I don't have to worry about what would happen if I lost my job; I don't have to worry about getting sick; I don't have to worry about where next month's rent is coming from. Which is great, but it doesn't mean I don't have lots of other stuff to worry about.

I feel guilty because I make a decent salary but I'm really bad about managing money and I don't have enough saved so that if something happened to my job I wouldn't be fucked. Like I have a friend who I know makes about $15,000 less a year than I do and she's going to be able to take a couple of months off work when she moves and I could never do that. On the other hand, aside from one credit card, I don't have any debt except my house. And I do own my own house which has appreciated in value considerably since I bought it.

What's more expensive in Michigan than in LA?

Daycare/preschool, gasoline, car insurance, utilities (from what I've seen) and groceries. Cable, internet, and land lines seem to be the same. Cell phones are the same as are our credit card and loan payments.

1. Because he's pounding himself into the ground to move from the top 0.5% to the top 0.4%. And doesn't sound happy about that fact, but can't think his way out of a paper bag the social-status pursuit he's in.

2. Because when your diamond shoes are too tight, it's asshole behavior to talk about it to the New York Times.

Yeah, still not getting it. So it's a bad thing to work hard to become rich now? I could work a lot less with a 50% pay cut. But I don't-- I guess I'm an asshole.

I expected housing costs to be lower or about the same. I didn't expect everything else to be more expensive.

Yow, Aimee. That sucks and makes no sense. What's more expensive in Michigan than in LA?

Maybe it's a West Coast thing. I was so afraid of how expensive SF would be, but besides housing I haven't seen it. In fact, I've been amazed at how cheap certain things are compared to the East Coast. A tall latte at Starbuck's? $2.50. Monthly metro pass? $45.

Gasoline is more expensive? Holy shit. I'm spoiled living down here, where gas is probably almost the cheapest in the country.

I was shocked by how inexpensive food was in SF compared to what I'd been used to on the east coast. That was 15-ish years ago though.

Gas is so expensive in the midwest. It's ridiculous and a hardship for anyone who can't take public transit to work.

I'm not going to lie. The multiple showerhead system that your money buys you at The Royal York, or the Half Moon Villa with cook, driver, and maid, or the just damned beautiful decor at The Hudson--more money than I'm willing to take out of my pocket (I just can't wrap my head around spending my money on hotels...leather coats, I get, and electronics...just not hotels), but I can see where the money has gone.

In my head I separate expensiveness for a real reason from inflation for prestige. And as I go along, I learn more. Swimsuits? Don't be distracted by the amount of fabric. That's not where your money went. More money goes into stitching the seams. Or why this car costs more than that--sometimes you're paying for the brand name, sometimes you're paying for the whisper quiet engine (how silent would an electric Lexus be? It'd be like a black hole of sound, I wager).

And then I read about things like this tuck box some of my relatives were selling for hundreds of dollars.

Dude. Box. Sure,you can do things to boxes to make them more expensive--use more expensive materials, for one. But still...box?

I had a much more streamlined point when I started. Mostly I want them to bring me my food so I can lay back down. And some Benadryl, so my dilaudid-induced itch can go away.

Cool! This computer is a Linux box! I don't even know where the computer is. In the wall somewhere, maybe. All I get is flatscreen panel and cramped keyboard, but I'm surfing from a Linux box. Good choice, hospital people.

I felt plenty wealthy three years ago, because I had a lot (well, to me) saved up and my living arrangement choices were made based on having no car payment and $1.75/gallon gasoline. Nowadays not so much, as a new car loan and higher gas prices have put me a bit in the red each month. But I certainly don't feel poor, and stubbornly remain in the situation because I'm happier with where I live than I ever have been previously.