The postcard that says "Yes, please please please hold a spot for me" has been sent in. Everything is pretty much as set as it can get. And only now am I hearing, "If you didn't go, your dad would be so happy." Huh? "Well, he thinks you could make more money as an engineer." What if I don't want to be an engineer? What if I wouldn't be happy? "You know, the money could always make you happy." Right. Money buying happiness. I think I heard that somewhere. By the way, did you know Richard quit his job because he's unhappy? "Yes, but he's still an accountant." I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but the conversation wasn't going anywhere, so I changed the subject.
I think I grew up with the phrase, "Money doesn't buy happiness" engrained in my brain. Apparently, that wasn't instilled in me by my parents. How did the focus change from their generation to mine?
My parents didn't have a lot of money starting out, so they saved money, didn't eat out at all, etc. Us kids were spoiled growing up because we had most things we wanted - sports lessons (tennis and horseback riding for me), a car to drive at 16, and nice vacations. I recognize that, and I do appreciate my childhood. I did graduate from my top 10 undergraduate education (i.e. expensive!) without any student loans, and I have been rather bad about saving my current paycheck. However, I am not asking them to pay for my post-graduate education, and I'm planning on rather sizable loans to get me through the next 4 years. This is where my indignation on their opinions about my future career comes in. If I'm not asking them to support me, I'm not asking for their opinions, either.
To them, success is defined as the size of your paycheck. The more expensive or extensive your education, the heftier that paycheck should be. Somewhere along my path of growing up, I learned that a person is rich if they are happy doing what they do. This has always been my ultimate goal. I want a job that makes me happy to wake up at 7am and go to work, despite the fact I am a late riser. If it doesn't bring in a 6 figure salary, so be it. If it makes me take out $60k in loans, so be it. I'll be happy, despite living in a small house.
Is that really true? I think that once you're rich, you have a hard time fathoming life without all the luxuries you are accustomed to. If you're not rich and happy, you have no reason to believe that money could make you happier. If I go from a rather easy life to a stressful job that doesn't pay much or leave me with much free time, I can see how I may not be happy (to some people). And if I think too long on this subject, I just might convince myself that money could buy happiness. The caveat (to me) is, I don't plan to be poor. Vets aren't really rich by money standards, but $50k isn't all that awful. With a little entrepreneurship, perhaps I could make more. And at any rate, I'll be making twice what I make right now, and I'm doing just fine. Plus, I am really looking forward to vet school. (Let's see if I read this in 2 years and laugh.)
I know they are parents at heart and are always looking out for what they think are my best interests. I suppose I can understand that. And I do appreciate their offer to buy me a place (and pay part of the mortgage) rather than having me pay rent for the next 4 years. So given that generosity, I'll be quiet now and go back to appreciating all that they've given me and the life I've been able to live. I hope someone's pet will benefit from that in the future. Because I'm still intent on becoming a veterinarian.