My dad was at the same sales job for 50 years and didn’t like it much. His dad started the business.
I recall he once talked about possibly moving from the east coast to SD to sell real estate in SD in the 80s. Seriously. His buddy was doing well at it. Or maybe it was the 70s. I remember thinking, he’s not going.
Might’ve been a different life. Escape the past. But he was locked in. He had his routine. Rent controlled apt. Knew the deal. Friends. Played handball, then paddlball just down the street. Serious roots.
In reality I don’t think he could’ve left. I bet he would’ve been happier leaving. In some ways.
Good salesman. Engaging. Genuine. Thoughtful.
Intrigued by people. Others found him funny. Not me. But other people.
I think roots do keep people in place.
I myself am currently considering moving for a potential opportunity.
The prospect of change scares scaredyclassic.
Even though it could be great. It could be bad.
“My boy was just like me, yeah. He’d grown up just like me. And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man I n the moon. When you coming home son I don’t know when but we’ll get together then dad you know we’ll have a good time then.”
When I think of the tales of my bold immigrant ancestors, I wonder, wtf happened to us…I wonder if they’d be proud, disgusted or amazed with me. I doubt seriously they’d have any time or sympathy for my bs. I do feel grateful for their past risk taking and successes. Those wild hardworking, tough old humans. Where would I be without their fearless intrepid search for a better life.
Certainly not in existence I’ll tell you that.
Thank you, ancestors.
PS they definitely thought people were out to get the Jews. Maybe some fear and disgust with others does spur us to greater success.[/quote]
And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. Like I said, different strokes for different folks and some people like to remain in a cushy environment and tolerate more things, that’s all good too. I’ll also offer the following perspective. Our ancestors, who were immigrants, probably had a lot less opportunity and could take a lot less risk.
Well, unless they came here totally poor, and then in that case, there was nothing to lose and they could take a lot of risk since there was few better options…
That’s why often times a lot of the more studious immigrants that came here with a white collared corporate job did ok…But in contrast a lot of poor immigrants that came her with much more limited opportunities and didn’t have these cushy jobs had to fight a lot harder to build a foundation and ended up taking a lot more risk…That’s why some of these immigrants, who opened a cleaning service, convenience store, laundrymat, restaurant etc, in the end, ended up doing as well if not better those those that took it easy at that corporate job.
Those of these that are descendants have a much more secure foundation, so we can afford to take more risk.
I’d like think I’m bettering my parents and building a larger empire.
