The Joneses live just down the street from us. It’s not hard to pick out their house. It’s larger than all of the other homes. There are two high-end, late-model cars in the driveway; not to mention the motor home and boat parked along the side. I really must admit that their home has great curb appeal. It’s been the envy of the neighborhood for years. It’s a perfect example of what a typical, middle-class family should strive towards.
Over the years they showed the whole block just how much better life could be with a few “do-dads” thrown in. They were very gracious hosts and invited many of us over to their home for an occasional dinner party or barbeque. I always left feeling somewhat inadequate and secretly wished that we had the same luxuries. Everyone on the block envied them for what they had.
Life sure was different before the Joneses moved in. For example, we were all a one car family back then. We only had the basics and never really wanted much more than that. We had no credit card debt and even managed to save a few dollars each month. However, we did not have the luxuries we have today.
Shortly after the Joneses came to town, our neighborhood started to change. For example, Frank next door bought a wide-screen TV. It was a real beauty. In fact, I believe it might have been better than the unit Mr. Jones had in his rec-room. Fred and Nancy across the street suddenly turned around and bought a massive boat. It was very large, however, and eventually Fred had to dock it down at the marina.
The “competition” started a few years ago and the neighborhood was never the same. We also got caught up in the frenzy. It seemed that everything was a competition. Everything from the clothes our kids wore, to the latest toys for the parents, to our vacation destinations, was all just one big competition. Personally, I never really got any pleasure from having something better than everyone else. The only thing I could think about was our declining savings account and increasing debt load.
The strange thing about all of this is that the Joneses always seemed to eventually have the latest and greatest. It was at that time that I realized that I could not compete against them. They did, after all, earn more than we did.
I really wanted things to go back to the way they were; simple living. Buying the basics and being satisfied with that. In my opinion, I believe life was a little more enjoyable back then. We spent time as a family and found ways to spend time together without spending a fortune.
Obviously, this story is fictional. However, as exaggerated as it may be, it is very close to the kind of life-style I have been living for the last little while. Life just seems to be one big competition.
Our weekends are usually spent attending or hosting some sort of get-together; expensive food, alcohol, and listening to the latest superficial drivel. “We just bought that new (insert meaningless, mindless, token object here).” Or “have you ever been to (insert latest trendy, overpriced and overrated destination here)?” It’s always the same. In fact, it’s getting very hard to have any sort of intellectual conversation with anyone. Intelligent conversation is out and meaningless, superficial bragging is in. How the times have changed.
The whole lifestyle is wearing just a bit thin. Most of my friends and neighbors are overweight. This includes me (I’m about 80lbs overweight). I gained most of that in the last few years. Living the “good” life is hazardous to your health. Additionally, I think I may have a drinking problem, and much of this I attribute to the “socializing” type of lifestyle we lead.
Add to that, the fact that I exercise very little (I have a 4 hour commute where I am forced to sit on my ass in grid-lock traffic) and it’s no wonder I have started having health problems (high cholesterol, high blood pressure and stomach ulcers). This is really no excuse. I could really find time to exercise if I wanted to.
Is this all there is to life? Trading my most precious time to some faceless corporation so that I have money to go ahead and kill myself on the weekend. Something has to change, and soon. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I have, therefore, devised a plan to change my life. It’s very radical and I’m sure things will never be the same again. It will require that I give up most of what I have today and most of what I consider normal and comforting. But it must be done.
So the Joneses can stick their high-consumption life-style. They can stick their phony parties, back-stabbing and overindulgent ways; and they can stick their high-debt, one-upmanship, materialistic crap. I’ve had enough.