2025 U.S. Van Tour: Family and Friends are the True Wealth in Life

 My Brother and I

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of "wealth".  It can take many forms and can be measured in ways that don't involve counting money.  True, monetary wealth is an enabler but so are other forms of wealth.  Understanding and valuing the "non-monetary" dimensions of wealth is important.  Our stop in Austin Texas is a clear illustration of this.

Bret and I took primary flight training while still at UC Davis

 

In Austin I had the opportunity to renew my friendship with two gentlemen that I met during my freshman year at UC Davis.  We were all in Army ROTC together in the late '60's, during the Vietnam era.  It was a tumultuous time in America and for the world.  We trained together, worked in the dining hall together, and attended basic training together, I went to rifle matches with one fellow and completed primary flight school with the other fellow.  Both my classmates went on to careers in the military and I continued to serve in the Reserves while employed as an engineer with a major electronics company.  

Don and I survived camping in the snow in sub freezing temperatures after killing and eating a chicken

Through the years we have kept in touch and visited with each other when we could.  When you develop friendships, memories and shared experiences that endure over 50 years, that is a form of wealth as is generates strong feelings of connectiveness, companionship, empathy and just plain fun and joy as you recount stories of shared times, and the ups and downs of life trajectories knowing there is no judgement, but a group of people who care and are as supportive of your journey through life as you are of theirs.  These visits are renewing and always generate such a good feeling I question why we don't do it more often.  I'm happy for days afterward.

 Dinner with my youngest brother and his clan

A similar feeling results from visiting family.  My youngest brother and his grown family also live in the Austin area.  Their home was our base camp.  The last time we were together was several years prior when we rendezvoused for a week in Kauai. He and his wife now have 3 kids out of college, employed, on their own, one grandkid on the way, and the last kid in college.  The launch process is almost complete.  We rolled into town and immediately headed to a Mexican restaurant where the noise from three family generations all talking and laughing was deafening.  This also is a form of true "wealth", when you can get together with family feel you are the luckiest person in the world.

Don and I in the Chow Line

Two days after seeing brother John and his family, I met my other brother in Alabama and helped him celebrate his birthday.  Neither of us could remember the last time that happen!  It was probably just prior to me leaving home for college.  Again memories were discussed and savored.  This included recollections of those no longer with us.  Doing so  is important as they helped shape our lives and their influence still lingers in a treasured way.  I was much closer in age to this brother.  For a portion of the year we are only two years apart, although we tell people that I am three years older.  We were in Boy Scouts together, built soap box derby cars and a sailboat together, and did a car rally together.  

My brother and his wife are the middle couple

 

I would encourage you to reflect on your own life and identify the non-monetary dimensions of your life that make you feel that you are the luckiest person around.  Those things that bring you joy, make you warm, fill you with love.  Take time to “count your blessings”.  Even though your house is not the mansion you might like, or your car is not the fastest or flashiest, I bet that by the time you finish, you will feel a lot better about yourself and the world in which you live.  I also hope that you will discover actions that you can take to make your life and the life of others better.  We can all feel wealthy in non-monetary ways  and help others similarly.

 

 

 

Life is an adventure – get out and explore!