[cgriswald]

The examples you've given here are both extremely short term and are presumably things that help you achieve goals now-you wants.

I know what I want for myself in five years. I don't and to large degree can't know what me-in-five-years will wish I had wanted.

My approach is to go for the things I want for myself now, while always being cognizant of providing options and opportunities for the future. It's not perfect, and it never will be because I don't have perfect foresight. But it works well enough.