I have reflected upon this often, and here's what I believe is behind it:

As we age, we gain experience. An older man who has long since passed away once told me "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. Wisdom is what can happen when you think about 'experience' and how to do better next time."

In that light, lots of us as we get older learn to recognize what is actually important in life, and what is 'nice to have,' and what is a nuisance, or worse, a trap. 

Examples of what is actually important in life: reliability. Reliable people, reliable guns, a good pocketknife, boots you can walk miles in without blisters, loyal dogs, reliable machines. 

What is 'nice to have': Creature comforts, like A/C in a tractor. 

Example of a trap: Deals that are too good to be true, both human and financial.