The American Dream

[medjay]

Kind of a spin-off on my social class thread. Sorta.

How many of us are working to live and how many are living to work? What is your idea of success and when is enough enough? Has chasing the American Dream rendered you exhausted, in debt, and distant from your family?

Did Tyler Durden have it right?

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes; working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need."

 

[Thrillhouse]

Did Tyler Durden have it right?

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes; working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need."

Of course. That's what made "Fight Club" so great.



(Fuck that Heineken shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!)

 

[medjay]

No replies? Guess everyone's happy . . .

 

[Cheyenne]

How many of us are working to live and how many are living to work? What is your idea of success and when is enough enough? Has chasing the American Dream rendered you exhausted, in debt, and distant from your family?

I'm working to live well, and I happen to like what I do for a living. The best of both worlds.

I currently have success and I have "enough." I don't want for anything I need. And anything I really want, I have.

I'm not in debt at all, and I'm close to my family. Exhausted? Some days, yes. But it is better now than a few years ago. I put in my time paying my dues. Life is easier now.

That old advice to do what you enjoy for a living and success will follow wasn't too far off for me.

 

[medjay]

I make enough for a single, childless, low maintenance guy to live comfortably. I like my modest apartment and my used car. I like my job; especially the fact that I freelance and answer to no one but myself. I don't have any work lined up for the next couple of weeks but it's okay because I know how to budget.

At one point I thought I'd better stop fucking around and get a real job making some real money. I shaved, put on the good clothes and got hired. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I lasted less than a month. I was miserable every single minute. I quit and immediately went back to my old field. I'm almost 30 and that's the one and only time in my life I've ever had a straight job. I don't plan on ever having one again.

 

[Minkey Boodle]

Right now, I work to pay tuition...but after school's done...I'm gonna have me some fun! I'm gonna have me some fun!

 

[Guest]

I am living my dream

 

[Cuckolded_BlK_Male]

Kind of a spin-off on my social class thread. Sorta.

How many of us are working to live and how many are living to work? What is your idea of success and when is enough enough? Has chasing the American Dream rendered you exhausted, in debt, and distant from your family?

Did Tyler Durden have it right?

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes; working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need."

]
Not at all. I've never bought into to the American philosophy of conspicuous consumption right up to the limits of the credit available.

I make a lot more money than I spend, and just as my parents, who both lived through the great depression taught me, I'm an aggressive saver/ investor. I own my apartment outright. My student loans are paid off. I've been saving for my daughter's educational and nuptial expenses since before she was born. I like to travel and collect guitars, but the former I'm often able to do in the course of my job, and the latter usually ends up turning a profit or at less breaking even. So, I'm able to live well within my means.

I'm in a position where I could make significantly more than I do now. However, this would require me to take on responsibilities that would negatively impact on my quality of life. For me, it simply isn't worth it. Here's something that you'll rarely here an American say but, I make more than enough money to live my life well, and I'm not willing to sell my soul to make money that I wouldn't have time or peace of mind to enjoy.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

I hate my job, I hate that I have to work so hard to look good for other women, I hate the fact that the people I wait on hand and foot seem to assume that 2 dollars is a good fucking tip, I hate that my feet hurt really badly right now....I hate that looking for a new house for me and two roomates is taking so fucking long, and that the third bedroom advertised is in all actuality a fucking closet, I hate my friend's pit bull, that she just HAS to have-you'd think that dog was her kid, for God's sake....

Dammit, I guess I just hate everything at this moment!!!

 

[Cuckolded_BlK_Male]

Right now, I work to pay tuition...but after school's done...I'm gonna have me some fun! I'm gonna have me some fun!

I know how you feel. My daughter is about to enter high school in the fall. Once she matriculates to University, it's all about me.

I can't imagine what goes through the minds of people who wait until their mid-thirties to begin having children.

 

[medjay]

Re: Re: The American Dream

]
I make a lot more money than I spend . . . My student loans are paid off.

Same here. When my friends find out how much I make they can't believe I'm not living the good life. But to me it is the good life. I might not have a shitload of material goods but I've traveled the world and can pack up and do it again tomorrow if I felt like it.

