NO SENSE IN LURE OF THE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE
You’re not necessarily buying a chance at a fortune, you’re buying a week of hope and fantasy
THERE are two types of people in the world – those who buy Lotto tickets and those who know better.
I’m the latter, married to the former.
With the Powerball prize jackpotting to a record $100 million next week, I’m betting we’re not going to win.
But don’t tell the rest of my family.
They’re already dreaming of all the ways we’ll spend that cash, while I’m planning to match their $20 investment with a trip to the shops where I’m guaranteed to “win’’ some new clothes.
Rather than imagining how I’d spend an unimaginable amount of money, I’d much rather spend hours planning all the ways we can renovate the bathrooms. Sure, that’s also funded by money we don’t actually have, but it is certainly possible with money we can borrow.
Besides, the truth is that we’re a family of losers.
I’m not being harsh. We just never win anything.
My husband’s life dream is to win a meat tray but at age 44 he’s still yet to snag a single sausage. Just last weekend he bought multiple tickets in the raffle at the Southport Surf Life Saving Club. The last ticket in his pile was number 53011. The winning number was 53012. Yes, his best friend sitting next to him won. No, he didn’t slip him a solitary steak.
Still, I understand the appeal of the lottery. You’re not necessarily buying a chance at a fortune, you’re buying a week of hope and fantasy.
I guess I’ve just figured out how to fantasise for free.
It’s not that I’m antigambling. While I’m no fan of the proliferation of pokies, I do love a good punt. But the realist buried deep inside of me just can’t get excited about the virtually impossible.
Yet when it comes to calculated gambles, I’m all in.
So for those of you who, like me, prefer the cold, hard reality of cash in their wallet than the warm fuzzy fantasy of a Lotto win, let me open the book on my bets for 2019. They’re a sure thing.
1. Gold Coast property prices will soar. If you do happen to win that
$100 million, my tip is to buy up big. I’m not claiming to be an expert but what I see happening in my own neighbourhood is insane. Every time another house goes on the market, it’s jumped into yet another evenhigher price bracket. And these are hovels. Still, within days a “sold’’ sticker is slapped on, the bulldozers move in and a new McMansion is being built. And still my bathrooms remain untouched.
2. We will be driving flying cars before the second casino/ cruise ship terminal debate is settled. This is an argument of chicken versus egg proportions. I prefer the chances of winning the Powerball to winning this debate. Best just to invest in popcorn shares, sit back and enjoy the show.
3. Trump will get his wall. But not necessarily the one with Mexico. Maybe this is just a personal fantasy, but I’m