Funny I was just reflecting on this yesterday, when after a morning of reading and writing, I went out for a little XC ski in the local park.
(Yes, I drove 5 minutes to the park, when I could have figured out a way to strap the skis to my winter bike. But hey, fresh snow and slow clearing of the bike paths made it safer. Got some groceries on the same trip. But anyway . . .)
-cheap vehicle, a 10 year old hatchback with only 130,000k on it. Paid for. Cheap to run. Makes me happy!
-cheap skis, actually free, a neighbour was chucking them out because they are "obsolete." They have 3-pin bindings which work just fine. Makes me happy.
-cheap, actually free, ski trails along the river at the local park. Sunshine. Kinda cold (-15), but you can dress for that. Makes me happy.
-then back at home afterward, listening to choral music on my top of the line (in the 1990s!) stereo, bought used of course, nearly free and very very good-sounding. Makes me happy.
Everything that went into a perfect afternoon COULD have been VERY expensive: a "safer" SUV with AWD, up-to-date skis and gear, a multi-thousand dollar new stereo. But none of that would have made it any more fun. (And of course, I would have been at work paying for it instead of outside in the sunshine.)