7 Comments
User's avatar
Bruce Morgart's avatar

I have enough money to live comfortably. Would I like more? Sure. Do I need more? No. I would like to buy plane tickets and travel to wherever, or whenever but I cannot afford that. But if I have to save for it, to sacrifice for it, then I will appreciate it more. I grew up in a lower one income family, but was middle class by the norms established i those days. We scrimped to by carpet, cars, a new sofa and even prime rib. Am I better today for that up bringing and lifestyle? Yes, I am. I have a true appreciation for what I have today, what I have earned, and what I enjoy in life.

Nice post Katherine. I enjoyed it.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Thank you, Bruce. That’s what I was aiming for I think. And I just read in the paper of a Connecticut airline extending its $58 flights through Labor Day. That seems a very reasonable price, eh?

Expand full comment
Bruce Morgart's avatar

That is very reasonable if they fly to Minneapolis.

Expand full comment
Richard B (Norfolk, UK)'s avatar

Oh for the simple life but

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

Somehow we need to sustain the values that us oldies enjoyed (and now yearn for).

And by the way, a bit of trivia: Our billion is much bigger than yours. Ours is 1000,000,000,000. Does that mean that UK billionaires are a thousand times richer than yours?

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

Goodness, Richard. You sent me down a rabbit hole on this one. The Guardian has a deep dive about the differences which gives the history and current usage. Way too many numbers for me!

Expand full comment
Michael G's avatar

It’s just stuff. It’s just money. How much stuff and how much money does one need to live long, healthy, and happily? Anything more than that just feeds ego.

Live simply, give the rest to registered charity.

Expand full comment
Katharine Hill's avatar

“Live simply that others may simply live.” Hope I have that quoted properly. Now I’ll have to look it up . . .

Expand full comment