Rule #123: VEGAS, Baby
Just got back from a Thanksgiving trip to Vegas with the family.
I’ve been to Sin City more times than I can count—but only recently have I started to get it.
Here’s the truth:
Vegas isn’t a vacation.
It’s a mirror. A test. A life lesson wrapped in neon.
Vegas is an adult playground engineered for excess.
It’s where roller coasters, strip clubs, blackjack tables, five-star meals, and 3AM dim sum all exist on the same block.
It’s Disneyland with fewer kids and more questionable decisions.
I love it. I really do.
But here’s the thing: Vegas is life, on fast-forward.
All your choices, all your flaws, all your impulses—accelerated.
After 30+ visits, here’s what I’ve learned:
Vegas will give you everything—sex, drugs, danger, food, thrill, escape.
But if you try to take it all? It will chew you up and spit you out.
You need a philosophy to survive Vegas.
A plan. A budget. A sense of self-control.
Because Vegas doesn’t care who you are. It’ll bankrupt billionaires and fry the sober.
Vegas isn’t a city. It’s a state of mind.
Also? Don’t live there. Seriously.
I once thought about buying property in Vegas. Then I realized I’d never be able to drive past a casino without wandering in.
Four nights is my limit.
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Three is too short.
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Five starts to corrupt your soul and your bank account.
Vegas is a four-night town. Full stop.
Now here’s the gold:
Don’t go to Vegas for a bachelor party.
Go with your significant other.
If you want to know who you’re really marrying—take them to Vegas for four days.
You’ll find out fast:
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If they’re an alcoholic? You’ll know in 48 hours.
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Drug problems? Same.
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Sex addiction? Yep. Vegas doesn’t hide these things—it spotlights them.
But the real revelations?
They come when you’re tired. Hungover. Waiting in line. Hitting the ATM again. When the glamor fades and the city has its boot on your neck.
That’s when character shows up.
Do they stay kind? Thoughtful? Present?
Do they plan things you both enjoy—or just chase their own thrill?
Do they manage money—or burn through it like it’s a TikTok trend?
Vegas will tell you everything you need to know about someone.
If you still like—and love—each other after 80 hours in that city, you’ve got something real.
Vegas is life—just compressed.
All the distractions. All the temptations. All the pressure.
You’ll either cook into something beautiful—or explode.
Either way, you’ll learn.
And maybe the most important lesson of all:
It’s not about winning.
It’s about surviving.
And enjoying the damn moment.
Because even with the best plan, the best mindset, the best odds—the house always wins.
So laugh. Eat. Lose money at the craps table and high-five strangers anyway.
Because in life and in Vegas:
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No one wins forever.
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No one gets out alive.
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And what matters is how you play—and who you’re playing with.
Be smart. Be safe. And visit Vegas.
Just don’t try to conquer it.
You’ll lose.
But damn, what a ride.
Love, Dad