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Are you happy with a "normal" life?

M

MrsBugi

Platinum Member
I've been married for almost a year now with a normal 40-hour/week job and 2 weeks of vacation time per year. My husband and I are planning to have kids in 4-5 years... I'm definitely in no rush as there is still plenty to do career and travel-wise.

I never thought I would be in this situation. I was always the carefree one... traveling to Europe for several months to go backpacking with my sister, living in a small island (Utila) off the coast of Honduras to scuba dive, going to LA after graduating from college with 2 suitcases, $500 with no friends, no job and no place to live. I also loved drama, both online and in real life.

My life is so stable and secure now... so "normal." Drama-free (even on ATOT - who would've guessed?) with good friends, a loving family who adores my husband (never thought THAT would happen) and working towards home ownership, raising a family one day, etc.

It feels strange to still be close friends with people who "live off the grid" or "get up and go" lives - one making a living via fly fishing in Alaska and Chile, another flying off to Prague or Croatia for a month on a whim, another jetsetting to Miami for WMC/the Olympics/etc. all in a row, sleeping with different/multiple people, traveling carefree and not caring about saving or for a future family... some are wealthy but others are not, preferring to live a backpacker's lifestyle on a few dollars a day.

I'm happy now and am able to fulfill restless urges by planning trips within our means... to Vegas last week (free stay w/timeshare presentations), to Portugal in August (free stay w/a friend) and to Hong Kong next April for a girlfriend's wedding. Still... now that I'm married there's no more "pick up and go" unless it's with my husband and he has even less flexibility with his job than I do.

Are you happy with a "normal" life and what kinds of things do you do to keep things interesting?
 
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It's amazing what happens when someone reaches adulthood isn't it?

not being a child. realizing they're an adult?
 
Tristicus said:
wat is nrmal xcept wat it is 2 u
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My current definition of "normal" as having a salaried, 40 hr/week job with 2 weeks vacation time, possibly married or with plans to one day get married, raise a family, "white picket fence" kinda thing.

Once I'm done accruing my hours towards licensure I plan on starting my own business but have a feeling that will result in even more than 40 hrs/week...
 
I'm single, and work 37.5 hours per week and I'd say it's a fairly normal life. I'm happy with it. I don't get why some people make their lives harder or more complicated then it has to be. Like people who have a milion loans, complicated relationship situations, bad work situations etc... why?

I'm happy where I am now. I remember when I was young I used to always think of how I could not wait to be "grown up" and out of school with a job, and here I am now. I can't complain at all about where I am in life as I pretty much achieved what my childhood dream, was. Now I just have to expand it, but that requires more cash. 😛
 
RedSquirrel said:
I'm single, and work 37.5 hours per week and I'd say it's a fairly normal life. I'm happy with it. I don't get why some people make their lives harder or more complicated then it has to be. Like people who have a milion loans, complicated relationship situations, bad work situations etc... why?

I'm happy where I am now. I remember when I was young I used to always think of how I could not wait to be "grown up" and out of school with a job, and here I am now. I can't complain at all about where I am in life as I pretty much achieved what my childhood dream, was. Now I just have to expand it, but that requires more cash. 😛
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly, ditto on your last few thoughts. How old are you RedSquirrel?
 
My life is different than yours, but I consider it normal. I'm perfectly happy, but it does not take very much to make me happy.

KT
 
I used to be super-ambitious, wouldn't settle for anything less than being a millionaire by 30, fuelled by the stupid platitudes and ridiculous notions of self help books. Now I'm 25, in a stable relationship and with a good job and a salary which will steadily increase through my 30's. I'm no longer ambitious - I just want to buy a decent first house, work my 40 hours and live a decent life.
 
MrsBugi said:
My sentiments exactly, ditto on your last few thoughts. How old are you RedSquirrel?
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I'm 23. Recently moved into my new house about half a year ago, so I'm now officially in "the real world" of adulthood. While I do miss certain childhood memories, I would not want to go back.
 
define normal...

Because With my current definition, im probably on the other side of the chart from what would be defined as "normal".
 
I think there comes a point in your life where you have to choose between a few paths.

- Really ambitious. Sacrifice personal life for work. More financially stable. You realize you can work your ass off now and maybe retire early down the road.
- Really anti-ambitious. Sacrifice work for personal life. More financially unstable. You realize life isn't about working and place fun and happiness above knowing where your rent or food money will come from.
- Middle of the road. You balance work and personal life. You realize that life isn't about working, but that it's necessary to live a decent lifestyle and provide for your family.

Personally, I could never be anything but the last.
 
Tempered81 said:
A normal life is great. It is a challenge for you. Good luck.
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You hit the nail on the head, Tempered81. It is great but it is a challenge at the same time. I'm not complaining by any means, I love my husband and I'm happy, but sometimes I wonder if I will completely freak out at the age of 60, become a traveling nomadic dominatrix and wander the world living in different cities, villages, etc. for the rest of my life.

...Does anyone else get these urges or is it just me?
 
I don't think I could ever just head over to europe for months at a time .. time doesn't allow it, nor the money.

Maybe in a few years, i'll dip out for a 3+month vaca jetsetting, but that's in my dreams, where I have lots, and LOTS of money with no responsibility.
 
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