[Litos]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

I knew you'd catch it

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Whostheboss

This thread is becoming like the "why do people get married" thread. lol

Here is my take on life & relationship. (please anyone feel free to correct me)

If your life isn't going so well, you are more vulnerable to be in a relationship. Meaning, if you're single and things aren't going well, your grades are poor, you lost a parent, both or one of your parent is a drug/alcohol addict, you're in debt caused by your irresponsibility, stressful or low paying job, poor health or health issues... these factors makes one want be in a relationship. It puts you at a sad state in life and makes people seek for happiness externally.

I hope you're not being serious...

If you believe that we as humans ONLY seek marriage or soul mates due to 'life tragedies or failures', you my friend need major help and understanding and appreciation of relationships and love. Real talk.
Judging by some of the responses not just here in this thread but OT in general, I know I'm older than most. I married when I was 30. Prior to that, I was single and had been financially successful since I was 21. In superb physical condition, traveling, and generally on a "smashing rampage" regularly with nothing but straight dime pieces! Literally turning ass down if they didn't fit my tastes. That took place right out of high school, through college and ramped up between 25 and 30 up until I got married to the girl of my dreams and now mother of my children and soul mate. Nearly 14 years later, I am STILL very happy and satisfied and even more fulfilled than all that BS clubbing, smashing, wasteful spending and debauchery.

But hey, to each his own...

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by Litos

I disagree...

people who are in a bad state of life usually go out to bars/clubs looking for a mate...

I work with too many single idiot chicks that think the best place to meet a "good guy" is a club...

they have no idea that guys go to clubs to get pussy, and that's pretty much it.....

Girls are the same way too

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

I hope you're not being serious...

If you believe that we as humans ONLY seek marriage or soul mates due to 'life tragedies or failures', you my friend need major help and understanding and appreciation of relationships and love. Real talk.
Judging by some of the responses not just here in this thread but OT in general, I know I'm older than most. I married when I was 30. Prior to that, I was single and had been financially successful since I was 21. In superb physical condition, traveling, and generally on a "smashing rampage" regularly with nothing but straight dime pieces! Literally turning ass down if they didn't fit my tastes. That took place right out of high school, through college and ramped up between 25 and 30 up until I got married to the girl of my dreams and now mother of my children and soul mate. Nearly 14 years later, I am STILL very happy and satisfied and even more fulfilled than all that BS clubbing, smashing, wasteful spending and debauchery.

But hey, to each his own...

No no no, i clearly stated that in the end of my long message. I said that my philosophy isn't 100%...

We as humans DO NOT ONLY seek for relationship when our lives are in the gutter. I'm just saying that when our lives are in the gutter is when being in a relationship becomes #1 priority.

[2011CrazE89]

I have to agree with TXSTYLE. Lived alone for four years did the single thing, came home all hours of the night, woke up with god knows who. Nothing like having two girls showing up at your door at the same time. Try explaining that one to the girl that’s already in your apartment. That shit gets old after a while. I can honestly say that after 15 years of marriage I would never want to be single again. I remember hitting the clubs with my buddies and seeing the “old guy” trying to pick up the 20 something’s and how pathetic he looked.

The fact that I married a successful RN that makes twice my salary is a bonus. Hell I did something right.

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by 2011CrazE89

I have to agree with TXSTYLE. Lived alone for four years did the single thing, came home all hours of the night, woke up with god knows who. Nothing like having two girls showing up at your door at the same time. Try explaining that one to the girl that’s already in your apartment. That shit gets old after a while. I can honestly say that after 15 years of marriage I would never want to be single again. I remember hitting the clubs with my buddies and seeing the “old guy” trying to pick up the 20 something’s and how pathetic he looked.

The fact that I married a successful RN that makes twice my salary is a bonus. Hell I did something right.

+1 thats what im saying!

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Whostheboss

No no no, i clearly stated that in the end of my long message. I said that my philosophy isn't 100%...

We as humans DO NOT ONLY seek for relationship when our lives are in the gutter. I'm just saying that when our lives are in the gutter is when being in a relationship becomes #1 priority.

