Doing than Owning

This article from the online Time magazine caught my sensibilities today:

Want Happiness? Don't Buy More Stuff --- Go on Vacation

As an adult in my early 30s, I have always wondered what to do with what I "have".  I know of people my age who have started investing in many ways: real estate, stocks, blue chips, whatever.  I am currently renting and although I have an idea how stock works, I do not really care much for them.  Alright, I am not going to delve into the state of my personal finance, but the article got me thinking, "What is money for, really?"

I do think we define money based on our life choices.  When people learn of some of the things I do --- travel, dine out, do the occasional shopping and spa afternoons --- I tell them, well, I only have myself to take care of.  But then again, I don't "own" a lot of stuff.  During the time I was freelancing I traveled a lot. If people saved up for iPods, I saved up for the next great adventure.  These days my travels have been so far due to work.  My experiences have been tied up to my professional direction.

Frankly, I feel that I need to do more.  I can't believe that once the clock strikes six I just want to go home.  It's not because of the traffic really, but I guess I do not really want to spend my post working hours inside the shopping mall.  I think this is a huge challenge, living in Manila.  Recreation has been unfortunately tied to consumption, and if you want to go somewhere, the mall is the most convenient place to go to.  It does suck that one of the major activities one inescapably has to do in Manila is to shop... because the activity is dangling right before our eyes.

I think to be able to have more meaning in this existence is to redefine the experiences you want and not the the things.  So I throw this question to this small galaxy that is Manila... what else is there?