on spending time

<sub>spend (spĕnd)

v.,spent (spĕnt), spend·ing, spends.

v.tr.
1. To use up or put out; expend: spent an hour exercising.
2. To pay out (money).
3. To wear out; exhaust: The storm finally spent itself.
4. To pass (time) in a specified manner or place: spent their vacation in Paris.
5. To throw away; squander: spent all their resources on futile projects.
6. To give up (one's time or efforts, for example) to a cause; sacrifice.
v.intr.
1. To pay out or expend money.
2. To be exhausted or consumed.</sub>

A couple of days ago someone said something (actually, a few people brought it up in different contexts, but all with the same negative connotation) that has been eating at me for quite a while, so I looked up the etymology of to spend. As is plainly obvious, these are not the best connotations at all. It originally comes from the Latin expendēre: to use up; consume (mostly in regards to taxation purposes/calculations.) Well that sure is no fun!

I'm bringing this up specifically in relation to spending time. The individual in question was fretting about having to spend time with his girlfriend, his son, and his business - and how it was all WAY too much. So let's see, someone has to spend time with one's three primary loves, love/lust interest; family; creative outlet/profit. Is it me, or what is the problem here?

What I want is a new term for spending time that is unrelated to paying out, using up, sqandering or exhausting. Because when I am with love, creative work, or family, I NEVER want to imply such a thing. These are exactly the things I want to put my time into. I feel like our launguage really does a disservice to our interactions by implying that by spending in this way somehow we have less, rather than having more. Spending time to me is not squandering, it is investing. I feel richer, not poorer after spending creative energy or giving love. I'm very curious as to how other languages tackle this action. I know in French, many actions revolve around the verb "to make." The english counterpart is "to get" and this can even be found regionally in the US cities settled by the French, New Orleans for example, where people say they are going "to make groceries," rather than get them. (Says a bit about a making vs. consuming culture too...but that is a different topic for a different night... ;)

I would much prefer to make time on the ones I love and make time on my creative projects. That sure seems to subconsciously reinforce that one's action is a positive one rather than a wasteful one.

_{This post has had nothing to do with copious amounts of wine, just far too much time SPENT in silence in my car on the way home from work. ;)}