I'm right there with you on the "poverty" front pbrower2a. I was doing well until wiped out in a divorce from my baby mama. Since that time I've been raising my kids on my own. They're a few years from college and I'm 60. I don't plan to stop working, or living the thrifty life any time soon.
My dad lived large because he felt he deserved it. He could have paid for my college, but didn't. He could have helped my disabled brother, but didn't. He could have been a helpful force in the community but wasn't.
I've long been considered by many to be a "prepper" since I was well prepared when the shortages hit in 2020. I'd been warning my neighbors for years that they were ill prepared should a disaster ever hit us. Who knew? Well, I did. My prepper nature and sustainable farming practices coupled with our habit of clean living (no drugs, alcohol or TV) really stick out in a rural farming community where row crops and equipment dominate the landscape and wide screen TVs in every living room can be viewed from the road. I'm the weirdo on the corner. Or, I was the weirdo on the corner. Now I'm the guy who had toilet paper in 2020.
My father's life of excess is not something I took on, or passed to my children. The idea of having a house in the south and one in the north and playing golf and eating out every night is not among my aspirations. The very thought of "retirement" as something to aspire to sounds downright stupid. I can not imagine being consigned to simply live for entertainment. It lacks purpose. I'm not alone it this either. I know plenty of people my age (early 60's) that feel the same. Retirement was an experiment that lasted almost 3 generations and hasn't posted any real benefits to society at large.
I've heard the arguments that go something like "well, when you retire, you can spend your time doing things with purpose, volunteering or helping your community!" The track record for people doing this is really poor at best. I also hear the whole "well, when you are retired you can pursue your passion full time because you won't have to work!!!" This largely comes from people who have spend their lives working at something they have no passion for, which I find really sad to begin with.
My life choices made my father grimace. I left a high paying job to pursue my passion and dumped the expensive hobbies and lifestyle to read books, carve wood and fly fish with my kids. Most of the Boomers and Silents at work (yes, we still have a couple silents!) think I'm bat shit crazy, or part of a religious order that demands simplicity. I've heard "are you ........ a Menonite?" more than once.
Yet, I find a good number of people in Xer and Millie culture that think my choices seem pretty reasonable, and a surprising number of them are doing the same thing.
I have the feeling the large lifestyles will be something we look back on and shake our collective heads about.
My dad lived large because he felt he deserved it. He could have paid for my college, but didn't. He could have helped my disabled brother, but didn't. He could have been a helpful force in the community but wasn't.
I've long been considered by many to be a "prepper" since I was well prepared when the shortages hit in 2020. I'd been warning my neighbors for years that they were ill prepared should a disaster ever hit us. Who knew? Well, I did. My prepper nature and sustainable farming practices coupled with our habit of clean living (no drugs, alcohol or TV) really stick out in a rural farming community where row crops and equipment dominate the landscape and wide screen TVs in every living room can be viewed from the road. I'm the weirdo on the corner. Or, I was the weirdo on the corner. Now I'm the guy who had toilet paper in 2020.
My father's life of excess is not something I took on, or passed to my children. The idea of having a house in the south and one in the north and playing golf and eating out every night is not among my aspirations. The very thought of "retirement" as something to aspire to sounds downright stupid. I can not imagine being consigned to simply live for entertainment. It lacks purpose. I'm not alone it this either. I know plenty of people my age (early 60's) that feel the same. Retirement was an experiment that lasted almost 3 generations and hasn't posted any real benefits to society at large.
I've heard the arguments that go something like "well, when you retire, you can spend your time doing things with purpose, volunteering or helping your community!" The track record for people doing this is really poor at best. I also hear the whole "well, when you are retired you can pursue your passion full time because you won't have to work!!!" This largely comes from people who have spend their lives working at something they have no passion for, which I find really sad to begin with.
My life choices made my father grimace. I left a high paying job to pursue my passion and dumped the expensive hobbies and lifestyle to read books, carve wood and fly fish with my kids. Most of the Boomers and Silents at work (yes, we still have a couple silents!) think I'm bat shit crazy, or part of a religious order that demands simplicity. I've heard "are you ........ a Menonite?" more than once.
Yet, I find a good number of people in Xer and Millie culture that think my choices seem pretty reasonable, and a surprising number of them are doing the same thing.
I have the feeling the large lifestyles will be something we look back on and shake our collective heads about.
There was never any good old days
They are today, they are tomorrow
It's a stupid thing we say
Cursing tomorrow with sorrow
-- Eugene Hutz
They are today, they are tomorrow
It's a stupid thing we say
Cursing tomorrow with sorrow
-- Eugene Hutz