Ever since the economy shit the bed, I've been steadily and increasingly cutting back on just about everything. It started with eating out, and at last count, the axe fell on my premium cable TV channels. (How will I fill my need for a lovable serial killer now that I can't watch Dexter any more?)
I was, for a brief and lucrative time, a real estate agent. I could afford (although certainly not in a Bill Gates kind of way) to buy whatever I fancied and eat out wherever I wanted. I was making stupid money. It was great. And prior to being a real estate agent, I was a standup comic for a longer time, also making stupid money, albeit with a slight change in definition (e.g.: "Fifty bucks a gig? That is friggin' stupid!)
During the real estate ya-ya years, I used to eat out two or three times a week at one of my favorite steak houses, The Capital Grille. Now I'm eating grilled cheese. But I have a job (which is neither of the aforementioned) and I am just grateful to be paying my bills. That's what everyone keeps telling me too - "Be grateful you're paying your bills!" It's become more a life of survival now than a life of perks. But let's face it, once you've had the perks of money, you miss them. Terribly.
The high road, the Spiritual Road, is to go within Grasshopper; find solace within your soul and appreciate and find joy in the little, simple things in life. Yup.
And it all sounds good on paper - but in reality, it sorta sucks.
No, it really sucks.
I've been poor and I've been well-off and I'll take well-off any day. People that tell you, you can't buy happiness? I think they're not paying attention. I was never happier than when I had thousands of dollars in the bank. Maybe it's just me - but knowing I could book a flight to the Bahamas, buy a new pair of shoes, or simply order the filet mignon with a bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape and not think twice about any of it - were all highly instrumental in turning up the corners of my mouth. Probably much more so than contemplating the Zen of staring at an empty checkbook while sweating about an electric bill. But maybe that's just me.
I have long since bid the Chateau a fond adieu. In fact, no more restaurant drinking at all - too pricey. I only drink at home now (often) and when I do, it's sake. That's right, rice wine. I went from around $38 a bottle to around $6 a bottle. Nice. I drinky long time for $6 and it's from those midget sake cups, so I feel less like an alcoholic.
And since I now only have basic cable (it comes with my condo maintenance) if I'm really jonesing for HBO or Showtime, I go to my friend Jo Beth's house and shnorr off her (she doesn't drink so it doesn't even cost me an extra $6 for gift sake!) Sah-weet.
Lifestyle is relative. And thank God I haven't had to move in with any of them.
As a wise old yoga teacher once said to me: Be One with the Universe - and carry a big coupon book.
Cheers,
and tables.
code: 562
I was, for a brief and lucrative time, a real estate agent. I could afford (although certainly not in a Bill Gates kind of way) to buy whatever I fancied and eat out wherever I wanted. I was making stupid money. It was great. And prior to being a real estate agent, I was a standup comic for a longer time, also making stupid money, albeit with a slight change in definition (e.g.: "Fifty bucks a gig? That is friggin' stupid!)
During the real estate ya-ya years, I used to eat out two or three times a week at one of my favorite steak houses, The Capital Grille. Now I'm eating grilled cheese. But I have a job (which is neither of the aforementioned) and I am just grateful to be paying my bills. That's what everyone keeps telling me too - "Be grateful you're paying your bills!" It's become more a life of survival now than a life of perks. But let's face it, once you've had the perks of money, you miss them. Terribly.
The high road, the Spiritual Road, is to go within Grasshopper; find solace within your soul and appreciate and find joy in the little, simple things in life. Yup.
And it all sounds good on paper - but in reality, it sorta sucks.
No, it really sucks.
I've been poor and I've been well-off and I'll take well-off any day. People that tell you, you can't buy happiness? I think they're not paying attention. I was never happier than when I had thousands of dollars in the bank. Maybe it's just me - but knowing I could book a flight to the Bahamas, buy a new pair of shoes, or simply order the filet mignon with a bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape and not think twice about any of it - were all highly instrumental in turning up the corners of my mouth. Probably much more so than contemplating the Zen of staring at an empty checkbook while sweating about an electric bill. But maybe that's just me.
I have long since bid the Chateau a fond adieu. In fact, no more restaurant drinking at all - too pricey. I only drink at home now (often) and when I do, it's sake. That's right, rice wine. I went from around $38 a bottle to around $6 a bottle. Nice. I drinky long time for $6 and it's from those midget sake cups, so I feel less like an alcoholic.
And since I now only have basic cable (it comes with my condo maintenance) if I'm really jonesing for HBO or Showtime, I go to my friend Jo Beth's house and shnorr off her (she doesn't drink so it doesn't even cost me an extra $6 for gift sake!) Sah-weet.
Lifestyle is relative. And thank God I haven't had to move in with any of them.
As a wise old yoga teacher once said to me: Be One with the Universe - and carry a big coupon book.
Cheers,
and tables.
code: 562
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