I don't buy things now, I buy plane tickets. The only thing I

Oona Chaplin, granddaughter of the great Charlie Chaplin and herself a voice of grace and vision, once declared: “I don’t buy things now, I buy plane tickets. The only thing I want is to make enough money to be able to travel with my children.” These words, though spoken in our age of abundance and distraction, resound with the eternal wisdom that possessions fade but experiences endure. They remind us that the true treasures of life are not objects we can hold in our hands, but memories we carry in our hearts and pass on to our children.

When she says she no longer buys things but plane tickets, she is teaching us to turn our gaze from the fleeting allure of material wealth to the deeper joy of shared journeys. Clothes wear out, gadgets break, and ornaments gather dust, but the wonder of standing before a mountain, the laughter of a child on a distant shore, the awe of seeing the world’s many faces—these remain alive within us. To travel is to weave the fabric of memory, and this is a fabric no thief can steal, no moth can corrupt, no time can erode.

The heart of her wisdom lies in her desire to travel with her children. For what is the purpose of wealth, if not to enrich those we love? She does not dream of luxury for herself alone, but of horizons shared with the next generation. In her words lies a truth as old as humanity: that the deepest joy is not solitary gain, but communal experience. A child who is taken to see the world is not merely entertained; they are educated, broadened, and strengthened. They learn that the world is vast and full of possibility, and they carry this vision into their own lives.

History gives us countless examples of this principle. Consider Ibn Battuta, the great traveler of the 14th century, who wandered across Africa, the Middle East, India, and China. His journeys were not only for himself but became a legacy for generations, a record of human diversity and wonder. Or think of the ancient Polynesians, who sailed across vast oceans with their children in tow, teaching them the stars and the winds. For them, travel was not luxury, but life itself, and its wisdom was handed down like a sacred flame.

Chaplin’s rejection of “things” also echoes the teaching of sages and philosophers. Diogenes the Cynic cast aside possessions, saying that the fewer his burdens, the freer his spirit. The Buddha himself renounced palaces and jewels, finding in the journey of the spirit far greater wealth than in the treasures of kings. Chaplin’s words, though modern, are kindred to theirs: they remind us that true abundance lies not in accumulation, but in liberation from excess.

The lesson for us is clear: let us seek not only to earn, but to spend wisely, investing not in objects that soon vanish, but in experiences that enrich our souls and the souls of those we love. To travel with family, to see the world together, to marvel at its beauty—this is a legacy greater than gold. Each journey becomes a story told around the table, a memory that binds generations, a lesson carried silently in the heart of a child long after the parent is gone.

Practically, this means rethinking the purpose of wealth. Before buying, ask: will this bring lasting joy, or will it fade into dust? Set aside resources not merely for comfort but for journeys—across the world, or even just to nearby places where wonder can be found. Travel need not always be grand; even small adventures shared with loved ones carry the same spirit. The goal is not luxury but presence: being together, learning together, growing together.

So, O listener, heed the wisdom of Oona Chaplin: do not spend your life chasing things; spend it chasing horizons. Teach your children not through possessions but through experience, for the world itself is the greatest classroom, and its lessons are written in mountains, rivers, skies, and faces. If you live this way, your wealth will not be measured in coins or jewels, but in memories, in bonds of love, and in the wisdom of a life that sought meaning beyond material dust. This, above all, is the true treasure of existence.