A few weeks ago, I completed my 6th RAGBRAI. For any of our out of state readers, this is a weeklong bike ride with 20,000-30,000 of your closest friends. You ride for 7 days across Iowa and finish by dipping your tires in the Mississippi River. I have always loved riding RAGBRAI, but up until this year, I could never home in on the one reason why I keep airing up my tires for another year. Sure, there are pieces of pie, the camaraderie, the small-town pride, and iconic Iowa scenery. But I could experience those things without wearing Lycra and struggling in the July heat. So, what is the draw of RAGBRAI for me? Well, the realization I came to is this: there is a certain “dividend” received when life gets simple. It’s what helps to balance the busy and complicated parts of our life.
As humans, we have a hard time calculating the intangible costs or benefits associated with a decision. Naturally, financial considerations often come first. How much will this decision cost or save me? Think about a major decision like purchasing a second home. It’s something you have always dreamed of. A little piece of heaven on the shores of your favorite lake. The perfect property comes along and it’s within budget. You schedule an appointment with your financial advisor and hope to submit an offer shortly after reviewing your financial plan. During the meeting, your advisor confirms that the financials look good. You are clear to purchase. But then your advisor asks, “Have you thought about how this impacts your current lifestyle outside of the dollars and cents?”
You quickly respond, “Of course! This lake house will provide the rest and relaxation we need.”
Advisor: “I’m sure you will create life-long memories. But have you also considered the added responsibility and maintenance that comes with a second property?”
In this scenario, we see a common dilemma. When making decisions, we tend to overestimate the intangible benefits and underestimate the costs. Reality is usually somewhere in the middle. With a lake home, relaxation is the goal, but there are other costs to factor in. The time spent mowing the lawn, maintenance repairs, cleaning, etc. It’s important to carefully consider both the intangible costs/benefits when analyzing a decision.
This leads me back to RAGBRAI. Without fail, I underestimate the challenges I may encounter while riding my bike for a week. But I also underestimate the benefits that come during a week of simplicity. Each morning, I wake up and try to enjoy the sunrise with a cup of coffee. I slowly pack up my camp and think about the day’s ride. All that is required of me that day is to ride my bike to the next overnight town. It’s this simplicity that keeps me riding RAGBAI. I believe that everyone has opportunities to simplify their life. I hope they’re seriously considered, because the dividends of a simple life are worth pursuing.