Thanks for clarifying.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Litos

I disagree...

people who are in a bad state of life usually go out to bars/clubs looking for a mate...

I work with too many single idiot chicks that think the best place to meet a "good guy" is a club...

they have no idea that guys go to clubs to get pussy, and that's pretty much it.....

+1

Just met a guy who went to an online dating site and found his wife there. The guy is far from being in a bad state of life with running his own company and could quit working and live the rest of his life VERY comfortably if he wanted to. I doubt few of us here are in such a state financially.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by 2011CrazE89

I have to agree with TXSTYLE. Lived alone for four years did the single thing, came home all hours of the night, woke up with god knows who. Nothing like having two girls showing up at your door at the same time. Try explaining that one to the girl that’s already in your apartment. That shit gets old after a while. I can honestly say that after 15 years of marriage I would never want to be single again. I remember hitting the clubs with my buddies and seeing the “old guy” trying to pick up the 20 something’s and how pathetic he looked.

The fact that I married a successful RN that makes twice my salary is a bonus. Hell I did something right.

Bro I completely forgot about that! So true.

My best of friends who is older than me actually, recently got married. Now here's a guy who demonstrates what I was saying:

Good looking dude, great six figure job, and has smashed who knows how many chicks! We were sitting outside in my backyard literally discussing both our lives and he admitted how much time, effort and money he squandered foking around with all these chicks and living this single life. He told me how much he admired me and how I settled down years ago and how he is "relieved" to be now married and can focus on what's important in life: family.

[954Stealth]

As we age and mature our priorities definitely change. It's a beautiful thing

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

As we age and mature our priorities definitely change. It's a beautiful thing

Yup.

Mine definitely has, i'm at the stage now where i just want one girl to enjoy life with but i'm not finding one.

[MrPrena]

+1 going to clubs at age of 50s and try to be .....

[Uber V8]

Originally Posted by 2011CrazE89

The fact that I married a successful RN that makes twice my salary is a bonus. Hell I did something right.

+2

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

I hope you're not being serious...

If you believe that we as humans ONLY seek marriage or soul mates due to 'life tragedies or failures', you my friend need major help and understanding and appreciation of relationships and love. Real talk.
Judging by some of the responses not just here in this thread but OT in general, I know I'm older than most. I married when I was 30. Prior to that, I was single and had been financially successful since I was 21. In superb physical condition, traveling, and generally on a "smashing rampage" regularly with nothing but straight dime pieces! Literally turning ass down if they didn't fit my tastes. That took place right out of high school, through college and ramped up between 25 and 30 up until I got married to the girl of my dreams and now mother of my children and soul mate. Nearly 14 years later, I am STILL very happy and satisfied and even more fulfilled than all that BS clubbing, smashing, wasteful spending and debauchery.

But hey, to each his own...

At 30 years old currently, it's crazy how my life mirrored this.

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

Thanks for clarifying.

[Ehwnnc]

Jesus Christ. If 140k is lower middle class i am a damn starving child. Where i live 50k is middle class

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by John 070

At least with the E46, avg. 3 series driver was male and had a salary of 140k. Today, I guess, with leasing, people not even making 100k are blowing 52k for a 4 cyl BMW (they don't own the 52k car, but they're driving them).

All kidding aside, it's amazing how many people think 100k/yr. is a "lot" of bank, man.

I suppose that depends on you and your personal circumstances. For a single person without any kids, 100k a year is PLENTY, even in California. I swear, some of you guys on the forum have a romanticized view of the world. It's laughable that 100k a year for a single person WOULDN'T be considered making bank.

[MrPrena]

Originally Posted by Ehwnnc

Jesus Christ. If 140k is lower middle class i am a damn starving child. Where i live 50k is middle class

Places with lower cost of living is far better than places that pays 2x and cost 2x more.

~45% goes to taxes (fed+state+city+county) anyways.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by MrPrena

Places with lower cost of living is far better than places that pays 2x and cost 2x more.

~45% goes to taxes (fed+state+city+county) anyways.

