24th November 2005 - Day 52

In about a month's time, I should be in Dresden for a short holiday.

I just booked a flight from Stuttgart to Dresden on the 21st of December. It wasn't exactly cheap, considering the fact that I could have got the tickets earlier.

I made a fatal flaw in my impromptu planning. It was only discovered after I clicked on the "Confirm" button.

I'm flying back from Dresden early in the morning at 0835. I should have chosen the flight the night before.

This only means that I've to make another decision. To spend the night at the airport or, to stay at a Jugenherberge and leave early at 0600.

No matter how I look at it, both options are equally bad. Übernachten at the airport possibly means that I'll be freezing my ass off, exposing myself to the threats of the environment (as well as shady characters).

Staying at a youth hostel is only bad from the viewpoint of my poor wallet. That's about it I guess. Ok, waking up at 0500 in the morning might be a bit of a risk too. There's always a nagging question - What if I don't manage to get to the airport on time?

There's actually a third possiblity which I'm considering. To change the flight to the previous evening. In that case, it will be a 25€ decision which my wallet would protest against.

I shall now attempt to use the principle of averaging to convince my wallet.

"Look, it's only 25€. It's a small price to pay for a lesson. Or rather, it's a small price to cover up my silly mistake."

"No. You made the lousy decision. So you should take responsibility for it. Simple as that."

"Come on, do you want me to sleep in the airport? It's not very safe for you too. You might never get to see me again if I get pickpocketed. Though you haven't been the best of all my wallets, and you're tearing up at the edges *again*, I'll still be upset if you're gone..."

"Shut up. It's just the documents inside that you care about...your Studentausweis, Bahncard, Semesterticket, Versicherungskarte... Don't think that because you're getting muddle-headed, means that I, your *precious* wallet, is as silly as you are."

"Wah, don't be like that leh. So calculative. 25€ isn't that big an amount. I mean, that's only about nine meals at the Mensa. I just have to save 1€ everyday for a month to cover back that amount."

"Man, you're at it again! You think the priniciple of averaging works everytime?! Why are you behaving like some MLM salespeople? You're just burning your money away. I kept quiet when you wanted to take the plane from Stuttgart. Do you have any idea that you need to pay for your train ticket from Karlsruhe to Stuttgart? That's another 21€ on top of your plane ticket!"

"Damn, you're right...But hey, you're my wallet. Cough out the money!"

"Wah, use imperative form again...Ok lor, you win! Don't come crying to me when you're down and out in March! Eh, I only have 17€ left. How now?"

"Scheiße..."

So, this shows that it's pointless to argue for something that's not even there.