Money

The Best Things In Life Are Never Marketed

You’re more than a target market, you know

We never see anyone else at this nature preserve, probably because nobody advertises it. But it’s a beautiful place to ramble around, don’t you think? (Photo by Michelle Teheux)

What did you do last weekend?

What made you decide to go where you went or spend what you spent? Was it a good weekend, with the right mix of relaxation and fun?

My husband and I had some friends over for drinks Saturday night, and on Sunday we visited a nature preserve. We took our dogs on many walks, listened to a lot of music and drank a lot of coffee in the backyard. I caught up on my reading.

All these things were free or nearly so.

Nobody marketed them to us. No ad urged us to:

• “Call your friends today and invite them for drinks using our new Friendship App!”
• “Visit this nature preserve and photograph wildlife for the introductory rate of only $25 per month!”
• “Walk your dogs and greet your neighbors. Now half off!”
• “Stay home and play vintage vinyl you already own with this digital coupon!”
• “Drink espresso in the backyard and talk to your partner using this handy guide — now yours for only $9.99!”

I was barraged with ads urging me to visit bars and restaurants, to travel, to…