Winston, Heather, You know, I meant to address this, but my post was already quite long, and not everyone appreciates that. I've been involved in several discussions about this since joining Adland, not only online, but offline with friends and family as well. For me, it comes down to choices that I think everyone has to make for him or herself. My brother- and sister-in-law just chose to purchase a small cabin cruiser and finance it. They live in a peaceful, sleepy small town, and they believe they will enjoy this purchase enough to justify the fact that they will be in debt for it almost until she retires (he was brain-injured in an industrial accident and receives disability pay). Given their health and the relatively short time they expect to have to enjoy life, I supported their decision although it is one I would never have made for myself. I on the other hand, equate financial success to financial security...i.e., no debt for liabilities and enough income-generating assets (thanks, Winston, that IS more descriptive) to provide a comfortable lifestyle for us when we wish to stop working, the ability to help our families when needed and the privilege of helping others through philanthropy. If you add it up, and if you understand my definition of 'comfortable' (for which I make no apologies), it amounts to a substantial figure. If I never reach that figure, my life will not be ruined, but as Winston's signature says, if you're going to dream anyway, why not dream big? In a way, personal success inevitably includes financial success, for what is personal success other than being happy and grateful for being who you are and in the circumstances in which you find yourself? If you are satisfied, you have success, regardless of what others may think about it. I don't think you can define exactly what financial success is, except for yourself. Cheri

Hi: Some great feedback here. First I'll reply to a comment Heather and Winston both made... Winston said; ========================================= That's a pretty hard question to answer really. It would depend on what one percieves as financial success. ========================================= And then Heather, bless her heart, said.. ========================================= I don't by any means want to appear on a moral high horse, but I think the problem is that people are concerned with "financial success" instead of personal success. And what exactly is financial success? Don't get me wrong, I am by no means niave enough to believe that love can make the world go round, but at some point I think we need to start asking ourselves "When is enough, enough". ========================================= The funny thing about "financial success" is that it's not one fixed answer. ... It will vary from person to person. ... It will vary based on whether you have kids, and how old they are. ... It will vary based on whether you have a spouse and whether he or she works. But, here are some things to consider. 1) At age 65, less than 2% of the US population is self sufficient. The remainder have to depend on government or family to live. (and with the Boomer generation hitting that age soon, who knows how much pension will be available for such a large generation of people that did not plan for retirement?) 2) If you were injured in an accident and could not work, how long could you live on your current resources or your spouses's income? 3) If your spouse was injured and could not work, how long could you live on your wages or resources? 4) If, heaven forbid, you and your spouse were injured together in an accident, how long could you live on what you have saved? 5) If, heaven forbid, you were to die in an accident, would your family struggle financially just to deal with death tax (if there is one where you live) burial, your debts, etc? So -- to answer Heather's question -- when is enough, enough? To me, it's when we know we have the ability to provide for ourselves and our loved ones, no matter what happens. To me, that is not only "personal" success, but also shouldering our financial responsibilities as adults. To me, it is unacceptable to just blindly hope "someone" will take care of me if anything happens and I can't work or I get hurt or I simply grow old. My father used to say "with age comes responsiblity" and I've always taken that to heart very seriously. We all need different levels of financial padding depending on where we live and what we are responsible for. Someone that pays $450/month for their mortgage will need considerably less "emergency padding" than someone that pays $2,000/month for theirs. The number isn't fixed. So, what is "personal" success? To me, it's a combination of knowing that I am prepared for whatever happens - that I like the face in the mirror, and that I like how I spend my every day. I think personal success is a combination of those. Just my humble opinion, of course. : ) Linda

Now that I have side-tracked everyone with my "moral high horse", and I'm not responding based on intial reaction, I think that opportunity, real opportunity can be found anywhere. As long as someone is willing and able to stay focused, put in the research, labor and work needed, I think opportunity and success can be found anywhere. Recently, a mother and daughter in town opened a store that caters to children. Caters to childre in the respect that it is a store where children, even those as young as my 5 year old, can go to shop for the ones they love. Everything is child level, the carts are child size, they have "personal shoppers" in case the adult that brought the child is the person the gift is being purchased for. Everyone in town thought they were crazy, now, you can't find a parking spot. Moral to the story.....opportunity is EVERYWHERE!!!!

Hi everybody, This is a very interesting, thought provoking subject.Like the idea of the children's shop. Should have something like that here (UK). Jobs in the developed world generally means that when you reach 50 nobody wants to employ you. When they downsize it's the over 50's who go. For us we started our own business to supplement our pensions and give us a better quality of life in our senior years. As we deeply committed to alternative health and don't take prescription or over the counter drugs, this is the business we chose. Plus we wish to live a healthy independent lifestyle and be able to help our family. We do exhibit at health and organic fairs and are developing the internet side of the business to reach a wider audience. John & Barbara

Hi Heather, Small carts, low shelves, sounds like it might suit the "shorter" shopper as well. I am kidding, it sounds like a great idea and from what you said it seems like the people where you live have embraced the idea. I always like to know who the nay sayers might have been and then point them out in the ailses as they are shopping along with the rest. I like this idea, now let me think.....