Spaceman on a Spree

"Spaceman on a Spree" by Mack Reynolds is a science fiction story set in a future where people are more interested in being safe and comfortable than taking risks. It's about Seymour Pond, a space pilot who just retired after six exciting trips to other planets. He starts spending all his money in Manhattan to celebrate, but his fun takes a turn when he meets a woman named Natalie. She brings him to a dangerous gambling game where he loses everything. The story asks if it's better to explore the unknown or relax in comfort, and it looks at how space travel affects people's minds and what happens when people stop wanting adventure.