Immediately after a vacation or special occasion, I find myself wondering if all the money I spent was worth it. That’s especially true after a big splurge. We love to find and enjoy those “once-in-a-lifetime” events, even the ones that come with a hefty price tag.
The other night, a few friends were over for drinks and we were talking about some of those high-dollar moments. We all agreed. Yes! They are worth it! Those are the things that last forever in our memories, the stories we share over and over.
Greg and I just dropped a chunk of change on a special Valentine’s Day meal with a wine pairing at Chef Cory Oppold’s Scottsdale restaurant, Course. Each of the eight courses was delivered and described in detail before the Sommelier, Alex, poured the wine with details of the grapes, aging process, subtle flavors and winery. Our conversation flowed as the evening lingered on. It was magical!
Just a few weeks earlier, we’d finally managed to snag one of the hottest tickets in Phoenix right now … a mock flight at Carry On. It took months of trying to secure two “seats” at the speakeasy. We entered with an old-style ticket folio to be seated by the “flight crew” into our assigned seats before the “flight” from San Francisco to Mexico City. You don’t actually go anywhere, but the door is closed, flight attendants deliver snacks and drinks and the porthole-style windows show the flight route after a take-off and landing complete with “from-the-cockpit” style announcements. At least two sets of friends have recently made the trip aboard the mock 747 and we all agreed it was absolutely worth it.
Not all these memorable events cost a lot. My daughter recently surprised us with a trip to a hip speakeasy in Washington, DC when we were out visiting. There was no up-front cost for this — just the cost of drinks (albeit at DC prices). Our bartender, Arthur, whipped up some new flavors based on our input; some of which he had never made before! The personal attention was spectacular and made possible due to the small size of the venue — tucked in the basement of a U Street pizza joint and seating just a couple dozen people at a time.
Whenever possible, Greg and I take advantage of small-group tours in cities we visit. Six to eight people in a group mean there’s more flexibility, more conversation and smaller venues for extra authenticity. We’ve been lucky enough to schedule a tour only to learn we were the only two booked for that slot resulting in a private tour!
We can’t do it all the time. But when we have a little extra or find a way to save up, we splurge on ourselves. It reminds us to appreciate what we have and keeps us humble.
There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. Splurge when you can and savor the special moments you create.
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