They Say I'm Lazy But it Takes All My Time

Have you seen The Simpsons Movie? Well, I just had an epiphany, and there wasn't an Inuit woman in sight. Ready for this? I have decided that it's okay if my income never increases beyond normal cost of living raises. Seriously! I don't make a lot of money BY ANY MEANS, but I am able to afford an apartment I like a lot in a neighborhood I love. I keep food on the table and my modest car well serviced. I have a retirement fund and small savings account. I'm able to make it through Christmases and birthdays without selling my soul, and I can manage a decent vacation every other year or so. I pay my share of my son's tuition at the greatest school in the world. I can afford books (and bookshelves) as long as I keep my eye on things, and I replace clothes or shoes as needed and as things I love go on sale. I even budget out money for various charities that are important to me.

What else do I need? Nothing.

So there. Maybe it means little to you, but ever since I was in college I had this, "Someday when I have money . . . " mindset. I envied my doctor/lawyer/pharmacist/engineer friends for their incomes, and often wanted to kick myself right in the useless English Writing degree.

And now guess what? I just realized that it's okay if I never have any more money than I do right now.

Despite my good girl, please the adults facade, I am coming to terms that there's something I share with Bart, rather than with Lisa Simpson: I'm an underachiever and proud of it.