JD, your comments brought to mind observations and advice from my grandfather, along the lines of:
"Son, as you go through life, you will learn that each increment of performance costs geometrically more. This applies to whiskey, women, cars, horses, shotguns and many other things."
He was wrong about at least one woman, though. My spouse of 46 years came off a small NE Colorado farm and ranch, is a modest person, and has out earned me for at least half our time together.
Regards,
White Fox