The Fun Factor

I spent this evening with my friend Brian, taking advantage of the different options that New York has to offer - great food, great scenery, and a vibrant diversity. Today is Tuesday, a weeknight evening in the middle of the greatest recession of my generation. But the people of New York aren't huddled at home. I was surprised by the sheer amount of people on the streets, in bars, restaurants, and other venues.

Fun it seems, isn't a want, it's a need. Just as the people of the Great Depression danced, as the people stuck in shelters during World War II played cards and sang, as the people that managed to laugh following September 11, the people of today are continuing to have fun. Fun maintains sanity, productivity, and society.

Fun is obviously different during tough times, but it can't be irradiated. It usually takes a new shape, often a more social twist. It usually comes at a lower price (that's another reason why mini-fun is such an opportunity), but it fulfills the same innate human needs. So those developing new ways to have fun shouldn't have anything to worry about - as long as it doesn't demand too many resources, your product is almost as indispensible as food, shelter, and clothing...almost.