Of course, I'd do all the obvious things, such as getting a bigger house, a newer car, and quitting work, but beyond that, I have no interest in an extravagant lifestyle—or at least that's what I tell myself.
By a bigger house, I mean one typical of upper-middle-class living. I've watched plenty of videos of people touring million-dollar mansions, and they all look too big, open, and sterile to me. I've seen cozier tiny homes than those. And by a newer car, I mean a 2017 model or so instead of the 2007 one I drive now.
Really, give me a nice cottage by the lake with some land and a big garage for all my tools and toys, and I'm all set. I much prefer the idea of "hidden wealth" over showing it off. I'm just kind of worried that I wouldn't be able to live up to my own expectations if push comes to shove, and there's really no way of testing that. Am I just kidding myself here?
I feel the same way about fame. Many people aspire to become successful YouTubers or such, but the idea of people recognizing me on the street sounds awful.
You are the one listing off all the ways you are well off ... and then calling me jealous. It's kind of an embarrassing thing for you resort to but I think that's what you need to feel good about yourself. Literally the classic last resort is to call people jealous haters 😂
You are making assumptions about my ability to budget? You are saying I'll live in poverty? How about instead of trying to impress people online about your money, and trying to convince a leftist that you're a good guy, why don't you learn about solidarity. You're now talking about how you think you know your place in the social hierarchy? Like everything you say is just an admission of your allegiance to inequality.
I highly doubt that the work you do is worth the exponentially higher amount than other people, the amount that would be required for that to be your sole source of wealth. You have not taken any time to evaluate your actual place in the world, and who is suffering as a result of whatever your work is. So yeah you're dumb as hell and the only thing you have to say about it is "blah blah blah you poor jealous hater 😤"
Your lifestyle is a wealthy lifestyle. The "middle class" is something that only briefly existed in the 1950s, did not exist before that, and was quickly taken out. Look at actual numbers and not an outdated idealization.