Poll: Are you happy?

[Farang]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: Farang
Any day I wake up with a heartbeat and a job is a good day.

as opposed to WAKING UP without a heartbeat?

grabs copy of zombie survival guide
empties ar-15 into Farang's head

yes, waking up to my heart not beating would not be a good day.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: ja1484

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
No.

Hate my job, but no better jobs are available right now. Dislike where I live - not just the neighborhood, but the entire area in general. Wasting money renting a crappy house with no garage, and living with a roommate that often drives me nuts. Shit in the house breaks, landlord refuses to fix it - I don't want to spend significant amounts of my own money refurbishing a house that isn't mine, so the shit stays broken and it pisses me off. Single. Nothing in common with anyone I work with.

Happiness for me = job I like, living in an area I like, paying towards owning my own decent home, with a nice attached garage and NO roommate present. In a happy relationship, with like-minded individuals to hang out and shoot the shit with. I don't currently have any of that. Hopefully one or more of these things will change soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

Home ownership is overrated, as the recent financial hullabaloo has shown clearly. The rest of it, I agree with you.

I think his point pretty much showed that it isn't. I love owning a home. Rented for 3 months in one of the nicest parts of town in a very nice apartment. Had my own home in a neighborhood that gradually eroded. I'd much rather live in my own home in that neighborhood than to live in an apartment again.

This is correct (at least for me). If I owned my own house, I could decorate how I wanted, do renovations, upgrades, install appliances, etc. on my own terms. Not be at the mercy of a cheap ass landlord who doesn't give a shit because he doesn't have to live there. Sure, I could sink thousands of $$ of my own money into this place, but then I lose it all when I move out. No thanks.

This house is probably pushing 70 years old, if I had to guess. Oil heat. No central A/C. Outdated inadequate electrical system (each room has one - MAYBE two working outlets). Exposed pipes. Washer / dryer in the kitchen - and, it's the cheapest, most delicate washer /dryer combo I've ever seen, and breaks down a lot. Countertops that are crooked and can be lifted off the cabinets beneath. Kitchen tile that looks like it was installed by a crackhead. Detached single-car garage with no electricity or lights. Sticky, drafty windows. The basement floods when it rains heavily - not our problem, because there are tenants down there. Paint peeling everywhere. Water damaged ceiling in kitchen and upstairs. Needs tons of work to make it "nice". It's depressing.

 

[newnameman]

It's exactly 50/50. :Q

 

[ja1484]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

I think his point pretty much showed that it isn't. I love owning a home. Rented for 3 months in one of the nicest parts of town in a very nice apartment. Had my own home in a neighborhood that gradually eroded. I'd much rather live in my own home in that neighborhood than to live in an apartment again.

Congratulations. Opinion is about the only thing that matters in this regard. I'm rather leery of all the "build equity" by owning a home vs. renting claims. When the market implodes (which it seems to do about every 20 years or so these days), people suddenly end up upside down on their mortgages.

Some people prefer to "own" a home. I enjoy not having to mow a lawn or fix anything that breaks in my domicile, not having a water/waste/sewage bill, and being able to uproot with quite a bit more flexibility than a homeowner.

Everyone has their preferences, and that's all well and good, but I think the old adage of "throwing your money away" renting is hooey. When you put an hourly rate on time spent maintaining a home/grounds each year, add cost for parts/material for maintenance, add up your water/waste/sewage bills, factor in property tax, I'd wager most renters vs homeowners come in about even.

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
This is correct (at least for me). If I owned my own house, I could decorate how I wanted, do renovations, upgrades, install appliances, etc. on my own terms. Not be at the mercy of a cheap ass landlord who doesn't give a shit because he doesn't have to live there. Sure, I could sink thousands of $$ of my own money into this place, but then I lose it all when I move out. No thanks.

This house is probably pushing 70 years old, if I had to guess. Oil heat. No central A/C. Outdated inadequate electrical system (each room has one - MAYBE two working outlets). Exposed pipes. Washer / dryer in the kitchen - and, it's the cheapest, most delicate washer /dryer combo I've ever seen, and breaks down a lot. Countertops that are crooked and can be lifted off the cabinets beneath. Kitchen tile that looks like it was installed by a crackhead. Detached single-car garage with no electricity or lights. Sticky, drafty windows. The basement floods when it rains heavily - not our problem, because there are tenants down there. Paint peeling everywhere. Water damaged ceiling in kitchen and upstairs. Needs tons of work to make it "nice". It's depressing.

How did you end up in this place? You DID tour the property and learn the terms of lease before signing anything, right?

