Finally, someone explained to me that lots of folks just put out those "For Sale" signs sort of for sport. All locals know that summer people are heading this way, and those "city folks" have very distorted ideas about fair property values. So sport is to put out a "For Sale" sign, ask a very inflated price, and see if anyone will bite. If you're lucky and catch a rich one, you just may be able to fund your retirement. Otherwise, life goes on, you get to stay in your house, and then try again next year. Sounds like a form of digging for gold to me.

Believe it or not, lots of people who are listed on dating sites are doing just that: They put out their "For Sale" sign with their profile and look like they are seriously "in market" for a Sweetheart. Really, they have a way over-inflated idea of what they can get and are waiting to see if some fool will bite. These folks have stuck out their "For Sale" sign, but they aren't seriously looking. Except for jackpot.

In Internet dating world, this is deceptive advertising in worse way, because reader has no way of knowing if profiler they are interested in is really serious and a paid-up member or not. The ONLY people on these online dating sites who are emailing anyone are ones who have paid! All others are freeloading teases.

If you are considering CyberRomance or are already posted on a site or two, pay your dues like a grown-up. Do your part to contribute to energy and integrity of this wonderful resource for singles. If there’s a time to "put your money where your mouth is," this is it. If you're serious, pay up. If you're not serious, stay out of game.

Knowing what was on my mind clerk asked me that memorable question "would you like to have this in gold options, stocks or physical bullion?" He went through great lengths to explain me advantages of "gold papers" that follow value of gold at any time, so increase in value if gold price further increases. There would be no necessity to actually touch physical things, and I could cash in papers at any time.

I almost agreed to his offer, when suddenly a small yet bright thought of warning flashed my mind. Something that a goldsmith I met before told me years earlier, he said: "If you ever buy gold, remember reason why you buy it, and do not buy virtual gold, but real thing only".

This thought won in end because my adviser taught me many basic things about jewelry and metals, and I highly respected his opinion. Turned out he was right. Less than 6 months later, company I bought bullion from faced bankruptcy and all their options, shares and other papers lost all of their value. I still had my physical gold however, that increased in value by about 10% at that time.

With that example fresh in mind, I personally still make distinctions when I buy personal products that enhance my lifestyle today.

Yes I invest a lot in software for example that enhances my virtual PC desktop, and helps websites function way they should, and also loose a lot of it every few years when a harddisk or server crashes. I also enjoy latest designer clothes, however they wear out and generally get damaged by usage over time.

However I keep a small collection of silver and gold jewelry in same fresh looking condition as I originally bought it many years ago. These items never wear out, never go out of style. And never loose their value. It's real thing.