I want to address something I heard on Marketplace Money on NPR today.
How do *I* define wealthy? Rich? Well-off?
You know? I have never, ever been asked that question, and it gave me pause.
I mean, you know wealth when you can spot it, right?
No.
I know plenty of money-wealthy - even uber-rich people - whom you would never spot on sight. Never. Including one particularly persimmon-like person with whom I have regular dealings.
So how do *I* define wealthy?
Is it someone who is better off than we financially? Well, maybe. If I weren't in the doctoral program full-time our income would be just fine, for the most part - for everything we want to do here and in the community. And, once I am settled into a tenure-track job that *will* be perfectly fine. Will *we* be wealthy then? I suppose so. Honestly, though? I don't give it much thought.
Is it on par with other people I see around us who are wealthy? You know... I never really considered that. I have around me the things I need and, for the most part, want. Sure, when we move we will need a different home since we won't be staying here, and that will require some different accomodations... but all in all, I am happy. Content. Eventually things wear out, and they will need replacement. So long as we can do that, I am happy.
I've gotten to a point in my life where other people's wealth doesn't bother me. I *would* like to have more room to entertain and a room for Crash to set up his stuff... especially since we likely won't be having children... but really - we don't *have* to have them to be happy.
I would like to travel internationally more often than once in a while. Yes. That would be nice. I will need to wait until I am settled firmly into a position somewhere, but yes, we definitely have that as a priority to do together.
So I guess I am coming down on the side of, "How much money do you REALLY need?" If you are really doing your part in the community and the world, I can't imagine why you would need (or have enough money for) huge marble palaces. Or lots of "bling" or ostantatious displays of ... anything. Sure it might be fun once in a while - a night on the town sometimes is. But when it becomes a habit or a fetish, I think you are seriously in need of a 12-step program.
That said, I know - even with my rather tart look on this - that I am welcome in many peoples' homes - from the poverty-striken to the very wealthy (still asking the question: are we defining this in terms of happiness and contentment or in terms of money - or both?).
I am glad for this.
For maybe it means that, indeed, wealthy is a state of mind.
Laura
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