I remember at the age of 18 or so, walking around gun shows, looking at various & sundry magazines & catalogs, looking at cars, women... name it- and pretty much ALL of it was out of reach. I used to think that when I got older I would have the means to have all of those things (pretty much exclusively "guy stuff"/toys- my basic needs were met well beyond expectation) that I wasn't able to have due to age or disposable income. With the luxury of time, experience, etc., I've realized that gratification is the death of desire. The more "stuff" you have, the more you want until it simply becomes an empty excercise. Contentment before capacity. Moderation in all things, blah blah blah (add your own 'New Age' affirmations here). But it's the truth.
I remember growing up, I had friends (2 brothers) who lived across the street- they had EVERY G.I. Joe, every accessory, every new toy, mini bikes, swing sets, everything, but their house was the coldest & emptiest on the street. Their parents were the most dysfunctional knuckleheads to ever raise children. The toys were a surrogate for parental attention & love. The rest of us kids had a good assortment of quality "toys"- a BB gun, a pocketknife, a bike, ball glove- not necessarily new or fancy, but all serviceable. The "Poor Little Rich Kids" had 2 or more of the latest, greatest & newest of everything- yet they always were in our kitchens & living rooms- with our families- not wanting to go home to their own. This wasn't lost on me even then- I has many talks w/ my parents about that issue whenever I would whine about not having the huge "Guns of Navarone" play set or whatever. I knew that I could expect what I needed & perhaps extras from time to time- & never went without. I was also sharp enough to realize that those kids would have burned it all in a giant bonfire in the front yard to have parents who took them to their ball games & sat in the stands & cheered, who were going to prepare a decent meal every night or bring them soup when they were sick because they were actually paying attention to their kids' lives & not off drinking or whoring or simply in another room with the door closed. I always felt badly for them. All of that crap that they had & that we as kids thought was so great is now in a landfill somewhere & those kids are now as adults leading awful, ruined, pointless lives- drugs, crime- etc. I, in turn was (as were many of my friends) given gifts beyond value- permanent gifts- the gifts of Family: Of love, discipline, respect, compassion and real worth.
These lessons have carried over- I have never been happier than when I was in my 20's & living by my wits in a foreign country. I had real friends- friends that will remain friends for a lifetime. My entire life could have been (and was) packed into 2 parachute bags & a rucksack. To this day, I maintain friendships with people I've known for 30 years or more. My family and friends love, respect, and support me and I them. You can't buy that.
Back to the "toys". Sure it would be nice to be able to score a Strider, a Benelli, a badass watch, an M4, whatever- with each paycheck- but it wouldn't be special. What makes MY 'toys' special for ME is the fact that I've worked hard for them & carefully chosen each & every one. They mean something to me. I know where I was in my life when I obtained each of them. I've purchased 2 pistols in the past 3 months. Neither of them means as much to me as the Marlin .22 rifle I was given for Christmas when I was 18.
It's nice to have the 'Brown Truck of Joy' bring your next goodie to you- but don't forget what they are & what they mean. No person on his/her deathbed ever wanted that Rolex- they wanted the voice of a loved one, the faces of their spouse or children nearby.
The ONLY toys I have any more are knives, 40 or so, and very little interests me at all. I am a self diagnosed "lazy-ass" and do suffer from depression, but who gives a shite....not me! 
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