At sometime in my future I would like to own an airplane. The RV-12 in particular looks like it will provide what we want very nicely.  The problem is the RV-12 is only available as a kit. In aviation jargon a "kit" equals owner built. After thinking about the prospect of being tied to a workshop for 900+ (sometimes +++) hours in the building of a plane I have come to a few realizations.

1.  I want to be a plane owner, not a plane builder.
2.  It is often best to hire someone who loves to do the job you dread...to do the job you dread.
3.  Ergo, I will hire someone to build my plane.  (either directly or indirectly, e.g. buying a used RV-12)

These two items can be applied to many other areas. 

1.  I want to be a lawn owner, not a lawn mower.
2.  It is often best to hire someone who loves to do the job you dread...to do the job you dread.
3.  Ergo, I will hire someone to mow my lawn.

Or...

1.  I want to be a car owner, not a car mechanic.
2.  It is often best to hire someone who loves to do the job you dread...to do the job you dread.
3.  Ergo, I will hire someone to repair my car.

This leaves my time free to explore the things I love. In turn I can charge other people to do the things they dread doing, but I love to do. 

Simple.

Dilbert creator Scott Adams wrote a post on his blog about paying more for less. Click here to read the whole thing. (worth it, trust me)  Here's an excerpt.

I recently wrote about my new watch that has GPS for tracking my running. It has so many features that I fail 50% of the time in getting it to do anything at all. I literally don't know what sequence of tapping, holding, and humming gets me to the right mode. When it works, I start yelling "What did I just do?! What did I just do?!" I would pay 50% more for a watch that only tells me the current time and my running distance. 

Our world is a growing rats nest of complexity.  There are so many parts of our life that are complex without offering a good reason for it.  Scott's examples of booking travel and going to the movie theatre are but two of many.  Look at the complexity in ordering satelite TV packages, or purchasing a car.  So many models, so many options, so many choices.  It becomes overwhelming and time consuming.

One way I simplify my life is to purchase items that may cost a little more, but give me less. The reason I own a Mac computer is because if gives me less. The reason I own an iPhone is because it gives me less. The reason I own a Slimmy wallet is because it gives me less.

Less is scarce.  Because of this it is worth more.

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

(from minimalmac.com)

I absolutely love this animation.

"In a meeting where there is no clear agenda, filled with people I don't know... I'm aggressively silent."

From MinimalMac