David Heinemeier Hansson writing about his first big expenditures after striking it rich:

For the first few months, I barely touched any of the money. Sure, I bought a big screen TV and more DVD boxsets than I could hope to consume, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t have done that anyway. It wasn’t until near the end of that year I finally drew down on the account of cliched purchases: A yellow Lamborghini! While all very nice, very wonderful, it didn’t, as we say, really move the needle of deep satisfaction.

What kept moving the needle, though, was programming Ruby, building Basecamp, writing for Signal v Noise, taking pictures, and enjoying all the same avenues of learning and entertainment my already privileged lifestyle had afforded me for years in advance.

I never receive the same satisfaction from an iPad or iPhone purchase as I do a new camera or lens purchase. David’s remarks helped me realize it was the intangible feelings of capturing an image more so than the pleasure of acquiring new gear that really touch the soul.