My acquisition acct can get up there, but I wouldn't 'invest' (gamble?)

If she has been on board with your stock investing (which is common gambling), then she should able to see the writing on the walls when you put pen to paper.

I took it as a sign I had gotten in at the right price and held on.I knew this was a gamble, but I felt like it was one I needed to take. 

I'm in the camp who likes to say appreciation is a gamble, but it seems important to find something that will at least hold its value.Thanks for your input!

A bit of a gamble.  

I for one do not want to gamble on my own or borrowed money in the mid 6 figures range, take on unknown risks that I have yet to understand (if you haven't done this before), for a paltry return.

If you don’t have means of making money you have to gamble on appreciation and should invest locally.

First off, most auctions you cannot walk through before you start bidding, so it is purely gambling (unless your luck is supernatural you won't last.)

You gambled - you lost.

I don't recall a city taking it harder on the chin than Vegas did, a place driven by gamblers and gambling.