Are you living your "American (or insert country of choice)Dream"?

[ksmybuttons]

There's always been talk about the "American Dream". I often wonder what it is. Is it about happiness? Is it about economics? What would you (or did you) need to achieve your "American Dream"?

 

[Sean]

There's always been talk about the "American Dream". I often wonder what it is. Is it about happiness? Is it about economics? What would you (or did you) need to achieve your "American Dream"?

It's when a poor black kid from a single parent family can become president of the USA.

Unless he's a Muslim, Communist, Kenyan, of course.

 

[redheadedtxn]

I am. I have lots of awesome friends, a man who loves me and let's me be free, a job I love, great kids, even my ex isn't a total dick...yeah..***** is pretty fuckin great!

 

[ksmybuttons]

It's when a poor black kid from a single parent family can become president of the USA.

Unless he's a Muslim, Communist, Kenyan, of course.

Obama is a great example. He is really, really intelligent. Most of us aren't.

I find I have lived the dream at times in my life, but my dream keeps evolving. Right now, I don't know what I want other than to give my child an opportunity to have his dream.

 

[ksmybuttons]

I am. I have lots of awesome friends, a man who loves me and let's me be free, a job I love, great kids, even my ex isn't a total dick...yeah..***** is pretty fuckin great!

That's wonderful. Did it just happen or did you plan it?

 

[Sean]

Obama is a great example. He is really, really intelligent. Most of us aren't.

I find I have lived the dream at times in my life, but my dream keeps evolving. Right now, I don't know what I want other than to give my child an opportunity to have his dream.

I got fed up of the whole high pressure, high earning corporate bollocks so I quit. Financially I'm worse off, in all other ways I'm far happier.

 

[JohnnySavage]

To me, the American Dream is to start with nothing and build a life of relative wealth and comfort. By that definition, the American Dream is only possible for immigrants and those on the lower rung of the socioeconomic ladder.

If you are born middle class, you work hard to stay there and there's really no chance of moving up the ladder. Excepting hitting the lotto or being lucky enough to be a once in a generation(er) like Bill Gates.

If you are born rich (I define rich as having more than $50 million in liquid assets), the rules of hope and hard work don't apply to you. You are in a different society then the rest of us.

 

[Beco]

It's when a poor black kid from a single parent family can become president of the USA.

Unless he's a Muslim, Communist, Kenyan, of course.

unless? A Muslim DID become President of the USA. What are you smoking?

When a poor black kid.....? how about other immigrants?

 

[ksmybuttons]

I got fed up of the whole high pressure, high earning corporate bollocks so I quit. Financially I'm worse off, in all other ways I'm far happier.

I'm paying for college right now. I'm working more hours than I've worked in years. I quit managing people and am now a worker bee. My work is independent.

With spring starting, I think my dream would be a condo with no yard.

 

[Beco]

Obama is a great example. He is really, really intelligent. Most of us aren't.

I find I have lived the dream at times in my life, but my dream keeps evolving. Right now, I don't know what I want other than to give my child an opportunity to have his dream.

Thats right....sometimes when you age, the dream evolves. I'm with Sean, I'm sort of sick of chasing paper, working the system, trying to make for retirement. My new American Dream is to go "off grid", live in a quiet area without the hustle bustle of traffic, stress, mean rude people. live off green energy with good people and farm the land, eat well.....

 

[Frizzle_Fry]

unless? A Muslim DID become President of the USA. What are you smoking?

When a poor black kid.....? how about other immigrants?

Not covered under affirmative action.

 

[CaptainKirk]

There's always been talk about the "American Dream". I often wonder what it is. Is it about happiness? Is it about economics? What would you (or did you) need to achieve your "American Dream"?

I just took it one day at a time and knew it would eventually happen if I kept working at it.

A good paying job that would keep me and mine comfortable (have it), a home of my own instead of renting (got it), marrying the woman I love and adore, and who loves and adores me with equal amounts (have her, over twenty years now), raising a family of my own (three loving daughters, the last is about to leave the nest), and I even got grandkids out of the deal (cool).

It's not the life of Riley or 'Who wants to be a millionare?' status, but I'm happy fixing up my home (slowly, but it's getting there), going on vacations (fancy or not), working on my books, and looking forward to a comfortable retirement when the time comes.

Basically, I have (for now) everything I've wanted out of life. Yep... I'm living it.

 

[ksmybuttons]

To me, the American Dream is to start with nothing and build a life of relative wealth and comfort. By that definition, the American Dream is only possible for immigrants and those on the lower rung of the socioeconomic ladder.

