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Originally Posted by WarChild
I guess it depends on your persepective, or what league you're playing in if you will.
For some people, like myself, living in small town Ontario, in cheap housing right next to the neighbors, driving back and fourth to work for somebody else in your Saturn, having not traveled the World and having less dating experience than the average Dungeon Master would just never be enough, no matter how much you procreate.  |
I wasn't going to bother because I have nothing to prove, but I got to thinking... perhaps even you could learn something, even though you just said it yourself and still missed it.
"depends on your perspective" and "for some people"... let's discuss this shall we?
You seem to live your life under the assumption that the entire world has the same goals and aspirations as you... and to understand how wrong you can be, you'd have to understand two things completely lacking in your life... love and responsibility.
You see, you seem to really wish the worst for me and always have... which is nice, but in doing so you completely skip over all the of the really great stuff. You'll skip all the rest of this post now too, I'm sure, because I'm about to outline a few things for you.
I made a really good living. I could have travelled the world (as you said in your post) but I chose not to. Why? Because despite what you believe about everyone... not everyone wants to. I was pressured twice in a row to go to Amsterdam for the convention. I chose not to. I was asked to go to Hawaii. I chose not to. I had no desire. The only reason I even went to the Vegas conventions was because industry friends were always there. I went 3 times. You?
I lived on Beach Ave in Vancouver, close to where DH used to live. I ate at seafood restaurants every night because I didn't have time or desire to cook for myself. I worked for myself, had no boss and did what I wanted any time I wanted to. I was free and had any money I needed to do it all.
You would love to believe that I lost it all. But I didn't. I chose a different path in life. Here's the part that you just can't rationalize.
I gave up that way of life for my family.... because this life is better. It's what I want.
You'd have people believe that my living in a small town in Ontario is a sign of my defeat. So I guess that DH and WiredGuy and many others are defeated as well. It would never ever occur to you that I moved to a much closer location to my family. That I paid for an apartment in Vancouver for 6 months without even being there, as well as paid for my rent here in Ontario at the same time... just because I could. It had no financial burden on me.
That I chose this town as a humble, safe place for my boy to grow and make friends and develop good values. It didn't choose me because of any financial reasons, or anything else you'd like to believe. I moved out of my 7 story executive home in the highest cost of living city (Oakville) in the Greater Toronto Area to be here because I believe it's what is best for my family.
I know you have money, so I'd hope you would know what luxuries are. I also am quite sure that you have no idea that luxuries are no where near as important to you once you have a baby.
I still look out for #1... it's just that #1 used to be me, and now it's not. It's my baby.
You can look at my life all you want, since it seems to be of great interest to you. And you can help yourself sleep better at night by convincing yourself that I'm suffering in some way or am forced into the life I live. If you need to deal with your own insecurities by comparing my life to yours, then so be it. Just try to be a little more informed about it.
I chose to be closer to family. I chose a small town that's just 30 minutes away from the biggest city in Canada and even closer to both of our families. I chose to give up my SUV for a safer and better vehicle that doesn't waste gas for nothign. I chose to boost my investments and my bank account rather than fill my garage with shiny toys because I have much more important things in my life now than worrying about what "would just never be enough."
If you're lucky, one day you'll understand that. Until then... keep focusing on the negative and build up your list of toys.
I'll stick where I am and know that every single little, medium and big accomplishment that my boy makes from his first steps to his first day in university will mean way more to me than any toy, trips to see stuff in other countries or any need for some kind of status over another person I don't know.
