I have a final non-static member:

private final HashMap<String,String> myMap;

I would like to initialize it using a method called by the constructor. Since myMap is final, my "helper" method is unable to initialize it directly. Of course I have options:

I could implement the myMap initialization code directly in the constructor.

MyConstructor (String someThingNecessary)
{
    myMap = new HashMap<String,String>();

    myMap.put("blah","blahblah");
    // etc...

    // other initialization stuff unrelated to myMap
}

I could have my helper method build the HashMap, return it to the constructor, and have the constructor then assign the object to myMap.

MyConstructor (String someThingNecessary)
{
    myMap = InitializeMyMap(someThingNecessary);

    // other initialization stuff unrelated to myMap
}

private HashMap<String,String> InitializeMyMap(String someThingNecessary)
{
    HashMap<String,String> initializedMap = new HashMap<String,String>();

    initializedMap.put("blah","blahblah");
    // etc...

    return initializedMap;
}

Method #2 is fine, however, I'm wondering if there's some way I could allow the helper method to directly manipulate myMap. Perhaps a modifier that indicates it can only be called by the constructor?

MyConstructor (String someThingNecessary)
{
    InitializeMyMap(someThingNecessary);

    // other initialization stuff unrelated to myMap
}


// helper doesn't work since it can't modify a final member
private void InitializeMyMap(String someThingNecessary)
{
    myMap = new HashMap<String,String>();

    myMap.put("blah","blahblah");
    // etc...
}