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Working on building up the funds to open a bar in Thailand. As soon as I am approve for Thai citizenship. Going for the dual.

Pay off my mortgage and/or win the lottery.

- Battle my negativity much more, hoping for the best and expecting the worst and getting it, leads to thinking people are stupid, which universally they are not.
- Moved into a very large new house, want to set up a proper man cave in basement: overwhelmed by my collection of stuff, stupid amount of boxes.
- See more of my friends and nice acquaintances before they die, move or drift away (while I deal with said boxes).
- Try to persuade my pre-teens their dad is not a moron and knows stuff... only happens when things break or went very badly for them.
- Try to convince mother in law that she moved in with us, not the other way around, that I can do stuff without her direction and yes, I survived quite well without her.

But enough with my first world challenges:

-I want to be more mindful and present: I am finding a lot to learn and enjoy when people really realize you are listening to them.
- Smell the roses more: my wife is too willing to overbook things, I am now booking "non-structured activities" on the calendar: confuses her to no end but things get done, just not to the "list".
- Figure out a pet charity, I contributed to a few, would like to invest more time using my skill sets.

Good stuff everyone else.
The fornication with multiple women bit I no longer have available but I applaud your efforts!

 LethalShade wrote:
Why does everyone want to have kids ? This is something I struggle to understand.

In my case, I always wanted to be a teacher, and teach kids a subject they were passionate about (art, geography, something you choose to pursue). But after watching it nearly kill everyone that I knew in the profession, including my mother, I realised that i wasn't cut out to be a fully responsible teacher, and do a conscientious job of it. it would kill me as well.
So I thought, hey, maybe I could though, help raise a kid that wanted a family, and support them go through education, and give them a place to be. And if they don't like school, that's fine. We'll find something they do like. Even if it's something I don't know gak about, I'll find someone who does.

I can't personally have kids of my own due to a condition I'd pass down, but even before that I knew that, adoption was something I decided to do when I had a stable home. Not as a second chance, but because why the feth not?

(Those who can't teach, adopt? )

And its something that society tells us we want. To procreate and make more good little workers to make more money for the 1%

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And its something that society tells us we want. To procreate and make more good little workers to make more money for the 1%

I look at it more as investing in a future and trying to make it a little better place with some conscientiously raised kids who will be become adults.
It also would suck to grow old and have everyone die around you and have no-one who cares about you much remaining.
It IS a very unselfish act to decide to raise children unless you look at them as future servants which would test the patience sorely if that was the main reason.
Having children is a biological imperative, many traits and features live-on in that strange little being you raise.

Happiness is pretty much the goal.

How to get a keep being happy is the true challenge.
Freaky, learning, inquisitive, swaggering children certainly give a lot of funny material.

Even funnier when daddy tries to teach them a game (X-wing lately) and the unholy chaos ensues.

I've always wanted children because I loved my parents who
raised me and wanted to do the same for another. If I could
be half the people they were, my son will turn out okay.

 LethalShade wrote:
Why does everyone want to have kids ? This is something I struggle to understand.

Supplemental income. 8 year olds are excellent wage earners in the mine.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And its something that society tells us we want. To procreate and make more good little workers to make more money for the 1%

You know whats awesome? As a father I can say with great conviction, you don't have a damn clue, and you should probably quit while you are behind.

Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

And? Thats not why you have them. Your earlier post is ignorant.


Worse to worse you need them for when you can't find the remote control. "Hey change the channel." "Hey turn that up." "Hey run the slow mo until I tell you to stop."

 Frazzled wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

And? Thats not why you have them.

Egads, I agree with Frazzy.

Is this what senior citizenship feels like???

Or pessimistic..........

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Or pessimistic..........

Lol I don't think Frazzled is being pessimistic in this particular instance. His examples are hyperbolic, and I bet even he would tell you that he couldn't even read the numbers on the remote even if they found it for him.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

Why do you care so much what "society" thinks? How can society think something? It is not some unified thing. Do you need validation from others for every choice you make?

Society can very much "think" something. And very much yes, the older you get, the longer you go without kids, you get looked down on for not having kids.
And if we didnt think we care what society thinks, Why arent you running around naked right now? or wearing assless chaps?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

Actually the massive pressure comes from our biological nature of living beings. I guess. I don't feel this pressure, though.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And if we didnt think we care what society thinks, Why arent you running around naked right now? or wearing assless chaps?

How do you know I'm not?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Society can very much "think" something.

And what if we both think society thinks something different? How do we know which is right? Just go with your feelings? Society is so diverse it's impossible for there to be one unified thing. It's culture-, family-, surroundings-, social circle-dependent. And you are free to ignore any of it that doesn't work for you. In fact, I'd strongly encourage you to.

 LethalShade wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

Actually the massive pressure comes from our biological nature of living beings. I guess. I don't feel this pressure, though.

I was always told if you can get past age 35, you're roughly in the clear. Dunno how true that is.

 malfred wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Maybe, But you cant deny there is massive pressure from society to have kids, to the point where if you decide you dont want kids, you get looked down on or get pressured from family/friends to have kids

And? Thats not why you have them.

Egads, I agree with Frazzy.

Is this what senior citizenship feels like???

Yes, yes it is.

 Frazzled wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And its something that society tells us we want. To procreate and make more good little workers to make more money for the 1%

You know whats awesome? As a father I can say with great conviction, you don't have a damn clue, and you should probably quit while you are behind.

Exalted!

I'm not sure what's going on over there in California these days, but I hope it isn't catchy...

As for goals, I'm trying to be more understanding and tolerant.

