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The way the original post is framed, there is allowance for happiness (or at least a significant degree of happiness) in number one, because as a "bored accountant" one could still pursue one's music in one's spare time. Also the happiness in the second choice ("starving musician") is severely compromised by the "starving" part of the equation, as that existence would hardly be constant bliss.
Therefore, I would pick "neither" because it's really a toss-up for me.
Agreed. The whole setup is way too binary. It assumes you can be happy when you're "starving" and can't be happy at all if you have a decent income but you're bored.
Maybe I've missed this discussion in other threads, but... desperate? I mean, missing company and seeming unable to find it is not a recipe for happiness, but to be desperate... What is it you are desperate for, and do you think you could make a good match from a sense of desperation?
I ask because I have always hoped for good company, have not had much good fortune that way, and I'd like it to be different. But I hope I am not feeling desperate. Maybe resigned. Maybe it's just semantics.
Could be just semantics, but since OhioPeasant is so good at expressing himself, I suspect he means what he says.
I agree with you, brightdoglover, that desperation seems to repel whatever it is that a person wants.
I didn't mean so much that desperation would repel people but am wondering, what is it he is desperate for? I ask the same thing about people who are obsessed about being married at a certain age, and so on. What exactly is it that the person wants so much?
In my life, if a man seems desperate for a relationship, I don't take it personally if he wants it with me or seems taken with me, because I feel like anyone would do as long as they don't visibly drool or hit with a closed fist. Of course, this is mostly speculation, as I've stepped out of the dating pool for some time now (would rather eat ground glass, but that's another metaphor).
Assuming you couldn't have both, would you rather be:
(1) Well off, on track to retire early, hate your career choice (aka, "bored accountant")
(2) Poor, don't know where your paychecks are going to come from, love what you do (aka, "starving musician")
You can be well off as a bored accountant and still be a musician. In fact, you can use the money you make to buy better equipment. To me, having something you look forward to after work, makes the job okay. One of my retirement program teachers is a career engineer (totally unrelated to music) who is around 62. He's been playing in bands with paid gigs since he was in junior high school. Everyone in his band is old but they love it.
Photography is my hobby. Would I like it as much if it was my job? I don't think so.
Could be just semantics, but since OhioPeasant is so good at expressing himself, I suspect he means what he says.
I agree with you, brightdoglover, that desperation seems to repel whatever it is that a person wants.
I think OhioPeasant is making a key point of a third dimension of happiness beyond money and job etc and it is how the person sees themselves in the mix. For some wealth=happiness others not. For him there is a personal relationship that is needed for happiness as he has career and wealth contentment.
Most of my life has been a financial struggle. Never had a whole lot of money/pinched pennies. Not so bad recently, but retirement will bring me back to making nickels scream. But I've generally been very happy with my life because I was doing something with my life that I enjoyed, and I've learned to be content whatever my circumstances. Besides, lots of money doesn't guarantee security.
Besides, lots of money doesn't guarantee security.
Not sure I understand this last statement. What do you mean by security? I'm assuming you don't mean financial security, as lots of money pretty much equals financial security.
Not sure I understand this last statement. What do you mean by security? I'm assuming you don't mean financial security, as lots of money pretty much equals financial security.
It guarantees financial security as long as a person isn't totally stupid about handling his/her finances. Consider celebrities who have lots of property and HAD lots of $$$ yet end up filing bankruptcy because even they live far beyond their means. That is always possible no matter how much money a person earns. As for happiness, it is tied to money, yet having money doesn't guarantee happiness. Being able to pay for the necessities in life certainly helps people attain happiness. But often that is not enough, either because people are spoiled and not grateful for the things they have, or possibly because they still have personal tragedies such as mental illness, or other circumstances which make it impossible to feel happy.
By no means I can call myself wealthy, I am OK.. and I think to retire with little money will keep the happiness in place. Worrying about money dampens the spirit, specially when we are old and unemployable.
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