Today's $1200 cooler

[TheHaversham]

That seemed early on in your recount of the hand that you had doubts and figured you'd likely lose chips.

Considering I was in the big blind with 4-high, I was pretty safe in assuming before anyone acted in the hand that I was about to lose chips. The flop gave me some hope, the turn gave me more, but I know how poker works. Did I not say I was delighted to see ONE player shove over me, but horrified to see a bigger stack re-shove?
I firmly understand a fundamental concept that escapes many new players. When they start out, they see Scotty Nguyen bluffing with 73o, or some young internet pro shoving & winning with all manner of hands that Dan Harrington wouldn't touch, so they start to think "Any two cards can win." And in my early days, I was no different. But, after a while I became aware of what most great poker players will tell you: Any two cards can lose. It's not until you grasp that concept that you can begin to make some of the laydowns - and/or shoves - that are required to keep your stack healthy to the end.
ANY time I put chips into the pot, unless I have the nuts and the river is already down, I understand I may lose those chips. Had this river and turn been reversed - if I'd made my 4-high flush on the turn and had two shoves over my big bet (or even one or two flats) - I likely would have shut down and prepared to look for reasons to get away.

I thought making money was the key since your spending money and time trying to win. Fun is cool but definately not the key for me atleast..

Making money is, for me, the key to having fun playing poker. And I do so regularly. But I also understand variance, and the different results that can come from playing the same hand and either running good or running bad. I made money that weekend, AND got to play four days of poker with absolutely no chance of losing. How many on this site would pass up a $40,000 freeroll, much less 3-4 shots at it?