YOUR Golden Handcuffs!

[Bumpa STIKKA]

GOLDEN HANDCUFFS!

Money means different things to different folk...

Do you have rental agreements or mortgages that last your working life?
Do you pay monthly for a car you will never own?
Did you marry young and thought 'Fuck... I thought there'd be more than this!'

Life is designed to extract all your cash so you can't dream about doing something normal with your life. When you succumb to this you even lose the will to dream about a normal life.

Dull and sad daydreams about winning the lottery... promotion when you are too old to make it round the golf course... pissing yourself because you fucked up at work and hoping you can stave off disaster till next week...

Freedom means different things to different folk...

When I first moved to America in the mid 80s it's all them Yanks talked about... which was funny really because the Americans aren't free at all. Spring break is about as close as most of them will ever get to it.

And that's a shame. I like Americans but they are the worst nation in the world when it comes to loading up responsibilities on the young so they simply can't even think about a normal life.

Happiness means different things to different folk...

Friday night with the boys at Bennigans? That's living, eh?

Locking yourself in your spare room where you keep the computer for a decent wank away from the girlfriend/wife/significant pest! That's the way to live...

How much control do you really have over your life?

And more importantly when are you gonna fucking do something about it?

GOLDEN HANDCUFFS!

[Steff]

I'm doing something it about it. I have been to wonderland 5 times since January much to the shear shock and befuddlement of my family, co-workers and higher ups. I have forfeited considerable earnings to make this happen and I doubt if there is any turning back. There was and continues to be personal angst over my decision because it is difficult to dismiss a lifetime of learning to do what everyone else is doing.

Today I went out along Pattaya Klang, went into a beauty salon and had 3 gorgeous Thai nymphs attend to me for 90 minutes. I had a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and my ears cleaned all for 650baht. I then went out and found two bottles of 2004 Medoc Bordeaux that would cost 10 fold more to buy in Canada.

I may not have many "tick-tock" years left in me but what I do have I intend to pass them trying to make up for a lifetime of hard work, ill-fated goals, misguided destinations, and values that no longer have a place in my pocket.

Steff

[PigDogg]

(Bumpa STIKKA @ Sep. 06 2010,05:14) Do you have rental agreements or mortgages that last your working life?
Do you pay monthly for a car you will never own?
Did you marry young and thought 'Fuck... I thought there'd be more than this!'

Never beem married although I did live with a few ladies.

I don't own a car.

I never felt the need to "own" a horse or condo and have never been homeless.

There is incredible freedom by not being bogged down with stuff/

[Jake_Sully]

Did you marry young and thought 'Fuck... I thought there'd be more than this!'

Almost got suckered into the lease to buy a vajayjay scam. Realized something was wrong. Got cold feet. Wanted something to relax me after the constant barking of the sandy vajayjay like a drink and a cigar. Put stogie into google search.. Hello TLF. Yeah I know I opened pandora's box but at least I like this one.

[spare wheel]

I'm caught in the rat race without anything to sell to move on to where id like to be, but have made plans for early retirement if i get that far, so guess im making some kind of progress.

or there is the lottery

SW

[strocube]

Been unhappy squeaking along on this hamster wheel for years. I hate my fucking job, although given the current economic climate, I'm lucky to even have such a job. Although it only pays 70k, I get a nice bennies package, with full health, vision and dental insurance, paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave and a pretty nice pension.
Currently finishing up an MA; when that's done, I'll be able to make a bit more $. I'll then have bit more $ to make some investments. The plan is to buy up cheap rental properties and start to collect rent. Working at a job is for suckers and I'd like to stop.

[ciobha]

(Steff @ Sep. 06 2010,20:31) I'm doing something it about it. I have been to wonderland 5 times since January much to the shear shock and befuddlement of my family, co-workers and higher ups. I have forfeited considerable earnings to make this happen and I doubt if there is any turning back. There was and continues to be personal angst over my decision because it is difficult to dismiss a lifetime of learning to do what everyone else is doing.

Today I went out along Pattaya Klang, went into a beauty salon and had 3 gorgeous Thai nymphs attend to me for 90 minutes. I had  a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and my ears cleaned all for 650baht. I then went out and found two bottles of 2004 Medoc Bordeaux that would cost 10 fold more to buy in Canada.

I may not have many "tick-tock" years left in me but what I do have I intend to pass them trying to make up for a lifetime of hard work, ill-fated goals, misguided destinations, and values that no longer have a place in my pocket.

Steff

Very well said sir

Personally I have never been married, never intend to be.
I do have a mortgage, though I took out an early endownment scheme when I just started working at the teneder age of 18, before I have had a
house. Benefit of this is my mortgage will be paid out in 4 years from now, and my house is worth currently 6 times more than I paid for. (ahh the good old days of the troubles in N.Ireland keeping house prices rock bottom).

