The Real World
 

Unemployed and rapidly running out of money in North Bennington. Not learning how to drive quickly enough, couldn't even get a job at radio shack, hampton inn won't call me back, I can't even get to the store to buy groceries unless my aunt is in town (she lives 40 minutes away). Just got dumped/"lets-not-talk-for-a-few-months"ed by my girl.

On the other hand, south park and dexter are both back on the air. Plus i'm on my parents' Netflix streaming.

Am I the 99% even if my parents, for the first time ever last year, had to pay taxes quarterly rather than yearly? They both grew up poor in Alabama, my dad ate government head cheese all through the years after college, but now he's a ret'd major working as a dod civ overseas, and my mom works full time too. Am I upper-middle class? lower middle-class? They don't have much money to give me. I can count on like $200 a month if that from them. plus sometimes they can amazon things for me. But i'm unemployed. So, I'm more-or-less poor, except I have a laptop and a mac mini hooked up to a decent stereo and an hd monitor and an lcd tv.

Obviously, you're not wealthy, and the fact that your dad had to pay quarterly taxes probably has more to do with his employment status (independant contractor?) than his income level.

Stay in school.

"This is no social crisis... just another tricky day for you."

(Face Dances is a highly underrated Who album IMO)

Ibby - do you like philosophy?

I like to think I follow an Epicurean ideal - which is NOT what a lot of people think it is.

I am living in genteel poverty but I am wealthy (in my own mind). I have a roof over my head, art to look at, decent food, a warm bed and friends who understand me.

that is my definition of wealthy.

Redefine your terms and you might be happier where you are at the given moment.


eta - UT's advice is right on, too. :)

Get busy on the learning to drive. Self-sufficiency is the best medicine of all.

I had never heard it before this year. My wife was like "GTFO!" when I told her I had never heard Another Tricky Day before. It's been played in our abode a lot recently.

OH yeah. I love You Better You Bet.

I hope things pick up for you soon Ib. Try not to get dragged down. Just try and remember, there are heaps of students in the same situation as you, and there always has been and always will be. Who says you can't live on ramen noodles???

Ib,
The walk from campus to Hampton Inn couldn't be more than 10 minutes at the most. Getting into downtown would suck w/o a car though. I think Molly told me there was some sort of bus or cheap taxi service.

I'll ask around and see if anyone is looking for (I assume) part time work. What are your hours?

Have you tried Kevin's in No. Bennington? Or the pizza place next door? Whitman's feed?

Car dealerships are often looking for youths to wash and prep cars. Ahh, I don't wanna sound like someone's dad.

A car is an expensive pet. It can be a useful one, even a necessary one, but there's a certain minimum of money and time and grief involved in *owning* one. While I agree that it's important to know how to drive, being able to get around in a variety of ways.

Regardless, it's really good to see you again Ibram!

foot, it's a 45 minute walk from where I live on Water St. to Hampton.

Oh, You're on water street. hmmm

Too bad Craigslist had to take down its adult services page.

Amortized from purchase date to now (about 3.5 years), including purchase price, gas, insurance, registration, and maintenance, mine costs me about $30 a day.