Gather No Moss

Today I got to listen to an interview of Alex Roy by Tim Ferris. Alexander Roy is a captain of Team Polizei 144, and winner of the Gumball 3000 in 2003. The Gumball 3000 is a 5000km (3000km) race through Europe (sometimes) on public roads. Imagine driving as fast as you can through public roads and breaking every traffic law possible. Team Polizei did the Cannonball Run from Los Angeles to New York City in about 32 hours, averaging about 130 mph.

Pardon my French, but that’s FUCKING insane. If this isn’t leading a life less ordinary, I think I need a better dictionary. Alex Roy is described as a “travel executive, filmmaker, and philanthropist” and I would love to be called just one of those things, let alone all three.

Unfortunately, you have to visit the page to listen to the interview, as Tim Ferris has cunningly embedded it there. (I can’t link to it directly). But trust me, it’s worth a listen.

If Alex Roy isn’t an example f the New Rich, I don’t know who is!

I want to be a member of the new rich. Of course, this is different from being one of the nouveau riche as defined in the 1920s.

But what does it mean to be new rich? I supposed it would be best to begin with a definition of the old rich. The classic definition of rich is based strictly in monetary almost Marxian terms. The more stuff you have, the better your life is.

An utterly simple and shallow definition.

The new rich are a whole different breed. The new rich define wealth as an abundance of experience and excitement. They have the freedom to do whatever they want and enough resources available to do, go and see the world while they are young enough to enjoy it. That’s the lifestyle I want.

I am frightened of growing old and living off of a 401(k). I do not want to spend the best years of my life in a cubicle, marking time and waiting for retirement. That life is not for me.

It feels like I will have to apologize to my Mom, because I know she disagrees with me.

I first came upon the term while listening to a podcast from last year’s SXSW, in Austin, Texas. Tim Ferris was giving a presentation on how he only worked four hours a week, and more importantly, used the remaining time to not only follow his dreams, but achieve them. The talk was very inspiring, and his book, “The Four Hour Work Week” is an instructional road map on how to follow his footsteps, and become a member of the new rich.

I want to be a member of the new rich. I want to be a rolling stone. And I will Gather No Moss.

This is my journey. I hope I can inspire you as Tim Ferris inspires me.