I think the answer is 'no', but I'm not so cocky that I'm sure about this one.

I have long had a web brokerage account because years ago I considered investing money with an eye toward retirement. Of course, thanks to gambling I have no stocks or bonds. Never have. But during the setting up of the project I got interested in a specific company. It's a penny stock that will definitely be a major one in a few years time. It was priced at 1.17 back then and steadily climbed to 3.40 a share. It's a long, boring and convoluted story of the company but last week a silly scare caused the stock to plummet to 95 cents. Because I have kept up on this company (and I mean RESEARCHED this company - it's history, it's current work, it's partners, it's potential successes and failures), I knew that it was just a reactionary drop and that the share price would climb back up this week (and probably drop again next - I TOLD you it's convoluted ). So, I had some money just sitting in my chequing account and thought, 'I KNOW it might be gambling, but it's a shame to not plop some money in and make some cash'.

I was right. In 3 days I made $400.00 and sold. That's not bad for a $1,200.00 investment over 3 days, right? I would have kicked myself if I had let the opportunity pass solely out of fear. But now I'm a little worried I just used a good argument for the wrong reason. Did I do it to gamble?

Honestly I don't know. I know I worried about it before, during and (obviously) after the transaction and I'm hoping that's a good sign. I didn't get a rush from it (it's far too slow for that) but it was nice netting a profit.

Part of me thinks I'm okay. This was totally different than my gambling past. Behavior-wise, reward-wise, attitude-wise. But another part of me knows how incredibly devious this addiction is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, gambling addiction is a bitch.

I have no desire to day trade (which I believe IS gambling) but what about long term investing and taking advantage of certain situations, that due to research, history and full information you jump into short term?

I'm not sure. I don't want to pass on making legitimate money when the opportunity is there, but I also don't want the gambler in me to convince me the opportunity is ALWAYS there, & I begin 'investing' like well, investing with quotation marks.

I guess all I can do is be careful, wary and questioning of my behavior along the way and hope I stay clean and safe.

I'm not writing this because I think I gambled. I truly don't think I did, but I AM writing this, so the addict in me knows that I'm worried it could be something MORE, & I'm not letting my guard down just to travel a new road to an old end. Let me be very clear on that. I WILL NOT allow myself to gamble or give up the wonderfully peaceful life I now live. I WANT to be a non-gambler. Big time. I'll pass on investing if I think I can't do it without it being gambling.

I guess that's the problem. How do I tell the difference between intelligent investing and gambling? Or IS there a difference? I sure hope there is, because I'm never going to be able to retire by relying on savings interest. I think I'll make myself this promise. Long term is okay, short term is not, even if I KNOW it's a solid short term investment - the risk to my success so far is too great. NO amount of profit is worth my well being (speaking of long term). This journey in the non-gambling life has shown me how unbelievably prevalent the opportunities are to gamble. And how many grey areas there are. How do any of us do it? I suppose by wanting it, fighting for it, and never forgetting the real danger of it.

I invested this week, but I believe that's all I did. I did not gamble. If I feel any urges resulting from this act I may have to change my opinion, but for now I honestly believe that this week I did not gamble, and I KNOW that today I will not gamble. Never again.