In his defense, I'm sure some people have been pressured to do so. The nagging parent syndrome.

I'm the opposite. I'm the nagging I Don't Want To Be A Granddad Yet guy.

You know, I was going to wax persuasive about why having kids is awesome- but if you're at all unsure, don't. It is not a journey to be undertaken lightly.

I will say X-wing chaos is awesome now- and I only wish mine were 5 years older so I'd have a reasonable excuse for buying Dropfleet Commander.

 Frazzled wrote:
I'm the opposite. I'm the nagging I Don't Want To Be A Granddad Yet guy.

I can see holidays in the Frazzled house now..

Boy is home from school, opens up boxes lovingly wrapped in beautiful, Christmassy themed paper (not plain red, cuz, y'know it ain't christmas) to reveal... a Costco sized case of condoms.




I will say, in my own experience, kids are both the best thing and worst thing to happen, all at the same time. When it was just Mrs. Ferrae and I, things were pretty easy, our biggest worries were what kind of booze we wanted to buy and whether the local liquor store would have it in stock. Playing 40k, video games or whatever else we wanted was easy, no worries.

Now, there are seriously a lot more "worries" to be had. Making job/career choices is no longer as simple as, "where would we want to go next?" Every noise in the night is profoundly different. Sleeping in is a distant memory. Watching "favorite" tv shows or movies must be planned somewhat well in advance.




On Topic: current goals for me, graduate with my BA in May of 17, follow with my Masters in 18 and hopefully straight into full time work (though more likely I'll be subbing for a bit first)

-Get job teaching in high school, hopefully doing some assistant coaching as well.
-Work to help expand youth rugby in my area.

-Convince wife to get an army job where she can move to New Zealand, and take us.

-Vacation or move to NZ

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:



I will say, in my own experience, kids are both the best thing and worst thing to happen, all at the same time. When it was just Mrs. Ferrae and I, things were pretty easy, our biggest worries were what kind of booze we wanted to buy and whether the local liquor store would have it in stock. Playing 40k, video games or whatever else we wanted was easy, no worries.

Now, there are seriously a lot more "worries" to be had. Making job/career choices is no longer as simple as, "where would we want to go next?" Every noise in the night is profoundly different. Sleeping in is a distant memory. Watching "favorite" tv shows or movies must be planned somewhat well in advance.

Now that's certainly an odd way to put it...

How old are your kids now?

 Alpharius wrote:


Now that's certainly an odd way to put it...

How old are your kids now?

6 and 3.

I find it a bit odd really... because while things like their first steps, talking and the usual Oprah movie moments are all awesome, ya know, at the same time things you never ever worried or even thought about become quite prominent in your mind.

Current goals: raising my baby daughter, trying (and failing) to find time to hobby, wondering if sleep will ever again happen.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:


Now that's certainly an odd way to put it...

How old are your kids now?

6 and 3.

I find it a bit odd really... because while things like their first steps, talking and the usual Oprah movie moments are all awesome, ya know, at the same time things you never ever worried or even thought about become quite prominent in your mind.

It gets better. They will become decent almost humans.

Then they will become 14. In the night someone will come in, steal your child, and replace it with a doppleganger, a snarky, moody, know it all lazy ass doppleganger. During this period its best to have pictures of them when they were young and cute on the refrigerator. It will make the terrible two's look like fun at the park.

Then they become 17 and start to become human again. By 18 they are awesome, great to be with, fun conversationalists,its really great.
And then they leave.

 Frazzled wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:


Now that's certainly an odd way to put it...

How old are your kids now?

6 and 3.

I find it a bit odd really... because while things like their first steps, talking and the usual Oprah movie moments are all awesome, ya know, at the same time things you never ever worried or even thought about become quite prominent in your mind.

It gets better. They will become decent almost humans.

Then they will become 14. In the night someone will come in, steal your child, and replace it with a doppleganger, a snarky, moody, know it all lazy ass doppleganger. During this period its best to have pictures of them when they were young and cute on the refrigerator. It will make the terrible two's look like fun at the park.

Then they become 17 and start to become human again. By 18 they are awesome, great to be with, fun conversationalists,its really great.
And then they leave.

Have a lot of experience, Frazz?

Finish this fething essay.

 Tactical_Spam wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:


Now that's certainly an odd way to put it...

How old are your kids now?

6 and 3.

I find it a bit odd really... because while things like their first steps, talking and the usual Oprah movie moments are all awesome, ya know, at the same time things you never ever worried or even thought about become quite prominent in your mind.

It gets better. They will become decent almost humans.

Then they will become 14. In the night someone will come in, steal your child, and replace it with a doppleganger, a snarky, moody, know it all lazy ass doppleganger. During this period its best to have pictures of them when they were young and cute on the refrigerator. It will make the terrible two's look like fun at the park.

Then they become 17 and start to become human again. By 18 they are awesome, great to be with, fun conversationalists,its really great.
And then they leave.

Have a lot of experience, Frazz?

A fair amount. I have one living the life of Riley at college and one living the life of Riley in High school.

To the Boy
Get a job!
I'm a TA and work on research projects for both money and credit. I've had my first paper published.
Hurray! You're our favorite!

To the Girl
Get a job!
I'm top ten in my grade and varsity on the team. Spending your money takes the rest of my time up.

To the Wife
Get a job!
I have a job, swinging this bat, stand right here. Now don't move...

To Rusty the Mountain Dog
Get a job!
I've protected three generations of you people. I'm retired. Now shut up I am trying to sleep.

To the wiener dog
Get a job!
Whats a job? Does it involve food?