Chapter 4: Cryonics is for me, but...

You've probably heard this comparison: "cryopreservation costs about the same per month as streaming subscriptions." It's meant to show that if you can afford entertainment, you can afford preservation. But this misses something important about how we actually think about money.

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Why the comparison feels off

Your brain doesn't treat all spending the same, even when the costs match. We sort money into mental categories with different rules.

Streaming services fit perfectly into "entertainment." They're normal, everyone has them, you get immediate value, and you can cancel anytime. Low commitment, instant gratification.

Cryopreservation is different. It's unfamiliar territory. It's a long-term commitment through life insurance. You won't benefit for decades, if ever. It requires thinking about death and betting on uncertain future technology.

Even at similar monthly costs, these feel psychologically very different. That's not irrational, we value immediate, certain benefits over distant, uncertain possibilities.

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The fair comparison

Here's the thing: both entertainment and cryopreservation have real value, just different kinds. Netflix gives you enjoyment now. Cryopreservation gives you a possibility later.

The question isn't "which should you have?" It's "what balance makes sense for you?" You don't have to choose between living well now and planning for the future. You can do both. Many of our members have streaming services, go out for coffee, enjoy life, and also have cryopreservation arranged.

The monthly cost for basic coverage is often in the range of what people spend on various subscriptions or small regular expenses. So when someone says "I can't afford cryopreservation," what they usually mean is "I'm not sure it's worth prioritizing over other spending."

And that's fair. It's a values question, not just a money question.

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What we'd say as friends

If you care about the possibility of continued existence, if permanent death genuinely bothers you, then cryopreservation might be worth prioritizing in your budget. Not instead of all enjoyment, just as one of the things you allocate resources toward.

Think of it like insurance or retirement savings. You probably pay for those even though you hope not to need them urgently. They're long-term bets on your future. Cryopreservation is similar, just with more uncertainty about the outcome.

The commitment is real, we won't pretend it's as casual as a monthly subscription. But if you're in a financially stable position and this matters to you, it's probably more doable than it initially seems.

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The actual choice

The comparison to Netflix isn't really about Netflix. It's about recognizing that most of us have some discretionary spending, and the question is what we want to do with it.

Entertainment is valuable. Enjoying life matters. But if the possibility of being around for the future also matters to you, if you'd genuinely like to see what happens next, experience future technology, potentially reunite with people you love, then maybe some of your budget could go there.