Hi everyone,

There are no parameters to answer the question. Your motivation may be
happiness, retribution, creation, demolition or otherwise.

What makes you tick? If you did not or do not "work", what would you
or do you do which causes, creates or adds to your purpose? Do you in
fact have a purpose or a need of motivation?

S7

Hi Silver777;. Because I fit the criteria, a major interest of mine is
studying the Bible, not a someone who blindly accepts what pastors /
priests dish out, but exactly what the Bible promises and warns about.
For me, studying has created faith,
Hebrews 11;1.."Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for,
the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld". Simply put,
looking forward to 'promised ' better times, not yet here.
Who 'promised' 'what'?. God promised a new life without trouble or
wars. Psalm 37..not yet here.
Are the mainstream religions doing the right things? They are
certainly involved in politics, which Jesus decried. Matthew 15;1,2
Who is behind all our problems?.. James 4;7..Subject yourselves
therefore to God, but oppose the Devil...and he will flee from you.
Revelation 12;7-12. Also Revelation 20;10,14. The Devil will suffer a
form of torment for a thousand years but then will be released for a
short while to do his worst, and then finally completely done away
with.
Will there be people who ridicule the Bible. Of course. Jude 15;18.
Will there ever be a time when no one dies:"?.Revelation 20;4
Does anybody have the opportunity for this promised better life? Yes.
Second Peter 3;9..but He is patient with you because He does not
desire any to be destroyed but desires ALL to attain to repentance.
But we have to live in the world as it is now, and balance is
required. So I also sail.

Pugwashjw,

Thank you for your contribution. Would I be correct in summary, to
take your own words that for you "studying has created faith" and your
faith is your purpose?

S7

Become a mad eccentric.

PB,

But are you not that already good friend?

Yep, I'd say Puzzled of Hove has already met his goal, wouldn't you?

My answer:

If I had just enough to live on, I'd continue doing exactly what I'm
doing, only most likely spend WAY too much time fooling around on the
internet . . .

If I were bestowed with millions, I'd do something large scale,
non-violent and highly subversive!

ts

I can always improve.

Hi Silver777, Yes, that is my purpose. I was brought up with no
religion at all due to cruelty inflicted on my mother by catholic
nuns. Surely that was beyond strict discipline. It makes me wonder who
is the "man of lawlessness". Second Thessalonians 2;3.
And "Babylon the Great" , whose destruction will be witnessed by the
Kings of the earth [ Governments] and the "Travelling merchants" [ the
business community]. It has to be an organization, and if the other
two look on, there is only one left??? But its not my call.

As I buy a lotto ticket every week, I do occassionally think about
this possibility.

I know, I know . . . someone out there will say "the lottery is a tax
on people who can't do math"

(and I surely do fit into that catagory)

but I have other reasons, and there are a lot worse things I could
spend $52 a year on

the first thing I would do is spend less time cleaning my house (hire someone)

and that time would most assuredly be proportionately filled in with the internet

ts

ps: pugwash!  you do sailing?  No wonder you feel close to God...

Hi Silver...

Another great question!!! Woohoo....

If I never had to work again, I would travel, travel, travel!!!!

There are so many places in this world that I would love to see, but
due to time and financial restraints, I will never be able to.

Rest assured, Timespacette, that I would be carrying my laptop with me :)

Steph53

Work (of the type I am doing now) is making me tick. If income would
be of no concern, I would have been a GAR.

Been working on an electronic project for four years. The algorithms
are driving me up the wall. But if cracked, I can devote all my time
to ballistic cold fusion. If that can be solved, mankind will have a
new horizon and we can progress to space and beyond. Maybe also then,
the history of the planet which *must* be recorded by ?little green
men? might become available to us. Gods will be exposed as human
constructs and we?ll know what colour dinosaurs were etc.

So motivation? Knowledge (for all) I guess.

And again, you Phil?

Hi Guzzi,

Gee thanks! You just had to throw my own question back at me AGAIN didn't you? :)

How can I compete with an answer like yours? Not that this is a
competition of course. In short, I don't precisely know what I would
do. I do know that I want to make a difference somehow, else my time
on the planet is wasted. I won't pretend that my aspirations will
include studies of ballistic cold fusion, but I must have some purpose
other than to experience existance. I can't even answer my own
question. I only know that it means to help others with lesser
opportunity in a permanent and positive way.

It's a question I often use especially after meeting someone new in a
social environment if appropriate. It's interesting to learn what
turns people on. The next question of course leads to ways that people
might be able to achieve what they really want to do. The question
also helps in picking up stray voluptuous damsels in distress! Not
that I need do that anymore. One becomes rather busy otherwise.

