I sat down this morning to grade papers and write a pithy post about the amazing dinner I had last night (the red wine reduction sauce was TO DIE FOR–I could have just had a bowl if it).

But then I read Kelly’s post and it really got me thinking.  One thing I thought was I wish I could have taken Kelly and The Cuban to dinner with us–because they would have loved every bite (and it was a small business).  Our dinner started off with a blue cheese souffle and it only got better.

Back to Kelly’s thought provoking question:  What if Money Didn’t Matter?

What if it didn’t?  How might my life be different?  I like to think that most of my life wouldn’t change.  I’d still work in education–but how might that change?  I’d have to be honest and say that I would start a school (a charter school) that was guided by the same student centered progressive education that my kids get at their private school.  I so believe in the education that my kids get, that if money didn’t matter I would work tirelessly to bring that type of education to students in our urban center.

If money didn’t matter, I would take my family to live in Ethiopia for a year.  Giving my children the gift of their birth country and it’s rich heritage.  I would then write a book chronicling the journey, fused with narratives from my children on their experience.

If money didn’t matter, my husband wouldn’t work his high-stress computer job; he’d probably open a breakfast restaurant and have his afternoons off to volunteer and play golf.  Or he’d be a teacher (he is torn).

If money didn’t matter, I’d have more time to finish my dissertation.  Ah, that’s would be amazing.

But I live in a world where it does.  Maybe I live in a world where it is only the perception that money matters.  Thinking about how money drives so many of the decisions we make is sad.  I have been fortunate enough to get to follow my dreams regardless of money–because my husband has always been the breadwinner.  He has sacrificed his dreams, so that I could achieve mine.  I am happy that I was able to make lots of choices without thinking about money (I’ll be paying dearly for that–those student loans won’t pay for themselves).

So, how would your life be different if money didn’t matter?