Thank you. I think I will do the photo essay at least sometime before I move out of here. It needs to be done.
I believe you have a great understanding of the economic divide, both how it occurs and the social influence it has.
I actually have no need to stay in CA. I just can't afford to move and haven't found a job outside of CA that will compensate for the debt incurred. The joy of applying for positions outside the state is that somehow I have to travel for interviews, etc. I just don't have those resources. There is also the painful reality that if I move, for health reasons, I have to go somewhere that doesn't get very cold.
I feel so much guilt when I find myself (which happens often) worrying about money. Looking back at my childhood, I never went without anything, and it only ever felt that way because a/ kids can be selfish, and b/ I went to school with kids from extremely wealthy families, making me seem poor in comparison. My dad also spent my whole childhood telling me how expensive I was so I had this weird guilt/need thing going on when it came to possessions.
Now, I look at my life and I think how fucking lucky I am that we have the resources we do. Between what Henry had saved before I met him, gifts from his folks, and the fact that we're both workers (in the sense of neither of us want to stay home all the time; that's not a goal for either of us), we do extremely well. Not 'buy a boat' well or 'buy a new home' well (which seems to be how a lot of Americans measure things) but 'hey, look, we paid for a weekend vacation without making things financially tight!' well, which I find fucking awesome
( ... )
--I am keenly aware of how luck played the largest part in this, and how easily our luck might turn. --
And I am so glad you had the luck you had. If only amassing wealth were as simple as working hard in this day and age! Maybe our economy will crumble to the point that we are able to rebuild the American dream. Somehow, in this global economy, I doubt that is possible, but one can hope, right?
Wonderful post. I try to reinforce to my husband how lucky we are. Neither of us grew up rich - we were both "working middle class" but unlike him, i've known what it means to be hungry and even then we weren't poverty-stricken.
I look at my mom's friend, who due to health issues and retirement, is living close to the poverty line. All five kids are extremely well off but only one takes care of her. The others will not help her in any way. Sometimes being rich doesnt make you better. It makes you selfish and ugly.
--That's the biggest tragedy: the destruction of the American Dream.--
I think that's the part that I find more disheartening than anything else. Oh, if only we could roll up our sleeves and work our way up to middle class! Now, we roll up our sleeves just to eat the next meal, but progress - hope for the future - is less and less fathomable. Meanwhile, those of us working our asses off live with the constant downward glances of the PTA stay-at-home moms. I'd sacrifice everything to have their opportunities. Oh, wait. I already did.
That makes sense about the Korean shops. They were plentiful in San Jose, too. I'm a believer in organized crime. :-)
Wow. That is such powerful imagery, and as beautiful as those palatial estates in Scottsdale are, I am suddenly sickened by them. I do dream of the day when I can be considered "middle class" once again; I look forward to having a spare bedroom to share with another mama and her child.
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I believe you have a great understanding of the economic divide, both how it occurs and the social influence it has.
I actually have no need to stay in CA. I just can't afford to move and haven't found a job outside of CA that will compensate for the debt incurred. The joy of applying for positions outside the state is that somehow I have to travel for interviews, etc. I just don't have those resources. There is also the painful reality that if I move, for health reasons, I have to go somewhere that doesn't get very cold.
Yes about family members!
*hugs*
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I feel so much guilt when I find myself (which happens often) worrying about money. Looking back at my childhood, I never went without anything, and it only ever felt that way because a/ kids can be selfish, and b/ I went to school with kids from extremely wealthy families, making me seem poor in comparison. My dad also spent my whole childhood telling me how expensive I was so I had this weird guilt/need thing going on when it came to possessions.
Now, I look at my life and I think how fucking lucky I am that we have the resources we do. Between what Henry had saved before I met him, gifts from his folks, and the fact that we're both workers (in the sense of neither of us want to stay home all the time; that's not a goal for either of us), we do extremely well. Not 'buy a boat' well or 'buy a new home' well (which seems to be how a lot of Americans measure things) but 'hey, look, we paid for a weekend vacation without making things financially tight!' well, which I find fucking awesome ( ... )
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--I am keenly aware of how luck played the largest part in this, and how easily our luck might turn. --
And I am so glad you had the luck you had. If only amassing wealth were as simple as working hard in this day and age! Maybe our economy will crumble to the point that we are able to rebuild the American dream. Somehow, in this global economy, I doubt that is possible, but one can hope, right?
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I look at my mom's friend, who due to health issues and retirement, is living close to the poverty line. All five kids are extremely well off but only one takes care of her. The others will not help her in any way. Sometimes being rich doesnt make you better. It makes you selfish and ugly.
I'd love to see the pictures you take too.
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I think that's the part that I find more disheartening than anything else. Oh, if only we could roll up our sleeves and work our way up to middle class! Now, we roll up our sleeves just to eat the next meal, but progress - hope for the future - is less and less fathomable. Meanwhile, those of us working our asses off live with the constant downward glances of the PTA stay-at-home moms. I'd sacrifice everything to have their opportunities. Oh, wait. I already did.
That makes sense about the Korean shops. They were plentiful in San Jose, too. I'm a believer in organized crime. :-)
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