 

[Maleficus]

Happy isn't even in sight.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I just had a beer. Yes, I'm happy

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Imp
Nope. Got issues, but always had issues, so here we are.

Ditto.

Its interesting that out of 100+ people who voted, the split is roughly 50/50 happy/unhappy.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: ja1484

How did you end up in this place? You DID tour the property and learn the terms of lease before signing anything, right?

Of course. Sadly, this is the norm for a rental house around here at a relatively reasonable rate. The other ~10 places I looked at were about on par, if not worse. Sure, there are nicer places to be had, if I want to spend $4500 / month on them and / or have a live-in landlord.

If I were BUYING a house, this place wouldn't have even been a blip on the radar. I would have avoided the hell out of it because of all the work needed.

And the landlord doesn't really follow the "terms of the lease" all that well. He's better than some I've had, but still not great.

 

[ja1484]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: ja1484

How did you end up in this place? You DID tour the property and learn the terms of lease before signing anything, right?

Of course. Sadly, this is the norm for a rental house around here at a relatively reasonable rate. The other ~10 places I looked at were about on par, if not worse. Sure, there are nicer places to be had, if I want to spend $4500 / month on them and / or have a live-in landlord.

If I were BUYING a house, this place wouldn't have even been a blip on the radar. I would have avoided the hell out of it because of all the work needed.

And the landlord doesn't really follow the "terms of the lease" all that well. He's better than some I've had, but still not great.

If he's not keeping up his end, take him to small claims court. A lease is a binding contract for both parties. I'm not a lawyer, but I know that much.

If it's really that horrible there, you might want to consider moving to an area with a lower cost of living...the upside of renting, leaving is never usually very difficult.

 

[maziwanka]

not yet

 

[Sea Moose]

i choose No. I have happy moments, but the majority is unhappy.

 

[IronWing]

What is the sound of one hand being happy?

 

[thatsright]

Not really happy. Pretty bad actually. My disabled mother lives with me. No girlfriend. Virgin. Overweight. Loosing hair. Few friends. Awkward socially. Have not had a girlfriend in 20 years. So yeah, not 'super happy.' Well, at least I'm not an alcoholic or a druggie (thought maybe I should re-consider that).

 

[Engineer]

No.

 

[Anonemous]

sometimes

 

[hzl eyed grl]

Short answer: Sometimes

 

[pontifex]

no. my job is hell on earth

 

[bobsmith1492]

Money's good, work's ok
It's like everything is rolling your way
'Til you gotta look the devil in the eye
You know everything is all a lie

 

[WA261]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Money's good, work's ok
It's like everything is rolling your way
'Til you gotta look the devil in the eye
You know everything is all a lie

Wrong thread.....

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Double Trouble

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Double Trouble

Originally posted by: JLee
Yep.

I will be happier when I move out of this frozen wasteland.

What frozen wasteland is that?

NH. It was 36° last night.

Brrr... that's a little chilly, we still have decent weather here in Ohio , just a little wet.

I bet you it's really pretty in NH when the trees turn though.

Our summer was very wet - tons of rain and many consecutive days of 95%+ humidity. Fall is beautiful, though.

 

[sjwaste]

I'm happy, or at least, very thankful. Relatively successful for the DC rat race. I have a wonderful fiancee, a home, and a law degree. Money's doing ok. However, I don't particularly love the area. House is small. Friends are ok, but not great. Cost of living is very, very high here. My job has its ups and downs, and while I ducked the recession, I'm not exactly on the career path of the typical lawyer.

In short, I'm happy with the woman I will marry and our careers thus far. I'd be happier further north, would love to move to NH, Manchester/Merrimack or nearby. It could be worse, and if I lost my job tomorrow, I have the tools to make it work. We'd pull it together.

Happiness is relative. I'm more thankful for my opportunities than happy. First in my family to attend college, possibly even graduate HS. I'm just in the "now what?" phase. We both come from very, very humble roots. I'm first generation and I watched my family try to make it work. It's more complicated for us. How do we honor our roots? It was clear for us, but what will my children aspire to be?

I don't know, I live for the little things. I love to cook, eat, and sit outside on a cool day. Maybe a beer and a cheap cigar. Happy is one day at a time.

 

[surfsatwerk]

If you aren't happy with your life then you're doing it wrong.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: ironwing
What is the sound of one hand being happy?

*fap fap fap*

 

[Instan00dles]

I am happy, could always be happier. unemployed right now, living at home with my dad and brothers which sucks but I have traveled to a few 3rd world countires and count my blessings that I have food, water and a roof over my head every day.