tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32246593.post6910201592034868367..comments2023-11-05T01:03:44.922-08:00Comments on Car(bon)free in California: What is normal?Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093468302256896004noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32246593.post-88685488941164341592008-01-09T14:04:00.000-08:002008-01-09T14:04:00.000-08:00"In fact if you have a small home people wonder ab..."In fact if you have a small home people wonder about your success" - You hit the nail on the head. We have a very singular way of defining success - more stuff (house, cars and what they contain in them) is equivalent to more successful. I can only speak from the perspective of a "professional" who has found that equation increasingly inane. I used to work as a management consultant - international travels, high-pay, working with VPs and the likes. From an external perspective, I was successful. But deprived of a work-family balance and loss of personal time, I was exceedingly unhappy. Now I work part-time, spend quality time with my family and do stuff that is personal satisfying. But associated with the voluntary change, we cannot afford a McMansion and other unnecessary luxury. So I am no longer "successful". I have come to a place that I don't care what other people think, but I suspect many people do care. <BR/><BR/>Is that really the fault of the media or is it a part of human nature? Even in ancient tribal times, did people not compete on the number of stumps they have in their respective sheds? But even if that was the case, hopefully we have evolved somewhat over the last 2000 years. <BR/><BR/>Is it high-time for us to define a new set of criteria for success? And will it catch on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32246593.post-88480650770939743492008-01-08T11:40:00.000-08:002008-01-08T11:40:00.000-08:00I completely agree. I used to have the dream of a ...I completely agree. I used to have the dream of a big house with a yard. Now I dream of having a family in a two bedroom apartment in a city (so I can be car free.)ruchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.com