"Have To"; "To Have"

       I recently had occasion to recall an essay I wrote about the expression "have to."  Typically we think of the words as implying obligation, responsibility.  Something impels us because of family, job, friendship, etc.  "I have to go to work."

       When the wave of existentialism left Europe's shores and splashed down post-World War II in America, suddenly, it seemed, the words could have different meaning.  Just change the word order:  "I have work to go to."  Now the obligation from outside oneself is reduced and the sense is of something one possesses; it's a part of one's own life, an option one has chosen.

      Sometimes changing word order can change your whole philosophy.