Honestly, I suffer with a severe case of FOMO, the fear of missing out. The older I get, the more I want and desire to travel. The more I want to see places that I’ve never been, and there are certain places that I really don’t care about, like India, for example. I have no desire to go there. My FOMO took me recently to the French Riviera, and as I walked around the streets of Monaco, I realized that I am in the, most likely, the wealthiest piece of real estate in the world, where an apartment in one of the buildings that’s right on the seashore costs approximately 18 million dollars for about a 600 square-foot apartment. That is somewhat a lot.

And then there is the other side of it, not on land but in the sea, where all the yachts that are, oh, almost like I would call them small cruise ships, are docked right in front of you. And each and every one of them has probably a cost, like a whole neighborhood, perhaps. And never mind the cost of food in the restaurants and some drinks.

And you know, nothing is wrong with that. In fact, money makes the world go round. And having money is definitely better than not having money. Money is a great tool to get things done. Money helps life. Of course it does. It removes stress, it gives you comfort, and it gives you freedom. It creates memories and can even help you heal. In fact, if you have the money and you worked hard for it, then might as well just enjoy it. Buy the car that you want, buy the yacht if you really want one, and stay in the most luxurious hotel. Hey, life is short, and there’s nothing wrong with nice things.

I’ve seen a very well-dressed couple sipping on a 300-dollar bottle of champagne. They seemed to be laughing, and they really seemed to be happy. And then I remember that a few weeks back, I met Rosa and Mario in Tramonti on the Amalfi Coast. We sat with them and had lunch with tomatoes that they just picked up from their garden, fresh bread that they just baked, and pasta that was just made in the morning. And they are enjoying themselves, and they seem to be quite happy. So what is really happiness? What is it? Honestly, they look just as happy to me as that couple that was sitting in the restaurant sipping on champagne—maybe even happier.

That’s the part that stays with me. A sunset, which is free, is as beautiful from the deck of a yacht or from a bench at the beach. I also bet you that love would feel the same, and conversation will still fill their hearts in the same way.

And then, that’s why music matters so much. At least to me, and I’m sure if you’re listening to me, to you as well. Because music reminds us that some of the best feelings in life really come free. Yeah, we buy sometimes a concert ticket to go see things live, but mostly we listen to music, not live. A song can change your mood in a minute, and can bring back memories, and can take you dancing, cry, smile, fall in love, ah, you know what I mean. And maybe, just maybe, happiness works in the same way, too.

So tonight on East to West, wherever you are listening from, whether you are driving home, sitting outside, working late, relaxing by the water, or like my dentist listening to me from his boat on the Long Island Sound, and maybe you’re just dreaming about your next trip somewhere in the world, we’re going to do what music always does. We’re going to feel good for at least the next couple of hours. Great lineup tonight, great music. Stay with me for the next couple of hours. It’s free.