Are you happy with a "normal" life?

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KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
joshsquall said:
- 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.
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I'm kind of this one, but I do work quite a bit and have no plans and really no desire to have a family. It's weird, I like helping people out and doing things for others but I do not want people to be reliant upon me on a day to day basis. I guess I'm just selfish, but probably better that I recognize it now rather than after getting re-married and having kids.

KT
 
M

MrsBugi

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2005
2,481
5
0
ViviTheMage said:
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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This is where I'm at, too. I say "In my dreams..." and "One day..." a lot. But then the "what if's?" start popping up. What if I die before I have the chance to realize those dreams? What if I wake up and I'm 50 and "one day" never came? How long do you wait?

I realize that most dreams require money and time, both of which are in incredibly short supply. The culture in America (unlike France, Europe, etc.) promotes living to work rather than working to live. I enjoy what I do, I guess I just wish we had 1-2 month vacations like they do in other countries. :p
 
ViviTheMage

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
KeithTalent said:
I'm kind of this one, but I do work quite a bit and have no plans and really no desire to have a family. It's weird, I like helping people out and doing things for others but I do not want people to be reliant upon me on a day to day basis. I guess I'm just selfish, but probably better that I recognize it now rather than after getting re-married and having kids.

KT
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How old are you KT? You were married??
 
hanoverphist

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
i like my life. whether it is normal or not remains to be seen, but i like how it has developed. im 40, raising 3 great kids, single and have a decent jerb. the previous years werent like this at all, i didnt get "normalized" until my oldest was about a year old or so. before that it was all fun and games, no stable employment (but really fun job setting up concert stages) and lots of doing whatever i wanted to. money wasnt ever an issue, i had none so i just did what i wanted.
 
J

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
MrsBugi said:
This is where I'm at, too. I say "In my dreams..." and "One day..." a lot. But then the "what if's?" start popping up. What if I die before I have the chance to realize those dreams? What if I wake up and I'm 50 and "one day" never came? How long do you wait?

I realize that most dreams require money and time, both of which are in incredibly short supply. The culture in America (unlike France, Europe, etc.) promotes living to work rather than working to live. I enjoy what I do, I guess I just wish we had 1-2 month vacations like they do in other countries. :p
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Grass is always greener. 1-2 month vacation translates into lower pay, and less money to spend doing the stuff you love (that's if you're lucky enough to be employed in lazy Europe). That last statement you made is a complete oxymoron.
 
ViviTheMage

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
MrsBugi said:
This is where I'm at, too. I say "In my dreams..." and "One day..." a lot. But then the "what if's?" start popping up. What if I die before I have the chance to realize those dreams? What if I wake up and I'm 50 and "one day" never came? How long do you wait?

I realize that most dreams require money and time, both of which are in incredibly short supply. The culture in America (unlike France, Europe, etc.) promotes living to work rather than working to live. I enjoy what I do, I guess I just wish we had 1-2 month vacations like they do in other countries. :p
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I'd like to move over seas if I could ... for this fact alone, if not the culture difference...but that is a process that takes time. I also need more experience under my belt for something like that. Granted, by the time the GF will have swayed me to have kids or something!

I do take a 2-3 weeks vacation every year, overseas, of course i'd like to go more. Then there's the mini 2-3 day vacations we take, but still .. I imagine a 3+ month trip would be surreal.
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
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. :p
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I think that's because those people get hired for jobs and then they aren't the cause of the drama... Someone else is. i.e. thread titles: BOSS IS LAYING PEOPLE OFF. FML.

It doesn't matter if they worked perfectly or whatever... It could be completely out of their control because someone higher up decides, "Eh, FUCK IT!"
 
gaidensensei

gaidensensei

Banned
May 31, 2003
2,851
2
81
MrsBugi, I think you meant the norm life of a typical western nuclear family? Sociology's Durkheim refers to 'normal' as a concept where most common behavior by society is considered practical, while people who don't follow it are labeled deviants.

But anyway I get what you mean. I happen to be one of those who had been drawn to the money making world after college, but some point after working for a few years I was wondering if I was going to adhere to such 40hour/week slavery the rest of my life.

It's "normal", but it's also slaving in my opinion. But it's the person's opinion that counts for their own application only.
 
M

mumedina

Member
Nov 5, 2009
42
0
0
No, I am not happy. I don't think I will ever be able to fully adjust to what most people call a "normal life" (and I've tried many times over). Before anyone berates and tells me that I need to grow up and become more responsible, I ask that you don't. I had a pretty good thing going before I decided to self-destruct...I reached a point where the "pressure" become too much to bare. At 22/23 I was 'netting' 1k per week while working for a finance company. One day, I said, "fuck it" and quit on the spot. I also made a bunch of other stupid decisions afterwards. Now I am working at a law firm...almost back to where I was before. Not a day goes by when I don't feel like quitting. I just think some people are better able to handle the pressure than I can. Nothing wrong with either one.
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Very much so. I've found the greatest attitude is to stop "reaching for the ring". I'd be happy if I had this or I'd be happy if I could do this with my life.

Enjoying the moment and where you are stops all this self examination and beating oneself up which only leads to a life of disappointment and suffering.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,171
11,349
136
spidey07 said:
Very much so. I've found the greatest attitude is to stop "reaching for the ring". I'd be happy if I had this or I'd be happy if I could do this with my life.

Enjoying the moment and where you are stops all this self examination and beating oneself up which only leads to a life of disappointment and suffering.
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Ummm, this doesn't mean what i think it means does it? :$
 
MagnusTheBrewer

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
MrsBugi said:
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...
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Congratulations! I do want to note however, that definition, is almost unheard of in most of the U.S.
 
notposting

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
91
My life is fairly normal, wife, kid on the way, and I'm happy with it.



However, a childhood filled with Star Wars, Star Trek, Robotech, and more of the like since then leaves me a little underwhelmed with the present.
Would gladly volunteer to get chucked into deep space, preferably at ftl speeds. And live longer...because they also do that in space-age stuff too.
 
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