[My underlying reason for these writings is I felt challenged by George Orwell. He asserts that we have become lazy and sloppy in our thinking. Words being unquestioned, we accept unreasoned meanings. Mental laziness causes unthinking acceptance of so many significant factors in our lives. To be trite: (sorry George) we take too much for granted. At my age I have to do some daily mental gymnastics to keep my mind in working condition. And so, I go about this.]

This is an exploration of wealth in a holistic sense. Before there was money people had wealth in its other forms. Their strength and skills were of great value. The tools, weapons, dwellings, stock and other tangibles were essential to their lives. Their family and tribal bonds made them secure. Awareness and caution were needed for survival and a sense of security relieved tension and helped to maintain health. There was a constant interchange of these assets.

Skill at the hunt bought food, skills created the tools and weapons needed, and skills could be traded for goods and the cooperation of others.

Tribal society taught the skills needed and it preserved and shared the material objects and goods which ensured survival and provided comfort.

Life could be very stressful, but mental well-being of the spirit could be achieved. This was done in many ways by priests, bards, group events of entertainment, and by worship.

In most societies wisdom was highly valued and could be rewarded by high station with associated donations of goods and services. And corrupted wisdom could dominate, taking what it coveted by guile.

The early advent of money was various tokens such as shells and bits of precious metals. With these tokens one could hire one’s skills, receiving these media of exchange. They would interpose in bartering for tangible items and services. They could be saved and amassed. They had intrinsic value even though they were not otherwise useful.

Tokens were not of universal value, and along the way were replaced by coins. Coins were stamped with a certification of their value, at least in the borders of the realm that minted them. Being the scamps we are, we found we could relieve them of some of their metal as they passed through our hands, physically depreciating the coinage. Later technology permitted milling the coin’s edges, reducing the practice of shaving coins.

The problem with coins is that while they served their local purposes, any transactions of large scale challenged their portability. As international trade and tourism grew, a better means of transferring this monetary wealth led to a banking system and letters of credit. A faith-based monetary system was born! When its users could trust signatures and wax seals, commerce and pilgrimages flourished. And this led to governments issuing promissory notes for the value of coin equivalents.

For a time the notes were physically insured by stocks of precious metals. In modern days this has been inconvenient for those in power, and now the notes simply depend on trust in the government that issued them.  Since some governments are more trust worthy, their notes are more valuable in exchange.

In contemporary discourse “Wealth” is dominated by a measure of monetary assets. This is an easier metric than the other forms of wealth, and the one that is taxable by the governments. (Some Governments tax property and demand personal services such as military and penal.) However, holistically, wealth includes much more but less measurable ingredients. The sum of wealth can be called “Well- being” and I shall use that term. (It is also used in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, probably with the same meaning.)

Tangible wealth is obvious and essential to well-being. We need food and some form of housing, and these range broadly in quality. A mud hut or tent might suffice, a mansion is better. Some form of transportation is also needed in our world. Depending on the individual, equipment such as cook-ware, tradesman’s tools, or art supplies allow exercise of personal skills.

Our personal wealth is another significant asset. Good health is most desired, but even those lacking it may have significant compensations and mitigations. Knowledge and skills enrich us, and if marketable, add to monetary wealth.

Social wealth is broad-reaching. From the nation and community in which we live to our family, we are benefitted by these relationships. Our country defends us, and many countries and communities educate and help keep their dwellers  healthy. Our community keeps us safe and provides friends and neighbors for support and companionship. Families vary and can be invaluable assets.

Spiritual wealth encompasses a broad spectrum of mental conditions ranging from your attitude toward life to your ability to deal with adversity. Sources of it are family, religious, and academic teachings, exposure to media, life experience. and social influences.

Our environment enriches us, but to what degree is a highly subjective measure. The Eskimo enjoys his months of daylight and endures the dark winter. The Pacific Islander would find an igloo too drafty for his comfort.

In the chapters to follow I shall explore more deeply these forms of wealth and how they affect my pursuit of happiness and yours.

Contents

Prologue

Part 0ne:      Material Wealth

Part Two:     Monetary Wealth

Part Three:   Social Wealth

Part Four:    Personal Wealth

Part Five:     Spiritual Wealth

Part Six:       Environmental Wealth