Reply #47: We came to this conclusion years ago. Of course we both have MFAs so.... [View All]

we have always understood that unless we wanted to go "corporate" that we would never keep up with the Jones'. University jobs were the other alternative and the chances of both of us landing one at the same time, well, let's put it this way: The chances of either one of us landing a University position was pretty slim.

It was never a point of contention. Our discussions have always been open and frank, even with our friends. By American standards I grew up in abysmal poverty. Hell, living a shabby middle class existence is like being granted my own kingdom compared to my childhood. And while material things are nice, I'm glad to say I was fortunate to be raised in such a way that they never came to define me.

The Spousal Unit comes from a solidly middle-class Irish Catholic family. Skepticism and a sense of irony run deep through that tribe. So he never bought into the "this is how adults are supposed to live" meme, either. And there is something about the eldest boy in those Irish Catholic families....they tend to have that "I'll completely invert your expectations and be utterly engaging while I do it". So, unlike Protestant families where an eldest boy becomes the respectable one, the Irish lads tend to become the wanderers, the wastrels, bards of the common man.

If we win the lottery, fine. We know what foundations we will set up and what charities we will support.

If we live out our days eating figs and plums from our trees and making "do", as we always have, then I say we will have lived a pretty good life.



pffft...typos...