Your life

[Marigold2]

Do you feel that you are better off now then five years ago? Do you think you will be doing better five years from now? I find it a scary time with so many losing jobs and homes. I feel we are worst off now.

[Giselle]

Ohhh, it's just the economy. After every depression, there is a moment of rebuilding, of potential "wisdom" and learning.




...But we all know by now that humanity as a whole is simply incapable of learning. Foresight? Hindsight? What are those? Smile, nod your head, and say, "C'est la vie!" I've become quite misanthropic, lol..

[Lady's Human]

Just a thought.....

but maybe if people hadn't allowed themselve to be conned into mortgages they couldn't afford there wouldn't be so many foreclosures?

As to whether I'm better off now than I was 5 years ago? Absolutely. I have 2 wonderful children, a house in the country surrounded by farmland and forests, and a job I enjoy. Add to that things that were already there prior to that (wife, family, a knuckleheaded dog), I can't complain.

[Medusa]

I'm better off in some ways, not so much in others. After my divorce, I rented for 10 years and was beginning to think that I would never be able to afford a home of my own. I finally was able to purchase one 3 1/2 years ago and have been putting every extra penny into updates and repairs. So my life has improved in that way. However, I've lost a lot of friends in the last few years and that's very sad for me. It's scary to think that the economy is so shaky and that many of us could lose what we've worked so hard to obtain. Speculators in the housing market took a risk but people who truly only desired their "40 acres and mule" and now stand to lose it have my compassion. What affects one affects us all, whether we admit to it or not.

[Alysser]

I am much better off. I was around 10 years old five years ago. I'm now fifteen. I've matured alot more, I am doing something that will help me alot in the future by being in the FFA program at school, I have a job I enjoy, and I care about things going on around me. In 5 years, I will be in college and hopefully working with the tigers at Six Flags. I like my job now, but working with animals, especially tigers, is way better.

[4 Dog Mother]

That is a very hard question for me. Five years ago, my son was alive and Carl and I both had better jobs. I loved my job and of course, we both loved our son.

Now we have two beautiful grandchildren. We are getting to spend time with them that we never expected to have. They know us and we know them far better than most grandparents. As far as jobs, we are both making considerablly less than we were. Carl's plant closed and he lost his job of 26 years. My job was eliminated and I lost mine of 16. So economically we are far worse off especially with the price of everything going up.


If we could keep the grandchildren, I would do anything to go back five years. Sometimes I think I would even bargain with the devil if I could have my son back!

[Medusa]

Sometimes I think I would even bargain with the devil if I could have my son back!

My heart ached when I read this. It brings to mind a line from one of Bonnie Raitt's song: "Sometimes there's lots more broken than anyone can really see". I'm sorry that your son's physical presence is no longer w/you but, of course, you know that he's always w/you in spirit. You must be an incredibly strong person to be able to even write about it here on this forum. I'm not so sure I could be as courageous as you in the same circumstances.

[binka_nugget]

5 Years ago I was just entering grade 11. I just had Kai at the time.. other than that, I didn't have much else going for me. I didn't work and my school marks were mediocre (at best).

My current job is the highest paying job I've had so far. I'm adding additional income with a part-time job as well. I've explored dog training professionally and have been blessed to have paying clients, though I'm not sure if it's for me anymore. I was engaged (to the wrong man); That stung immediately afterwards but I'm SO glad I'm not with him anymore. I haven't seen many of my friends in a long time due to my work schedule and their school schedules.. sadly we're not as close as we used to be. It's expected that people drift when they enter the work force or university... so that wasn't a real shocker.

All in all, I'm quite happy with where I am right now. The only real downer in my life is how much I hate my job.. but it pays the bills so I can't really complain.

[slick]

Very good question.
Financially, I'm alot worse off. The cost of living goes up every year but my salary doesn't reflect that and can't keep up. However, I have a comfortable condo with a wonderful view of the river (which I tend to take for granted until I get visitors ) and my mortgage will be paid off by the time I retire.

Jobwise, well, I'm just counting the years until I retire....9 more to go. I don't much like my boss and the work is OK. I've been with my present employer for 23 years and in that time my job has grown leaps and bounds and I've had to grow/change along with it and that's a good thing (says Martha).

Physically, I'm worse off....older, fatter and of course the cancer will never go away.

However I have to thank the cancer that lies within. You see "Mr. Cancer" has forced me to look at my priorities. My outlook on life, my overall mental well-being, and my attitude have changed drastically. Little things no longer bother me. I look at life in a different way. I'm now a "half full" kind of gal and I'm very optimistic about my future.

One last thing I have to point out is that 5 years ago, I had acquaintances, but no real, true friends. Now, and thanks to PT (take a bow Karen & Paul) I have many dear friends whom I love and am fortunate enough to experience not only deep and fulfilling friendship but a sense of belonging that I never felt before. The void has been filled.

With all that, how could I not be a happy person and better off? Life is good!

[moosmom]

Well, considering 5 years ago I was living in Michigan, I'd say I'm better off. I have a roof over my head, my furbabies and I'm close to my friends and family again. I wish I could predict where my life will be in 5 years, but I can't. I can only live my life one day at a time, at this point.

[Medusa]

I can only live my life one day at a time, at this point.

Sometimes that's all we can do, Donna. I find myself at times living from moment to moment and not just day to day. Life can be raw.

[moosmom]

Mary,

Life can be raw

VERY!!!

[lute]

In a few things I am better off now than I was 5 years ago and I feel I will only be more successful in 5 years from now. In others I wish my life would be as simple and care free as it was 5 years ago. Or even 2 years ago. I believe everyone goes through one BIG bump in their life and I just happen to be going through mine at a younger age. I do believe still today that everything will turn out the way it should and everything will be good once again.

[Suki Wingy]

That is a difficult one. I was only 13 years old, so I had a LOT less to think about or be reponsible for. Right now I have a good job, but I still don't get enough hours, and just today I ran out of gas on the way to work because I simply didn't have enough money to fill up. I have the best barn and trainer and horses to ride that I've ever had, but that costs about 90% of my paycheck.
Right now I have about a month to decide where I'm going. I had a plan lined up but I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'm leaning towards finding a live-in groom/rider job at a top show stable and doing that for a year.
I don't think I can judge what time was better since they are so different.

[Laura's Babies]

I am better off financially that I was 5 years ago. Everything is finally paid off, nothing now but month to month bills. The state of the economy has be really worried and I am scared of what is ahead...