rinue | Slices of quince wrapped up in a five-pound note

As any student of economics and human nature knows, there is a good deal of difference between money and wealth. Money is a set of numbers. Wealth is a standard of living. A person who makes a seven-figure income but has no time to spend it is merely rich; a person who makes a five-figure income and uses it to travel the world in style is wealthy. In other words, wealth is really a question of money's disposability coupled with the imagination to use it properly. With that in mind, I try, despite the extreme poverty that means I never have to pay taxes and could probably qualify for food stamps if I wanted to, to live at a high level of wealth. To, in other words, be able to spend the day slinking around in an evening gown or fine kimono, eating oysters and sprawling across the piano at appropriate moments. To this end, I have made a list of things that I currently think are decadent so I can check whether I do or do not have them.

1. Organic rose syrup (no)
2. Gin (no)
3. Mushrooms (yes)
4. Scones and Jam (mostly)
5. Runcible spoon (no)
6. Turkish coffee (no)

At this point, it occurs to me that everything on my list is directly food-and-drink related, but not at all neccessary nutritionally. (Especially the runcible spoon, which, let's face it, is not loaded with vitamins.) It must be concluded that I am very fond of food, but not of having to eat. It is also true that I would sell all of my books if it was the only way I could keep a fine table. I guess that makes me a very special kind of shallow.

In any case, it seems the nos outnumber the yeses on my list. Action must be taken forthwith!