Once upon a time, I wrote a blog post about how much I would like to have had enough money to act as a patron for good purposes - and how I think I actually would be able to spend the money for the benefit of others rather than just for myself.
And the thought still catches me occasionally. Typically, it happens when I hear about something that is allowed to fall to pieces due to the fact that for one reason or another there is no one who sees the importance and ability to maintain it.
Thus I recently became aware of an iconic building complex which is collapsing in a region of the country where I spent a lot of time in my childhood. And immediately, I was seized by a feeling of sorrowful regret that this had to be be necessary.
Well, if I had a fund with the money available, I would have acted here. I would have acquired and renovated the site, and let it to someone so that it could be preserved for posterity. It would undoubtedly have been bad business - after all, that's why the place is decaying in the first place. But then, my fund would only have to invest some of its other money in such a way that it would go broke due to a single deficit or two.
Because there are things that are more important than thinking about what colour one's next luxury car should have.
(Translated from Mæcen, originally published July 10th, 2017)