You know that line from Heath Ledger's Joker where he says "I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it."? Well, yeah, I'm there...
Since I was old enough to know what Hot Wheels were, I have been a dog chasing a dream car. Specifically, a Viper. What started as something I saw as the title character in that crime drama NBC show turned into some kind of weird, mythical thing that I'd never be able to obtain as a kid growing up in a household where meals had to be skipped more often than I'd like to admit. Some sort of "You Made It" goal that wasn't even fully about the car anymore, if you will.
Once I graduated college, the dream was alive and well but, having my life priorities somewhat in order and being a cheapskate that would make Fred Mertz proud, I knew it would take a long time before a dream car became a priority...
Fast forward to today. Just turned 34, recently engaged to the girl of my dreams, and blessed that we both have solid careers that we are building. I own a few shingles of my home with the local bank and we just sold her home for a decent profit in a hot market. Between our spending habits, cash on hand, and some very fortunate investment decisions last year, I am sitting on more cash/investment assets than I ever thought I'd see in my life. One of those "don't pinch me or I'll wake up" kind of situations for me. I know this is all relative. You SVTP ballers wipe your asses with the money I'm talking about.
The fiancée has always supported this crazy dream and can tell you ever detail of these cars just from listening to me go on and on. Yet, ever since we laid all of our cards on the table and began the process of joining financial houses, she has really leaned in on me making this a reality. (Terrible thing, I know). The money works. She knows it. I know it. However, after all this work, I'm sitting here typing this ridiculous rant at midnight because, like the Joker, I don't know what to do with the car I just caught. I have no idea how to transition this from "dream" to a tangible thing taking up a spot in my garage. I'm not suppose to be able to do this. I've been told I couldn't. Yet, here we are.
Even worse? I'm not even sure I want to anymore. The financial guy in me says this is a terrible thing to do. I have a really difficult time spending money and have started to develop an unhealthy obsession with saving/investing to the point where I couldn't imagine making such a large purchase because I would be sick over the missed opportunity cost of such a move.
I'll admit to feeling a bit of FOMO with Viper prices this year. I've got my heart set on a Gen V but my wallet is kicking me through my pants. So much so that I've even begun bargaining with myself by looking at more affordable options like C6Zs and GT350s just to scratch the fast car itch.
Way too many paragraphs later (beer on me if you actually read all of this horse shit), I guess I'm asking for advice from people that chased a car dream for a long time. Did you push through or did sensibility prevail? Either way, I'm tired of having this over my head and I want to commit to one way or the other. /rant
Since I was old enough to know what Hot Wheels were, I have been a dog chasing a dream car. Specifically, a Viper. What started as something I saw as the title character in that crime drama NBC show turned into some kind of weird, mythical thing that I'd never be able to obtain as a kid growing up in a household where meals had to be skipped more often than I'd like to admit. Some sort of "You Made It" goal that wasn't even fully about the car anymore, if you will.
Once I graduated college, the dream was alive and well but, having my life priorities somewhat in order and being a cheapskate that would make Fred Mertz proud, I knew it would take a long time before a dream car became a priority...
Fast forward to today. Just turned 34, recently engaged to the girl of my dreams, and blessed that we both have solid careers that we are building. I own a few shingles of my home with the local bank and we just sold her home for a decent profit in a hot market. Between our spending habits, cash on hand, and some very fortunate investment decisions last year, I am sitting on more cash/investment assets than I ever thought I'd see in my life. One of those "don't pinch me or I'll wake up" kind of situations for me. I know this is all relative. You SVTP ballers wipe your asses with the money I'm talking about.
The fiancée has always supported this crazy dream and can tell you ever detail of these cars just from listening to me go on and on. Yet, ever since we laid all of our cards on the table and began the process of joining financial houses, she has really leaned in on me making this a reality. (Terrible thing, I know). The money works. She knows it. I know it. However, after all this work, I'm sitting here typing this ridiculous rant at midnight because, like the Joker, I don't know what to do with the car I just caught. I have no idea how to transition this from "dream" to a tangible thing taking up a spot in my garage. I'm not suppose to be able to do this. I've been told I couldn't. Yet, here we are.
Even worse? I'm not even sure I want to anymore. The financial guy in me says this is a terrible thing to do. I have a really difficult time spending money and have started to develop an unhealthy obsession with saving/investing to the point where I couldn't imagine making such a large purchase because I would be sick over the missed opportunity cost of such a move.
I'll admit to feeling a bit of FOMO with Viper prices this year. I've got my heart set on a Gen V but my wallet is kicking me through my pants. So much so that I've even begun bargaining with myself by looking at more affordable options like C6Zs and GT350s just to scratch the fast car itch.
Way too many paragraphs later (beer on me if you actually read all of this horse shit), I guess I'm asking for advice from people that chased a car dream for a long time. Did you push through or did sensibility prevail? Either way, I'm tired of having this over my head and I want to commit to one way or the other. /rant
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