hello haim, a few strands of thoughts to relate. i do in truth have a habit regularly accumulate getgold n packplatinum, almost as a matter of course.
the habit started when i was 27 years young. one night almost a quarter century ago i blew the equivalent of half a mazda rx7 in a bar, with a 2 pals whom i claim as pals to this day. we each wasted that amount that happy night.
i felt guilty the next day, and realized that i am not good enough in holding on to cash, and i needed to put in place a secure mechanism by which i can save capital, for whatever purpose, until such time, if ever, they are needed.
the inclination to save (hoard) capital started earlier still, when my then 60-years young father ran into political trouble when i was 8, and we were internally exiled to where i would have trouble getting to even today, and we existed on my hoard of regular pocket money coins for a full year.
the above, structured and etched on to an upbringing that features some aspects that only a 6000-years young civilization can cultivate, becomes a big hurdle to overcome in so far as earn-spend-borrow-spend-more is concerned.
in america, folks more probably getgold because they suspect possible hard times, and besides getting guns, know not what else to do.
in europe, folks may getgold because figure hard times may impact, and besides reaching for the immigration card, they getgold.
in asia, folks probably getgold because they know hard times will always come, always at the most inconvenient time, and always impact hard, and so, besides preparing by way of education, diversification, savings, hoarding, arranging for excess passports and preparing surplus driver's licenses, getgold.
i have merely updated the tradition to the space age, hedging ancient getgold with modern packplatinum.
should neither prove not needed, great. the discipline is more independent than not of petty considerations that could otherwise be pricing, holding cost, income not earned, or whatever, because the imperative of genealogical survival and mindset peace, the value of which increases sharply at any inkling of dire times, and the maintenance of both allows the occasional outsized risk-taking, as one unreal tournament last man standing death match combatant has one less issue to be concerned about.
obviously, it would be easier to maintain enthusiasm to sustain the habit and extend the tradition when the pricing trend is habit-reinforcingly going from strong to stronger, but it would be easier to maintain and sustain should the price go from weak to weaker.
so, yes, i agree, diversification is wise, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, diamonds, and perhaps even certain ancient pieces of art all are goods, and have distinct features making them distinctly exquisite and useful.
regarding diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and wives, mine is fairly frugal by global standards, and certainly when benchmarked against typical hong kong levels. she favors old heirloom pieces from india that feature rough stones - they are inexpensive, nice to look at, have lots of raw but still precious gem stones, and when worn, go with any dress code, and one would not usually see oneself coming and going, especially in jewelry-crazed hkg.
here is one that is decorated with diamonds, emeralds and rubies costing perhaps 2k when hkg tai-tais routinely sport 20-200k pieces.
cheers, tj |
