I am jealous of anybody who considers $10,000 to be “lousy.” I would never deny that. But when that person shoves it in his readers’ faces, it’s arrogant and snobby.

René Ghosh, I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or what – I directly responded to his bit about the families. Most of us in a family situation live paycheck-to-paycheck could not afford to take 6-9 months off, much less take kids out of school. Some can, but those aren’t typical cases. This has nothing to do with any revulsion on my part other than my belief that rich assholes should keep their snobbery to themselves.

Jason gave EXCELLENT advice and anyone who gets laid off SHOULD do exactly that.

Hehe, now I know this one’s just a joke. Living in a world of absolutes is fun, though.

Note that I have nothing against travel or people who can afford to do so. A good friend of mine just up and quit his job and isn’t planning on working again for a long while – and is in Europe somewhere right now. Fucking awesome for him!

But that’s him, not me. I couldn’t afford it, and nobody but me can say I could without showing a lack of ignorance I cannot fathom. I manage money incredibly well, but when I have about $100 of disposable income each month, and I’m happy with my expenses, I just don’t see the problem.

Yeah, Europeans travel. Their governments require employers to provide six weeks of paid vacations each year. Their tax rates are such that even if they worked the extra six weeks, the government would take most of the extra income in taxes. And they don’t need to save for requirement because the government has promised to take care of them in retirement. And they cannot have more than one or at most two kids to support because gasoline taxes make anything but a tiny car impossible to fuel (and if you take public transportation then more kids means more fares to pay). When the lack of reproduction leaves the government unable to pay the pensions they promised, they’ll provide euthenasia at the first serious old-age illness.

Besides, you hardly even bothered to read it before refuting it. On the “family” issue, he mentions the german couple with a stroller on a Thailand beach.

Honestly, you shouldn’t broadcast your revulsion for flight, foreign or freedom. You want to live your life in your basement getting fat? Do so. But don’t put it down to being a “regular Joe”.

You make some valid points about savings and marriage but i think the point that you missed in his article is that he was talking about freelance workers. His point being that if you can win a contract, you can negotiate cheaper rates should you be living in a relatively low cost country.

I know because I did this for about 3 years. Working via the Internet and living in cheap accommodation whilst travelling the world.

He may have come across as a stuck-up, ignorant white guy who simply hasn’t got a clue, but he is talking about a reality that actually exists for some us. I am neither rich nor have any savings but I have worked independently as a freelance developer for the past 17 years, since I was 20 years old.

I think I detect a hint of jealousy and I would take a wild guess that you haven’t worked as a freelancer or seen much of this world, otherwise you would have understood his reasoning.

By the way, I do not know Jason nor have had any contact with him.

They’re probably on “holiday”, which is usually 30 days of paid vacation. Americans only get 2 weeks.

What do you choose: enjoy life or work hard, accumulate stuff and die pennyless ?

Your timing is right fo me. I just got laid of and asked to leave the premisses without pay. No severance because the company refuses to do so in an effort to tie me up in their business during the lay-off period. I other words they although they say that I don’t have to work, they are not going to pay me until the 3 month period has lapsed. Of course my family suffers. I will not be taking any trips. And I still have bills to pay! So what happens after you live off of your savings?

I think that companies are going to drive IT personel into joining unions. Unions will become stronger because of the amount of employment mistreatment and uncertainty that is become common in the IT world.

What we need now is a Jimmy Hoffa figure ;)