for richer and for poorer

if you had to answer, would you say you're richer or poorer this year?  richer or poorer in money. in time. in love. in experience. in patience. in success.  richer? or poorer?

richer. richer. richer. in everything except money.

but when you're living on three dollars a day as a peace corps volunteer, you quickly realize two very important things:

1. so many of the best things are only available at a cost.
2. money doesn't matter and you don't really need the best things.

take cheese.  it's one the things that, eaten, can make me happiest. mainly because it's not readily available.  it's also one of the most expensive things i can purchase.  when i do, i'm in heaven.  when i do, i realize how lucky i am to have been able to save enough to buy it.  when i do, i realize how very little i actually need it to be happy.

so, so much richer.