If you are born middle class, you work hard to stay there and there's really no chance of moving up the ladder. Excepting hitting the lotto or being lucky enough to be a once in a generation(er) like Bill Gates.

If you are born rich (I define rich as having more than $50 million in liquid assets), the rules of hope and hard work don't apply to you. You are in a different society then the rest of us.

Family money. Heritage money. Doesn't always make people happy.

i enjoyed reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. However, for many people, putting the work in isn't part of their Dream.

 

[JohnnySavage]

Family money. Heritage money. Doesn't always make people happy.

i enjoyed reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. However, for many people, putting the work in isn't part of their Dream.

Happiness is different for each of is. Cpt. Kirk up there is happy to exist, breed and die. Some people are happy working 18 hour days and collecting dollars like others collect stamps. I don't know what makes me happy so if happiness is the American Dream, it's undefined for me.

 

[redheadedtxn]

That's wonderful. Did it just happen or did you plan it?

Some of both

 

[Fuckette]

Usa #1

absolutely, i do whateverdafuckiwant.

 

[Farrah]

By widely-held standards, my life is far from the American dream. MY boyfriend and I rent an old, drafty farmhouse, work our butts off just to make ends meet and live the hippy-hillbilly lives of mountain folk.

But our old farmhouse has exposed beams and wood flooring, 5 bedrooms and amazing views. The cost-of-living at least matches the incomes here. Our rent is dirt cheap, and when we have extra money, we indulge in the things we love...we travel to shows and festivals for live music, host BBQs or potluck dinners, put on an annual wiffle ball tournament that friends and family travel long distances to attend, etc. We live in an area where we can hike and climb and swim and kayak and camp and snowboard and ski. I believe convening with nature is good for the soul, and my soul is a happy one. I feel content. I feel loved. And that has always been all I could ask for, and more. That's my dream.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

In Vietnam I was hurt pretty bad. I feared death at first but when I didnt die it occurred to me that Flip Wilson was correct, AS LONG AS YOU GOT YOUR HEALTH WHATEVER ELSE HAPPENS TO YOU IS AN INCONVENIENCE.

Money comes, money goes; women come, women go; success & failure come and go; friends come and go; boners come and go.

So my idea of the American Dream is to stay in the game till my chips are gone.

I mean, I won the lottery when God made me white and male. I got nuthin to bitch about.

 

[ksmybuttons]

By widely-held standards, my life is far from the American dream. MY boyfriend and I rent an old, drafty farmhouse, work our butts off just to make ends meet and live the hippy-hillbilly lives of mountain folk.

But our old farmhouse has exposed beams and wood flooring, 5 bedrooms and amazing views. The cost-of-living at least matches the incomes here. Our rent is dirt cheap, and when we have extra money, we indulge in the things we love...we travel to shows and festivals for live music, host BBQs or potluck dinners, put on an annual wiffle ball tournament that friends and family travel long distances to attend, etc. We live in an area where we can hike and climb and swim and kayak and camp and snowboard and ski. I believe convening with nature is good for the soul, and my soul is a happy one. I feel content. I feel loved. And that has always been all I could ask for, and more. That's my dream.

i think it's important we define our own dream. Luckily, even in this economy, here in the US, we have an opportunity to define it on our own. I like your description of your life.

Sometimes having that opportunity, especially at this time in my life, makes me feel restless.

 

[Wok]

I have my family, a job, a roof over my head, and food. No, I do not have riches, connections or a flashy car, but my life is just fine.

Sometimes, the American dream is more than things.

Perhaps that's how I rationalize my shortfalls as well. Who knows.

 

[Frizzle_Fry]

In Vietnam I was hurt pretty bad. I feared death at first but when I didnt die it occurred to me that Flip Wilson was correct, AS LONG AS YOU GOT YOUR HEALTH WHATEVER ELSE HAPPENS TO YOU IS AN INCONVENIENCE.

Money comes, money goes; women come, women go; success & failure come and go; friends come and go; boners come and go.

So my idea of the American Dream is to stay in the game till my chips are gone.

I mean, I won the lottery when God made me white and male. I got nuthin to bitch about.

I agree totally with you man. I had my retinas burnt out by the flash of an RPG explosion about a foot in front of my face. No one ever thought I would see again. Thankfully I won the lottery, got my D20 crit...however you want to put it, eventually my retinas healed up with minimal permanent damage and I could see again. Every other problem I have had since then has seemed trivial at best after digesting and accepting the (wrongly assumed) fact that I would never see a nice pair of tits ever again.