Generally speaking, I don't buy lottery tickets (I view them as a tax on the stupid, and in that regard, I've paid my share).

When I waver is when I start thinking about how I'll ever afford a home in an area I like in this very expensive (by Canadian standards) city.

But every once in a while, a story like this comes along to remind me that a lottery win isn't a ticket to happiness. In fact, it could provide passage on a very dark journey.