I have to admit that I have NEVER understood money, nor have I ever been able to handle it. I tell myself it is just my *child of the 60's* mentality, but I know LOTS of people that went to the same demonstrations and the same concerts that I did, that now collect a whole different kind of CD. They also thoroughly understand that being fully vested is NOT a clothing statement. Some of my closest activist friends have even become... get this... Republicans. (Quite the spin on "some of my best friends are _______")
I have always subscribed to the philosophy of "do what you love and the money will follow." Looking back, I now find two flaws in that thinking though.
1. In the social service field, they can't PAY ME ENOUGH to put up with all the painful, dangerous or outrageous situations I have to deal with every day. Good thing I am not in it for the money.
(I saw a cartoon that I really enjoyed in a bittersweet sort of way. If people drove the cars according to their real worth, then teachers would be driving huge, expensive cars and sports people would be driving little beat up subcompacts.)
2. If money supposedly follows, then it seems important to know what to do with it when this "stray puppy" follows you home. I wonder if obedience classes would help. =)
I saw a piece taped up on the door at w*rk. It apparently is from SMART MONEY by Eric R Tinson and it is a "REAL LIFE INDEX." It lists 5 different cities and compares how much certain items cost in the various cities. Portland (my all-time favorite city and where I live) was one of the cities so I was especially interested. Here are just a few of the examples of the high cost he lists for living the "simple life."
| Brattleboro, VT. | Portland, OR | San Fran, CA | |
| Terry-cloth bathrobe | $29.50 | $52.50 | $38.99 |
| Moccasin slippers | $26.00 | $27.50 | $25.00 |
| Aerosmith CD | $13.98 | $11.99 | $12.98 |
| Grateful Dead T shirt | $26.00 | $20.00 | $21.00 |
| Lost in America video | $12.95 | $13.99 | $14.99 |
| Remote control | $19.99 | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| Easel, canvas and paints | $61.00 | $48.10 | $35.00 |
| Lyengar Yoga class | $15.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Hiking boots | $154.95 | $184.00 | $176.00 |
| Two-person hammock | $99.99 | $89.99 | $89.99 |
This idea got me thinking about costs of things around the world. Look for a related piece in #SMALL_ WORLD.
So while I might know how to make social service wages and I know how to SPEND money, I always have more month left at the end of my money. Recently I had a wonderful time with a net friend visiting from Alaska. He w*rks with a banking system and we talked about the boom of virtual banking. Great! Now I can be terrible with money in cyberspace as well! Oh well, maybe I am trainable. Grandma Moses learned to paint late in life, so there may be hope for me yet. grin