Now you have ME thinking.

Phil

I would definitely continue working as a Google Answers Researcher,
even if I became wealthy beyond belief. It would be nice to be able to
choose to work with the very most interesting questions and very best
customers, without keeping an eye on the bankbook. I love this job. It
quite literally saved my life.

So, Miss Irene, you think it's easy having a cleaner?

Not so!

Mine always moves several things and hides others, so I have to spend
MORE time looking for stuff than I would had I done the cleaning.

So please be thankful for NOT having a cleaner.

Why do I keep her?

Well she's put all the cleaning stuff in an old safe, hasn't she?

And I can't fathom the combination.

Clever woman!

I'd wish to play.

I'd have a home under the sea, the ocean my back yard, and when I'd go
out to see others I'd reach the sky every time. I'd have another home
100ft in the air just above a canopy of trees, so that I may feel
naked, yet comforted, by the rolling green clouds.

I'd have a lab to create whatever came to mind, and access to those
who could teach me how. I'd create not out of practicality, but pure
inspiration, and in doing so hope to inspire others to do the same, so
that we may all play.

I'd jump off cliffs, out of airplanes, moving vehicles, to feel
ultimate freedom, and consequently slowing down time for rest of my
experiences, allowing me savor moments like one would a fine wine.

I'd do it all alone if need be, but I'd much rather share it with a
friend, a lover, a playmate.

I fear that it will become a little over-crowded up runswiththoughts-ga's tree. 

runswiththoughts-ga PLUS a friend, a lover AND a playmate.

Isn't that rather over-doing doing it?

What about the Butler, the Wine Waiter, the Maids, the Cook, the
Housekeeper, the Masseuse, the Chauffeur, the Gardeners, the Groom,
the Gamekeeper ... ?

one cannot help but over-do-it when dealing with flights of fancy. 

Preferably, the friend, lover, and playmate would be one person. As
far as the rest goes, I'd do it myself or we'd take turns. I don't
think I'd be comfortable sharing my home with a human servant, I'd
feel guilty for being the provider of such a boring job when I myself
would be living and promoting freedom, of the mind as well as
physically.

What pinkfreud said.

I'd hike all the major trails in North America, beginning with the
Appalachian Trail. In between hikes I'd do theoretical research in
math and physics and some occasional genealogy. And I'd give you $2
for asking such a great question. Thanks!

So, to summarise ...

EVERYBODY would become a mad eccentric.

Thanks guys,

Insightful answers. Thanks for the learning. As you would expect there
are many facets and contrasts to the individual. Like a friend who
builds trailers for a "living", his interest is in astronomy. Funny
how things change when you remove income from the equation. If you ask
someone what they plan to do, more often than not you will hear a term
of category best suited to talents, lifestyle choice and income. Like,
I want to "be" a doctor, marine biologist, gardener, etc. All
admirable pursuits, yet categorized to fit society, supply, demand and
presumably self imposed expectations. When we remove the needed income
from the want, the " I want to "be" " seems to find true aspirations.
I read somewhere that we are human "beings" not human "doings".

Summer .. thanks for your input, your ideas sound very rewarding.
Unpaid maths and physics research inbetween .. now that's what I call
a passion.

May I summarise as PB has alluded to? 'Cause I will anyway and hope
you guys might revisit the topic to correct me.

Pugwash .. chooses study and finds comfort in the learning and affirmations.

TS .. chooses to gather info in the interim, for her ideal world
requires more than a single life time to afford the good and proper
change.

Steph .. chooses travel, 3 times no less. Broad horizons, broad
knowledge. And as regular readers would know, she is a good broad.

PG, Pink and Tlspiegel .. have all chosen to arrive at their destinations.

Guzzi .. chooses to seek the truth of inifinity in all it's definitions.

Runswiththoughts .. playing, being yourself, seeking freedom .. says it all.

Mikomoro .. that's them .. what about you Mike ???? I want to hear your ideas.

Probonopublico .. as usual, correct and succint. Yes, we would all
become mad eccentrics compared to what we choose to conform to.


Has anyone picked up the common denominator from all answers? PB's
handle is the hint.

Again, thank you for the learning. You're all great teachers. I hope
that each of you might chance upon this topic again.

Phil

Heigh-ho Silver

What about me?

Well, I am retired with a reasonable pension, lots of interests, a
large family (including a Great Grandchild!) and many, many friends.

I couldn't ask for anything more, except for a better bodywork and oh
yes, a better understanding of this Internet thing. You won't believe
that when I started school, the teachers used chalk on blackboards.