And the letter that I got telling me my student loans were paid off was the greatest piece of mail ever.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Same here. When my friends find out how much I make they can't believe I'm not living the good life. But to me it is the good life. I might not have a shitload of material goods but I've traveled the world and can pack up and do it again tomorrow if I felt like it.

And the letter that I got telling me my student loans were paid off was the greatest piece of mail ever.

Take me around the world with you honey....

And when I get that student loan payoff statement, I'm gonna probably be on my way to my funeral *sigh* Never seems to end does it....

Sad and sore,

MTILC

 

[medjay]

Re: Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Take me around the world with you honey....

And when I get that student loan payoff statement, I'm gonna probably be on my way to my funeral *sigh* Never seems to end does it....

Sad and sore,

MTILC

Arrrgh! You're depressing me!

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Arrrgh! You're depressing me!

Depressing You??? What about me??

Kiss me NOW you fool!

 

[medjay]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Depressing You??? What about me??

Kiss me NOW you fool!

I see I have to rescue you. I'll fuel up the jalopy, swoop you up and take you away from all your troubles.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

I see I have to rescue you. I'll fuel up the jalopy, swoop you up and take you away from all your troubles.

Mmmmmm, that would be nice. Where are we going? Somewhere secluded and far away? I just think I need to be massaged right now-my calves are aching and my toes are tingly....not to mention the pain in my thighs. Where are all the men who know how to massage the pains away???

 

[medjay]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Mmmmmm, that would be nice. Where are we going? Somewhere secluded and far away? I just think I need to be massaged right now-my calves are aching and my toes are tingly....not to mention the pain in my thighs. Where are all the men who know how to massage the pains away???

We'll go somewhere with no snow. And to quote Sam Jackson, "I got my technique down; don't be ticklin' or nothing. I'm the foot fuckin' master!"

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

Yay!! Just what I need...someone who knows how to rub me in the right spots without making me laugh When shall I expect you, Sir Medjay?

 

[medjay]

Yay!! Just what I need...someone who knows how to rub me in the right spots without making me laugh When shall I expect you, Sir Medjay?

As fast as my jalopy can get me there.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

As fast as my jalopy can get me there.

Go faster go faster!!

 

[Minkey Boodle]

I'm thinkin' that the above-type stuff is the real American dream.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

I'm thinkin' that the above-type stuff is the real American dream.

Maybe I'm just stupid tonight, Minkey dear, but WHAT above type stuff??

 

[Minkey Boodle]

Y'all and your jalopy ridin', feet massagin' good times.

 

[mytasteislikecandy]

Y'all and your jalopy ridin', feet massagin' good times.

That's what I thought And that is my dream right now....a good "ride" and some nice massages

 

[Cuckolded_BlK_Male]

Re: Re: Re: The American Dream

Same here. When my friends find out how much I make they can't believe I'm not living the good life. But to me it is the good life. I might not have a shitload of material goods but I've traveled the world and can pack up and do it again tomorrow if I felt like it.

And the letter that I got telling me my student loans were paid off was the greatest piece of mail ever.

Yes, paying off my student loans was sweet. But, when I sold my father's house and paid off the mortgage on my apartment, it was a little sweeter still.

I wouldn't say that I don't own a lot of material goods. I'm just not obessed with the accumulation of the accutrements of wealth. I know brothas who make 40K or so, who will turn around and buy Versace shirts and Prada shoes and all of that. I've just never been into that. I'll spend money on electronic gadgets, computers, digital recording equipment, video editing gear, etc. But, when I'm ready to unload those types of things, I can recoup a lot of the money that I've put into them, not to mention that many adult toys are legitimately tax deductible.

Things just don't mean that much to me. If my apartment burned to the ground destroying everything in it, insurance notwithstanding, the only things that I'd really sweat are my family photos and awards that my daughter has won and things that she's made for me. The rest of this shit can easily be replaced.

In any event, when my kid is in University, I plan to pare down my possessions and move to NYC to pursue my avocations of music and writing. And well do I know that all of my personal effects won't fit in any place that I could afford in Manhattan.

Tyler was right! The things that you own end up owning you.