Posted by Helen on: 02.26.2007 /
My daughter set up her own blog recently. I didn’t even know she was doing that until she came over and said “go look at this webpage” - which turned out to be her new blog.
Here’s a discussion question she posted:
If you could choose one lifestyle for the rest of your life would it be:
Rich with a maid, mansion, servants, and whatever objects you want. You don’t have to work. Your only complaint is that it is kind of lonely.
Ok, you have to work. It is a crummy job and you hate it but you get enough money. You only get to have ONE friend and ONE family member. Your only complaint is that you want a new job.
Poor with a ton of supporting friends that help you get through life. You are very happy with your life because you get to live with your family and friends but you just barely get enough food. Your only complaint is that you wish you had more clothes.
Why?
I thought it was an interesting question. (I need to go post my answer, in fact)
My son doesn’t have a blog, but but he just set himself up a flickr account. He’s been experimenting with our camera lately. He’s decided he’s going to spend his concerto competition prize money on a camera.
Comment by: Doreen
1 02/26/07 5:45 PM | Comment Link |Great question. Helen, I hope one day when I get to meet you I get to meet your entire family!
I’ve lived in versions of the 2nd and 3rd choices and know a few people in choice 1. My family and friends are important enough to me that I would be poor again if that’s what it took to have them in my life. I’ve had money and not had money, and frankly, sometimes I think I had a better life when I had less money.
I’ve never given a hoot about clothes so that would not bother me. While I am years removed from the “scrounge under the car seat to find enough money for noodles ramen” days, I do not feel so far removed.
I’ve been lonely, wanted a new job, and been poor. The first two are awful; the last, if it only means poor in the financial sense, isn’t as bad for me as the first two.
Comment by: Rachel
2 02/26/07 8:44 PM | Comment Link |What an insightful question! Your daughter is quite a thoughtful young lady, Helen.
Well, I definitely wouldn’t pick rich and lonely. I think I’m torn between crummy job that pays decent with two special people and poor with lots of supportive friends. I definitely value people more than money and I don’t care about clothes. And it is tough to have to go to a job that you hate. The poor with lots of love option certainly sounds the most emotionally fulfilling. But I’m also thinking about the issue of health care. I have a chronic condition and it would be pretty tough if I didn’t have insurance or access to care. Does my crummy job have good health insurance? Hmmmm…
Comment by: Helen
3 02/27/07 10:18 AM | Comment Link |Thanks Rachel :)
Yes, rich and lonely sounds awful. My daughter answered her own question in the first comment and she went with no. 2 partly for health reasons - which I thought was interesting. I think of her as basically healthy - but then, out of our family she does seem to catch the most viruses.
Comment by: benjamin ady
4 03/3/07 9:30 AM | Comment Link |I’m going to opt for option 4: What if I had huge gobs of money, tons of friends, a really great inner circle of close friends who I trusted a lot, and a job that was totally fulfilling, that was impacting the world and using all my skills and strengths in a way that meant I regularly experienced Csikszentmihalyi’s flow?
Comment by: Helen
5 03/4/07 7:21 AM | Comment Link |I’d like there to be an option 4 too!
Comment by: Laura M.
6 03/13/07 5:12 AM | Comment Link |Really great question!
Couldn’t agree more. There’s definitely something to be said for good insurance though :-)