In article k.net, "Dwight
Stewart" writes:

You know, thinking back, I believe I was actually
happier back then. I didn't have much, but I don't remember feeling anything
was missing in my life. Perhaps I'm getting too old to remember things back
then clearly.

I think it's something else, Dwight. I think a big part of happiness is baased
on our expectations vs. our reality. And a lot of us Americans allow ourselves
to develop tremendously high expectations, and then aren't so happy when they
aren't met.

The person who expected to be living in a 4000 sf house by a certain age may be
quite disappointed that they are now past that age and living in a 2500 sf
house, and they're maxed out (can't really afford to move or add on). Never
mind that the 2500 sf house is a nice place, etc., etc. (Just one example
'cause we've been talking about houses).


Maybe I'll start a late mid-life crisis and go looking for
those youthful days again. I remember this one girl...

Sometimes it's a good thing that 'the one that got away', did.

Friend of mine says:

"To a large extent, we're as happy as we allow ourselves to be"

73 de Jim, N2EY

charlesb wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
ink.net...

"charlesb" wrote:

I can initiate change, but don't expect me to put
my money into your project. Pony up, and I'll see
what I can do.

Like the ARRL, I work on a sliding scale: The more
money you send, the better results you can expect.


LOL. I just made the car payment. How much change can I get for the

twenty

bucks remaining? Twenty-five cents in change?


I may initiate change, but seldom do I ever return any! ;-D

Keep the change as payment for the quote of the week, Charles! 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA

Mike Coslo wrote in message t...
Brian wrote:

Perhaps we accept more debt today (as a ratio to income) than ever before.

Perhaps "we" will get what we deserve for running our finances so close
to the edge. 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

Some do.

And that's why this country fears lay-offs so much. There is so very
little slop in one's income to expenses that even a couple of months
out of work spells ruination.

No rainy-day accounts either.

But bankruptcy is easy to get, so everyone else ends up paying for
their houses, SUVs, and big-screen TVs.

"Kim W5TIT" wrote:

Maybe, Dwight, you can put what you said
a different way, so that it doesn't sound like
you are thinking consumers are too busy
and stupid. Could ya do that for me?


No. I've clarified what I said at least five or six times. I have no
intention of doing so again.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"charlesb" wrote:

I may initiate change, but seldom do I ever return
any! ;-D


Well said. :-)


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"N2EY" wrote:

I think it's something else, Dwight. I think a big part
of happiness is based on our expectations vs. our
reality. And a lot of us Americans allow ourselves
to develop tremendously high expectations, and
then aren't so happy when they aren't met.

The person who expected to be living in a 4000 sf
house by a certain age may be quite disappointed
that (snip)


In my case, I've never stayed in one place long enough to have those type
of expectations. I've traveled most of my life (both as a kid and later as
an adult). I'm just in a mood right now to settle down somewhere. The
problem is that I haven't figured out where to settle down at. I haven't
lived in one place long enough to really call it home. My family is spread
out across the country (the same with my wife's family). Because of all
that, we never get to the point of thinking about a house - we're too busy
looking around the country for an area. And that is perhaps where our
expectations are simply too high.


Sometimes it's a good thing that 'the one that got
away', did.


Been there and done that. We went across the country a few years ago
looking up old friends and the places we once lived. We were shocked at the
many changes (in the people and the places). After that, we decided not to
do so again with the remaining people and places - it's simply best to
remember them in our minds the way they were.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"Brian" wrote in message
...
Mike Coslo wrote in message
t...
Brian wrote:

Perhaps we accept more debt today (as a ratio to income) than ever
before.

Perhaps "we" will get what we deserve for running our finances so close
to the edge. 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

Some do.

And that's why this country fears lay-offs so much. There is so very
little slop in one's income to expenses that even a couple of months
out of work spells ruination.

No rainy-day accounts either.

But bankruptcy is easy to get, so everyone else ends up paying for
their houses, SUVs, and big-screen TVs.


I couldn't agree more on that, Brian! For sure, as they would say. I am
shopping for a new home and my husband and I have decided what we are
comfortable spending, what we need and desire in a new place, what kind of
interest rate we'll accept, and what payment we want. Know what? One
mortgage company so far has told us, "you have a lot of room to move,"
meaning that we can get into something much bigger and more expensive than
we are looking for. They seem shocked that we aren't interested in
"maxxing" out our limit!!

And, you're right about bankruptcy, too. When I said to a lender that we
weren't comfortable with the expense they were suggesting, they said we
could afford it and didn't know what the problem was. I told them I think
about things like potentially losing my job or my husband losing his. The
come back was that we always have bankruptcy available!!!

Good grief...

Kim W5TIT

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Kim W5TIT" wrote:

Maybe, Dwight, you can put what you said
a different way, so that it doesn't sound like
you are thinking consumers are too busy
and stupid. Could ya do that for me?


No. I've clarified what I said at least five or six times. I have no
intention of doing so again.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)


Yeah, it's always the easy way out...

Kim W5TIT

Dwight Stewart wrote:

"Kim W5TIT" wrote:

Maybe, Dwight, you can put what you said
a different way, so that it doesn't sound like
you are thinking consumers are too busy
and stupid. Could ya do that for me?



No. I've clarified what I said at least five or six times. I have no
intention of doing so again.


Might as well give it up Dwight, I find it futile to discuss class or
good taste with someone who choses a call sign like Kim's.

In article . net, "Dwight
Stewart" writes:

"Dee D. Flint" wrote:

This would be the ruination of the economy. The
government is not, never has been, and never will
be competent to manage the economy.


The government has managed the economy in some form or another since the
very beginning. And, in spite of what you say, this country with that
government has done pretty darn well over those many years.

Agreed!

But has the country's economy done well because of the government's influence,
or in spite of that influence?

73 de Jim, N2EY