I also think it's good to have (day)dreams, it sometimes keeps us going in what can be an otherwise mundane existance. Dreaming about winning the lottery, shacking up with Mia Isabella, or even taking a dump in the front seat of your boss's Mercedes makes the day go in with a smile.

[Rick Shaw]

As the song goes:

"Freedom is another word for nothing left to lose" (Me and Bobby McGee).

In other words, if you have possessions, then you can never be free, a sentiment that fits in with Buddhist philosophy (as I understand it).

However, within the culture that I grew up in, having nothing is not really an attractive option. Perhaps being satisfied with what you have got and more importantly, with what you are, coupled with an acceptance that you and others around you will change over time- maybe that is true freedom.

For me, my freedom came with a realisation that all the chains that I railed against were there because I wanted them to be there. Those that I did not want, I got rid of. All the ones that remained actually added more to my life than they detracted. Oh yes, whilst I have still got my health, I can change everything else if I want.

Not so much Rick Shaw, more Descartes.

[azza33]

I'm bogged down for now

But my dream is to be retired in los by 50.

I have a plan - without plans dreams are rarely achieved.

I doubt I'll be making more than 1 or 2 trips to Los for the forseeable future as you need serious savings to live 20 to 30 years without an income.

I think it won't be an easy time to acquire wealth in the next 10 years as the west will have it's lost decade. But who knows on that front....

At least I'm not bogged down by a mortgage... But I have plenty of other debts to pay from living the excessive western lifestyle

But with a dream, a means & a plan I'm gonna give it one he'll of a shot in the next 10 years to make it work!!

[azza33]

(Jake_Sully @ Sep. 06 2010,22:48)

Did you marry young and thought 'Fuck... I thought there'd be more than this!'

Almost got suckered into the lease to buy a vajayjay scam. Realized something was wrong. Got cold feet. Wanted something to relax me after the constant barking of the sandy vajayjay like a drink and a cigar. Put stogie into google search.. Hello TLF. Yeah I know I opened pandora's box but at least I like this one.

Nothing worse than being stuck in the wrong box!

[deepthroat]

Got a plan and I'm working it.

Got a condo, paid off. Got a goodly amount of savings and goodly amount of money in 401k. NO other debt at all - car paid for, only monthly bills are cell phone, cable, etc.

Have an offer on one house already and looking at another tomorrow. Looking to buy a large house with a rental suite in it so I can rent my condo and the rental suite. Between the two will have enough income to pay the mortgage on the new place with a little left over.

Plan is to retire in 5 years, live off the rental income, savings, and 401k. At this point it all looks good.

[johnnydiver]

(Steff @ Sep. 06 2010,20:31) I'm doing something it about it. I have been to wonderland 5 times since January much to the shear shock and befuddlement of my family, co-workers and higher ups. I have forfeited considerable earnings to make this happen and I doubt if there is any turning back. There was and continues to be personal angst over my decision because it is difficult to dismiss a lifetime of learning to do what everyone else is doing.

Today I went out along Pattaya Klang, went into a beauty salon and had 3 gorgeous Thai nymphs attend to me for 90 minutes. I had  a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and my ears cleaned all for 650baht. I then went out and found two bottles of 2004 Medoc Bordeaux that would cost 10 fold more to buy in Canada.

I may not have many "tick-tock" years left in me but what I do have I intend to pass them trying to make up for a lifetime of hard work, ill-fated goals, misguided destinations, and values that no longer have a place in my pocket.

Steff

God Damn Steff! Good job on putting it out there! I live my life by the latin term "Carpe Diem!" I try to achieve as much as I can in each day because tomorrow is not promised! Go out there! Live the life and be damned what others think as they are all jealous that you are flying in the face of what they preceive normal is! There ain't no more gold watches, pensions and retirement! Carpe Diem my friend!

[Bumpa STIKKA]

(Steff @ Sep. 06 2010,20:31) I may not have many "tick-tock" years left in me but what I do have I intend to pass them trying to make up for a lifetime of hard work, ill-fated goals, misguided destinations, and values that no longer have a place in my pocket....

Quite prophetic and will probably ring a few bells with many of us.

[bkkafterdark]

Golden Handcuffs i guess is a perspective that most people on this forum including myself are privileged enough to actually have a choice on... :-)

Not trying to hijack the idea of the thread.... just making a point guys.

I myself did the reverse of most people... i lived and worked un-cuffed around the world from early twenties until mid 30's, then moved permanently to Thailand where I quickly found myself in a career, with a mortgage, a car loan and now at 43 with house and car paid off but still happily single I do appreciate how lucky I was to come from country which enabled me to choose, to have an achievable goal and dream.....

to you all and hope your goals are reached soon but if they are not then reflect on the point that you have a choice at all....