RANT ON: FFS, the US is a stressful country to live in. Yes, I know, not as bad as

[RKP5637]

some, but it is stressful to so many people. RANT OFF. Thanks for listening!

[Merlot]

1. People always say the USA is so much better than many countries

but those same people will never admit that things in the US are subpar in comparison to many other countries.

It is indeed very stressful living in the US for many people, if for no other reason than dealing with the healthcare system.

[RKP5637]

2. Yes!!! n/t

[Xolodno]

3. I've travelled a bit.

And can say easily we fucked up somewhere. I have relatives in other nations and have no intention of coming back. And what a lot of people don't know, many nations don't want US citizens as they see us as a leech on their system that they paid into.

In about 11-12 years I can retire, I may not stay in the USA. Hell, I would leave now since I'm 100% remote, but the company says I still need to maintain a presence in the USA.

[RKP5637]

4. I've traveled internationally to countries for work. I always found them to be far more relaxing

than the US. The US is perpetually uptight. ... and I really wonder where the US is headed. There is so much hatred in the US. It's insane.

[cachukis]

5. Everyone always does the best they can at the time they are doing it.

Always.
If your circumstances are not palatable, you will manage or adapt.
Wherever you are then, is the place you belong.
Mine is the best life as is yours.
The rub comes with empathy. Then you want others to share your experience, but then you interfere with their management.
They want to drive THE car.
Envy is a capitalists dream.
Teaching capitalism is great for some, stressful for others.
We are all doing the best we can at the time we are doing it.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. That wasn't much of a rant, you know

I mean...if you're gonna rant, YELL A LITTLE BIT, FOR FUCKS SAKE! ACTUALLY SAY MORE THAN 3 SENTENCES.

Just thought I would bust your chops a little.

[RKP5637]

7. ...

THINKING!

[DFW]

8. I would think that most developed countries with large bureaucracies are stressful to live in

In Germany, you need paperwork up to the ceiling for pretty much everything. My wife was a social worker until she retired, and the horror stories she told—her city government once told her to get permission to apply for a permit to sell soft drinks at a youth event. She cut a few steps out of the ridiculous process, and got yelled at by a member of the city government for it. The guy was so angry that even years later, he scrutinized every move she made.

When she was working with unemployed people, a labor department official tried to dock a homeless man part of his welfare payment because he confessed to collecting bottles that had deposit return on them, and he was collecting five euros a day extra. My wife made an appointment with the labor department, offered the explanation that whatever peanuts the homeless guy might make, he would spend it on food, and it would go right back into the economy. Besides, he was doing something useful that no one else wanted to do. Why harass and depress him? To satisfy some paper pusher who made twenty times what this poor guy could ever hope for? To enforce some rule from the 1960s that was addressing another time, another reality?

To her surprise, the bureaucracy wilted this one time. The woman from the labor department said, “you know what? You’re right. The guy already has nothing. No reason to kick him while he’s down. I think this once, I’ll just ignore the rules and pretend I never saw this.” But this was the one BIG exception. It was more a tribute to my wife’s begging for compassion than a sudden enlightened general willingness to ignore rules that were cruel and pointless. I think the least stressful societies to live in are the ones that are the least obsessed with enacting cruel and pointless rules to begin with. After all, where would you rather be a woman of child-bearing age, Arkansas or California?

[RKP5637]

9. It really gets so insane and void of meaningful logic, and many have none like your wife

trying to help them.

[DFW]

10. She could have been a model. She chose to become a social worker. Go figure

Last edited Fri Mar 10, 2023, 11:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Instead of making a boatload of money, she took a job that paid shit and gave her shit. She still hates it when people ask to take her picture.

I guess with rehabilitating me from terminal nerdism, I became her longest-term project.

[RKP5637]

11. You're so lucky to have a caring wife like her!!! n/t

[DFW]

12. I've never met another like her

She could have had any man she wanted. Why me? I’ll never fully understand, but there are two things I’ll never do. One is complain. The other is to consciously give her a reason to regret her decision. I got lucky the first time around (we met when we were both 22) and I knew it. I may be stupid, but I’m not THAT stupid.

[RKP5637]

13. ...

[DFW]

14. 1974 to 2022

Like I said, I may be stupid, but I'm not THAT stupid. Four DUers have actually met her. I have witnesses!

1974 (just met a few months before the pic was taken):


And last year at our 70th birthday/40th wedding anniversary:


We waited 8 years to get married because neither of us had the time, and as it was, my brother invited us to our wedding.
Well, it was originally supposed to be HIS wedding, but he said why not make it a double? No arrangements! So we did.
Next year, we will have been together for 50 years. Where DID the time go?