Thanks for sharing your opinion Joe DeVilla.

I don’t know what obsession you’re referring to. Is it in general in our society, or one you think I personally suffer? If the former, I think it has to do with how many Americans struggle with making ends meet. If it’s one you believe I suffer, I don’t think you have a basis to claim such. Personal finance is an arena I enjoy writing about, and one where I believe I can make a difference for people.

To the rest of your response, I’m glad you find (non-monetary) value in doing your own taxes, doing your yard work, cooking with your wife, etc. It’s very important to do in life things you enjoy, regardless of any monetary compensation they may bring. As you imply, those things are the building blocks of a life well lived.

The first three things you mention were just examples I gave from my own life of activities that I don’t enjoy, and thus look at the financial pros and cons of paying others to do them for me.

I too enjoy reading fiction, listening to music, writing stories (of course if those pay off, all the better :)). Staring at nothing isn’t my thing, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be yours.

I also enjoy kayaking on the creek near our house, listening to the wind blowing through the leaves on the trees in our yard, giving a volunteer talk at our congregation to teach youngsters about science and technology, volunteering as a panelist in an entrepreneurship event at a historically black university nearby, sponsoring a Naval Academy plebe, and many other things that bring in no money, but “pay off” in enjoyment and fulfillment.

In short, I think you and I agree far more than disagree. Not everything important in life is about money. As a saying I like goes, “Money is the least important thing in life, as long as you have enough of it.” :).