2023.08.05 Why I didn't go to the festival

I was afraid of getting exhausted from the extreme heat. I had already experienced dizziness this past Wednesday, which forced me to take the afternoon off and stay in bed. Also, my eyes are highly sensitive to sunlight. While I cannot pinpoint the exact reason for the occasional increase of my eye pressure, strong sunlight is one of the potential factors. My overall condition was not good this week either.

 

Am I eager to see the band? I can’t say for sure. It is one of the bands I loved during my teenage years, but they don’t make it to my top three, all of which I saw in my twenties. I still think their music tugs at my heartstrings, but I haven’t kept up with their recent releases. My musical taste has changed over time, and I wasn’t diligent enough to follow my favorite bands. Rock music remains one of my precious memories of adolescence.

 

Is the ticket price reasonable? I don’t think so. Only two bands, including the one mentioned above, caught my attention. The festival starts at 11 a.m., and ends at 11 p.m. Their performance starts at as late as 8:30 p.m. I wish the ticket price had been a little lower. It didn’t seem reasonable to spend that money for just 4 hours.

 

For the reasons above, I had made up my mind to skip the festival. However, last night I suddenly had an urge to give it a chance. Then my mind began to come up with all kinds of reasons to go there. The ticket price was not exorbitant; it was still affordable. I could get there after sunset to avoid the heat! Despite the band not being my top priority, I still like them, and it may be my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy their performance on the spot.

 

However, I had to give up my mind when I discovered that there were no seats available on the shuttle bus coming back home. It sounds ridiculous, but it is indeed true. My emotions were mixed – I felt stupid, but also relieved. I had every reason to go to the festival, but also every reason to skip it. This experience triggered introspection. If there are two choices, a one-time, mind-blowing experience and a thing that gives me a long-term useful value, where should I spend money? Up to what price does a one-time, exciting experience retain its value? Is there anything I have to try even if it might risk my health? I can’t give definitive answers, but there questions are worth consideration.