I've Had Enough...

[MineralMan]

283. Well, I've been working hard to keep my head above water since

1974. That's when I decided to be self-employed. I've never looked back with regret. There have been good years and awful years. During the good years, I've bought a house and put money away for retirement. My wife and I had a pretty good nest egg until George W. Bush destroyed the economy. It's gone now. I had to use it to live on during the very worst years. I still have a house, though, and am having some good years again, but I'll be 70 years old next month and see no path to retirement. I'll keep working.

I don't get a paycheck. I get paid by the contract for the work I do. My income is variable from month to month. We live frugally, but it's difficult to put money away. Things keep happening. The car needs fixing. The lawnmower or air conditioner breaks down. I understand living from month to month. We do have credit established, though and a very high FICO score. We keep everything paid down, but when crap happens, we do have to draw on that credit. Then, we pay it down again.

So, I do understand living on the edge. I've been doing it for 40 years most of the time. It was my choice to be self-employed. My wife is also self-employed. She has been since 1989. It's an interesting life, and one without any luxuries, but it's a good life. We have no children, by choice. We live frugally, but own a car with payments every month. We didn't used to, but unexpected repairs on the old cars we used to drive made buying a new car the best decision.

Now, you'll have to excuse me. I have to go mow the lawn and get back to work on a website content contract. There are bills to pay.