lot of folks there who do what I do, so to take off without warning would leave a lot of friends holding the bag. I’d ease into it, but if I were to win today, the warning would go out not to expect me in after Memorial Day. And in addition, not if the weather is nice between now and then. And not if there is a snowstorm. Of if I was out late the night before. It would be a gradual transition…
It does bother me to think this way, however. After the first few years at my current job, I was feeling a bit unappreciated, and was actively pursuing work elsewhere. The economy was unforgiving, so I stayed where I was. In time, I was given increasing responsibility and was soon a respected member of project teams. If I had had the resources to just give up and move on, I don’t know if I ever would have had the will to get to where I am right now. As frustrating as it is to admit this about myself, necessity has proved to be a powerful motivator. I fear what I might allow myself to become if I don’t even have the requirements of an alarm clock or wearing clean clothing. There is a lot to be said for getting up and facing people every day, no matter how one is feeling.
In addition, in the past I have pursued continuing education in addition to a full-time work schedule. It seems at the time that there is no time to breathe, and I have just prayed for it to be over, and to have a little spare time. Within a week or two after the class is over, I had lost all appreciation for all my spare time, and was just frittering it away, as usual. I would also fear that if I were to quit my job, I wouldn’t be any more productive with all that time than I am now.
If I worked for someone else, no. I know what its like to be unemployed and have a family to support and i couldnt continue to work knowing that someone out there needs that job to pay the bills.
I used to work at a place where one of the employees worked there just so he could have extra money to buy expensive clothes. He had another job that paid well. We had people trying to get enough hours to keep food on their familes table and this guy got hours because of who he was related to.
Since I work for myself I would dump more money into my business and hire a couple more people to do some of the things me and my wife do now.
I would quit my current job, sure. It would be the first step I’d take towards my psychological emancipation from drudgery for money. But I’d get another job right away.
Actually, I’d get a never ending series of low-rung positions where my sole purpose is to become the Minimum Wage Avenger. Where there were blowhard managers, I’d be there deriding them in front of the troops. Where there are insufferable customers, I’d be right back in their faces. Wherever you find the fodder of oppression and groups of hard working, intelligent but yet powerless employees, I’ll be there. Fire me? You bet you will, but not before I’ll have shown the light and the way, and ripped the douche bags of the world a new one, because I don’t NEED this goddamn job. I’m busy being a folk hero.
Yes, I’d work. I actually like my job. DeHusband says that once we win the lotto he will get up bright and early every morning, cook my breakfast, and wave me goodbye from the driveway.
I’d have to work, so as to keep up the fiction that no, it wasn’t me who won the lottery, so don’t come asking me for money, freeloader. I’d probably get jobs like Claricaun, my new personal hero.
If I were in that situation, I’d certainly never work a “real” job - something with scheduled hours, or working for someone else. I might (probably would) start a few businesses myself, but I’d probably spend most of my time pursuing all the various interests I have. I’d learn new skills, too - I want to do everything from get a law degree to learn welding and metal fabrication, and I’d have the time and money to do all that.