I have had a full and happy life and I am very thankful to have lived
in this period and in a really great country: Britain.

What do all the Commenters to this question have in common?

For sure, they all have '-ga' after their handle.

Hi Mike,

And about time. It's Christmas Day here .. 0230 hours. So, Happy Christmas.

You sound like a very rich guy. Lots of friends. No doubt your Great
Grandchild provides lots of fun too. All kids are Great aren't they?
You mentioned lots of interests. What might they be? My teachers also
used blackboards and then whiteboards. I think I know what you mean
about this Internet thing. I like the human contact and learning if
you have not already guessed, but I much prefer to be seated under a
gum tree than in front of a glass screen. If only we could converse
through the eucalypts instead!

Anyway, the common denominator I picked up on was glaringly obvious to
me. All responses send the same twofold message. Everyone wants to be
themselves without comparison and all ideas are pretty much for the
better good. That's the definition of PB's handle - Pro Bono Publico -
for the good of the people.

Steph for example wants to travel. On the surface it's travel for the
sake of travel. But how could you not be a better person and
contributor to humanity  for travelling? Understanding cultures other
than our own through experience and shared discussion can lead only to
a better outlook for all.

So Mike, if you have no further need of income and all of your needs
are met, what else are you going to do with your time?

Phil

Heigh-ho Silver

What am I going to do with my 'Spare time'?

Whatever is 'Spare time'?

There are always more things to do than there are hours in the day ...
visiting, receiving visitors, cooking, gardening, housework, oil
painting, writing, listening to music, walking, swimming, theatre
going ...

I love EVERYTHING that I do and wouldn't change a thing.

Merry Christmas to You and Everyone!

Mike

>> Whatever is 'Spare time'?

Hey, Mike, haven't you ever heard that old song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Time?"

1)run for public office.
2)accumulate enough knowledge to be truly a jack of all trades. or at
least a pundit.

well........
that is some question Phil,
what adds to my purpose in life is to keep on asking myself the right
questions.....

do you perceive this as appropriate help? (LOL........)
AM

Hydcallin .. Very interesting. If you achieved office I presume that
would allow you to make lots of changes. That fits well with your idea
of being a jack-of-all-trades. Where might you start to make change?

AM777 .. But do you receive the right answers to your right questions?
And if you did, how would you know them to be right? Appropriate? Of
course .. please excuse that word from the previous text.

Phil

Phil,

LOL
this IS fun!!
the right question might not be 
how would I know if the answer is right............
BUT
how could you know?
AM

I'd compile a big questionnaire and use it to interview willing
strangers. (One of the questions would be, of course, "What would you
do with your time if income was of no concern?") Studs Terkel stuff.

Hi Phil!

Thanks for asking me to comment.  I greatly enjoy "spouting off" in
areas where I have few credentials.  ;-)   As we used to say in the
military:  often wrong, but never in doubt.

I am in the poor-but-joyous camp.  Ironically, my work often leads to
contact with some of the richest people in the world.  Names you would
recognize.  (No...I'm not kidding.)  Any wisdom I've accumulated comes
from simple observation of these folks...and one personal experience.

Most people confuse happiness with meaning.  You can live without
happiness;  but you can't live without meaning.  Most people get these
two reversed...

Phil, once your accounts are overflowing with Krugerrands, I recommend
you pursue meaning.  Put happiness on the back burner;  it is a
by-product.
Happiness cannot be pursued directly. 

In my case, something unusual happened.  Years ago, I had a failing
business.  I was losing everything...and then some.  I was drinking to
much, smoking too much, eating too much, going to Las Vegas too much. 
You get the picture...

A Korean employee watched me decomposing as the weeks went by.  One
day, he just walked in my office and gave me Bible.  He said, "You
should pray to God for 1 month.  If it doesn't work, you can always
return to this lifestyle.  If it does work, the meaning of your life
will be different."  Then he left.

Well, it worked!  I can't explain it rationally.  It doesn't make any
logical sense.  And a mind trained to be scientific wants to reject
it...

Fact is, Phil, it worked and it's still working!


Hope this helps...

ron

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your thoughtful insight and openness. You have taken the
question to another level. I guess I expected most to just list a
variety of occupations or destinations. Great answers here I'm sure
you would agree.

Your happiness/meaning anecdote makes sense. I will be thinking more
on that one, for sure.

Your reference to Krugerrands - that was a once only visit to
Johannesburg. You do have a good memory. My "accounts" are kept open
only with a few scattered Aussie clams.

All the best for '05.

Kind regards, Phil

Happy New Year, Phil !

ron