If you are a regular reader of this column (admittedly, that may be wishful thinking on my hubristic part), then you may have noticed a common thread running through my writing. Here’s a recap: Back in June, in “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” I wrote about having at least one personal item in your office that makes you happy, but not necessarily following my lead by going completely over the top and stuffing every available inch of office space with tchotchkes. Then, in October, I exhorted my readers to take advantage of opportunities to do enjoyable things outside of the office, but not necessarily to follow my lead by going completely over the top and seeing every show that comes to town. Do you see a pattern evolving here?
When I was at a big firm in New York, I assumed that I had more money than I could possibly spend, but I certainly gave spending all of it the old college try. I earned it, I told myself confidently. I earned every Alice Cooper action figure, every Ronnie Wood portrait of Eric Clapton, and every ticket to see Ringo Starr (even on successive nights).