A friend recently asked me what I would do with R5million (about US$500,000), assuming I would not give up my job.  Off the top of my head I gave a fairly boring reply as follows:

I said I would like to pay off my apartment, put some into savings or investments and then risk some of it on new business venture/s.

So after being accused of being boring I decided to draw up a list of things I could do or buy that did not fall into the “boring” category.  Now this is not exactly a lot of money but it certainly is enough to have some fun with.  Some of these require quite a bit of money, others I could and should do as time allows.   In no particular order and without giving it too much thought ……

1. Learn to fly – My brother has a helicopter license and my mother had a private pilots license.  In fact I did some research into this and I could get my license for around R100,000 (US$10,000).  So very easily attainable.
2. Perhaps buy a small aircraft like a Cessna – something big enough for 2-4 people.  
3. Actually fly a Spitfire or similar fighter aircraft -this would be amazing!   And yes, I’d like to fire it too!
4. Learn to skipper a boat – Well perhaps I should just buy one and find some awesome guy (with penis pointers or perhaps just a really great looking bum to look at) to skipper it for me while we sail off into the sunset and anchor off the Mediterranean coast or something.
5. Buy a small personal submarine – Something suitable to view marine life with. Of course I would have to buy a suitable boat / yacht to launch it from
6. Buy a Harley Davison or Indian Motorbike and do a Cape to Cairo or route 66 run or something similar
7. Go and live in a small beach house in Mozambique for a few years
8. Open up a beach bar 
9. Go on a world tour – stopping in each country, getting to know the locals and moving on as and when I choose.
10. Buy a bright RED Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche or other sportscar.  Not sure which – will have to take a test drive in them all first
11. Buy a lifetime supply of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs
12. Visit the 7 wonders of the world
13. Go Scuba diving in the great Barrier Reef
14. Take some of my best friends on a long holiday to the Maldives or Seychelles or some other exotic island
15. Take some of my best friends on a skiing holiday
16. Go swim with the sharks (Yeah, Maybe I’ll stay in the cage)

So how would you spend half a million dollars – just for the fun of it?