gen x slacker

GEN X SLACKER
Sometimes the Gods have fun with me. They throw just enough obstacles in my way to be amused at my plight. They tease me with goals I never can quite reach. But in general they pretty much look out for me ( they look after fools, drunks and small children and I haven’t had a drink for years so that tells you where I stand ). I usually follow the correct path, idiotic actions are never as punishing as they could be. One thing I am quite happy with is that I missed being a Baby Boomer by twenty five days. This means I miss out sucking off the Great American Welfare State but it also means I’m not associated with their greed, avarice, and willingness to sell the grandchildren into debt slavery. I am associated with indifferent, lazy slackers, but in my mind this is much more preferable.
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Broadly generalizing, Generation Xer’s see the futility in the old school work and reward system and want as little as possible to do with it. What most people see as folks sitting back and wasting their life, we slackers see no point in busting our butts for promises that are not being kept. It was only a very short time in history that Beaver Cleaver America was in existence. A few generations at most. Do as you are told, get good grades, go to college, get a good job, raise a family and then retire in good health to enjoy your Golden Years. I know a lot of us haven’t given up on that dream so much as have had it be out of our reach, but plenty of this generation are smart enough to see a pair of golden handcuffs being ready and steered clear of the trap.
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There is nothing wrong with running after the BC dream ( Beaver Cleaver, or Before Cheney ). As long as you realize that it is not guaranteed like it used to be. It is a gamble. I chose long ago not to roll the dice. As a result my stress level is pretty darn low. Yes, there are periods I go through where I am compelled to take a stressful job. As time goes on I arrange my life where I need those jobs less and less. I finely found a wife that doesn’t measure life in dollars ( although her other actions make it hard to stay with her at times ). Just enough to keep a roof over our heads, just fine and dandy. No need to kill yourself early over working a job that pays little more and can end at any time.
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Okay, it’s a personal choice. I enjoy having the mental energy left after work to devout to writing. I embrace genteel poverty. I can enjoy life, stop and smell the roses. As long as I adjust my wants to a lower pay grade. I’m not saying it is the best for everyone, just that it could be. As a result of being a slacker, I can also realize a benefit in less stress about money. The less I need to earn the less I have to worry about. No need to worry about losing the house if the wife gets laid off ( she doesn’t even need to work, $7 an hour keeps you in a trailer just fine ). No worrying about car repairs, or car payments. No need to worry about unemployment as much when you can get the same anywhere. I don’t need to worry about maintaining a big income for retiring. I don’t need to worry my job will go over to India or become obsolete by a piece of software.
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I have no mortgage, no credit card bills, no car payments, no school loans to pay off. I also have no house, no neat toys, no car when it is 100 or 15 degrees outside, and no challenging work. Nothing in life is free, it is all compromise. If the economy doesn’t crash I’ve lived with less stress and have enjoyed myself. If it does crash I have little to lose comfort wise. The higher they are the farther they have to fall.
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Thanks, guys, for Sat. comments section. It was all related to the article ( for once ) and I enjoyed it. Please keep it up.