Money Woes

This post is all about money.

I don't make much of it. I never really have. Even before that, I was part of your average middle class family. We didn't have a lot of money (although we never went without anything). I've grown accustomed to not having a lot of money. And you know what? I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being poor.

They say money can't make you happy. How about I get a chance to test that theory? I remember working as a bellman in Big Sky for a season. I probably made the most money there than in any other job I've had. It was nice. I lost a cell phone and without hesitation, without thinking, "crap, can I afford a new one," I bought one. No worries. I went on road trips where I wasn't worrying about having enough money to pay for gas or buy food. I had money and I loved it. I want to feel that way again.

I don't see it happening soon. Even when I leave Bozeman and move on to my next job in broadcasting (wherever that may be) I don't anticipate making a LOT of money. Sure, it will be better than the meager wage I currently earn...but I won't be rich. But "rich" isn't even what I'm after. I want to be comfortable. I want to feel like I did in Big Sky. I want to be able to have fun without "money woes" even entering my mind. Is that so much to ask?

Speaking of money, I've noticed there are certain things certain people will spend money on...no matter how poor they are. You can hear someone say, "I can't afford it." But there is always that vice, always that luxury, always that little something that they'll fork over the cash for. For example, I love to eat out. I may whine about my finances or having to pay rent (which incidentally, is going up by about 60 bucks in August) but if I have the opportunity to eat out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner....I'm there. For some that I know...it's alcohol. I'm not implying that they're drunks. I'm saying I can try to convince them to go out to eat (go figure) or go to a movie. They won't budge. They won't spend the money to do it. But when Friday night comes along, money is suddenly no object when there's the prospect of hitting the bars all night and having a good time. It's sort of funny. For everyone, there is ALWAYS something to spend money on.

One last money story: I had a dream the other night that made me angry. My co-workers and I were at some kind of baseball game. Beth had a stack of lottery tickets she was scratching off. She handed me one and asked me to scratch it for her. I did. It was a winning ticket worth $135 million. I felt that because I had scratched it, I was entitled to some small piece of it. I wasn't saying anything though because I didn't want to be that kind of person. But in my dream, Beth was too caught up in the prospect of having all this money (the dream sort of went on for days) that she never offered me anything. I've never felt depressed in a dream before. Thank God it wasn't real. And I know Beth would slip me a cool million. Right?