Living a good enough life: being more comfortable with achievements

[Crankin]

Smiling Cat, you sound like you are doing cool stuff.
I hope I didn't sound money obsessed... I am certainly not at the Lear jet level of life, but when I was thinking about people I know with that kind of money, it seems like I know quite a few who are so happy and subtle about it and I wonder what the difference is. I live in a community with some very wealthy people. In the typical New England way, they are modest, often giving huge amounts to philanthropic causes, and into environmental causes.
I know money doesn't buy happiness, but it does make things easier at a certain level. I think it's disingenuous to say otherwise. My parents went from solidly very upper middle class to worrying about how they were going to pay for basics when I was a teen; that was not fun.
I just wonder what the basic personality is that allows someone to not go crazy in the way you described when a person is very wealthy.

[grey]

I just wonder what the basic personality is that allows someone to not go crazy in the way you described when a person is very wealthy.

I think it's a mindset. Either you are happy with who you are, and with life, or you are not. I've seen many people who are unhappy with their lives try to fill it with "things" that buy momentary happiness. I know how I like getting a little package in the mail once in a while (new jersey! Yippee!), what if I had the money to do that every day? I have a friend like this - he spends like crazy, and yet deep inside is one of the saddest, most miserably unhappy people you'll meet. He thinks I am crazy for not wanting to keep doing work I hate - if it makes money, that's the important thing, I should just suck it up and do it. My thought is the opposite, life is too short to hate what you do. Life is beautiful, if you let it be.

Meanwhile, I have other friends & family who have worked hard, and invested carefully to get their millions. They don't spend lavishly except where they feel it counts. My parents like a certain part of Nova Scotia, so it made sense to buy an (adorable!) house there, since they want to spend 3 months of the year there in retirement. Mom *could* walk around in $1k shoes but that's not important to her. Others I have seen spend it where they think it counts, but not always on flashy cars or fancy houses. These people are happy with who they are - and they made money while being happy, not by being miserable and needing to compensate.

I was in that trap also, with one of my corporate jobs. It was close to the mall, it was so easy after a bad morning to go to the mall, and find a little something to make my day better. That's the trap. You think more money will make you happier. Happiness doesn't stem from money, not one iota.

We're also working toward being off-grid. Lots of work, but it's so fun!