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I suppose that depends on you and your personal circumstances. For a single person without any kids, 100k a year is PLENTY, even in California. I swear, some of you guys on the forum have a romanticized view of the world. It's laughable that 100k a year for a single person WOULDN'T be considered making bank.

People tend to live in their bubbles and use that as their only frame of reference. It's easy to forget then the vast numbers of people in the USA who are well below the poverty line (a family of 2 making between $15-16k/yr)or those in other countries would somehow find a way to survive on the equivalent of $25 a month.

In fact if we look at US Census statistics, ~$53k/yr is the median household income in the US.

We have a clear definition of poverty, but not definition for middle class. A commonly accepted idea, though, is 50% below to 50% above the median income. So that would make middle class those who make anywhere from $25 to, say, $75K a year.

So, if we look at those figures we arrive at nowhere near the cited $140K. That said, there is (as I stated above) no clearly defined criteria for "middle class" and so it can be based on peoples' perceptions of themselves compared to their peers and their financial goals, etc. I would define $140K as in the lower-upper class. I'm not going to say where I fall within this paradigm as I don't think it necessary.

Feel free to dispute, challenge, counter anything I've said here But keep in mind this is O/T not the politics+religion sub forum (this is directed to everyone not the quoted guys since I'm obviously agreeing with you both lol)

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

People tend to live in their bubbles and use that as their only frame of reference. It's easy to forget then the vast numbers of people in the USA who are well below the poverty line (a family of 2 making between $15-16k/yr)or those in other countries would somehow find a way to survive on the equivalent of $25 a month.

In fact if we look at US Census statistics, ~$53k/yr is the median household income in the US.

We have a clear definition of poverty, but not definition for middle class. A commonly accepted idea, though, is 50% below to 50% above the median income. So that would make middle class those who make anywhere from $25 to, say, $75K a year.

So, if we look at those figures we arrive at nowhere near the cited $140K. That said, there is (as I stated above) no clearly defined criteria for "middle class" and so it can be based on peoples' perceptions of themselves compared to their peers and their financial goals, etc. I would define $140K as in the lower-upper class. I'm not going to say where I fall within this paradigm as I don't think it necessary.

Feel free to dispute, challenge, counter anything I've said here But keep in mind this is O/T not the politics+religion sub forum (this is directed to everyone not the quoted guys since I'm obviously agreeing with you both lol)

I agree with every point you've made. Many of the guys in my department with some years in are just shy of the $100k mark; academy grads who just hit the street are making mid-60's/close to 70k (...as with many SoCal law enforcement agencies), and are doing just fine. I guess where the forum is concerned, if you didn't buy your BMW 3/4/M3 cash (..and chose to lease/BMW Select, and allocate your liquidity elsewhere rather than a depreciating 'asset'), it 'obviously' means that you can't afford the car. The forums, gotta love 'em!

[ddk632]

If you have to drive your own Rolls Royce, you're still lower middle class. That's what my butler says, anyway.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by ddk632

If you have to drive your own Rolls Royce, you're still lower middle class. That's what my butler says, anyway.

First world problems? Ooops wrong thread!

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I agree with every point you've made. Many of the guys in my department with some years in are just shy of the $100k mark; academy grads who just hit the street are making mid-60's/close to 70k (...as with many SoCal law enforcement agencies), and are doing just fine. I guess where the forum is concerned, if you didn't buy your BMW 3/4/M3 cash (..and chose to lease/BMW Select, and allocate your liquidity elsewhere rather than a depreciating 'asset'), it 'obviously' means that you can't afford the car. The forums, gotta love 'em!

imho "upper class" are my coworkers who have a 70' Sea Ray and looking for a bigger one. Those who are spending 40k/yr. on their kids' private schools, have 3 kids, and they're not even in HS yet. Those who own 2nd homes at the shore (btw I have none of these luxuries). And one would never, ever, be able to have any of those trappings with a household income of even 250k.

But you are right in that class is in the eye of the beholder. Some people lease a 750li and feel that they've leased into class. Others feel that owning a 1.6 mil. home and having a junk 1997 Saturn in the driveway but paid-off is the way to go. Everybody is different.

Love it or leave it, that 140k number was a real number pulled off of E46 marketing material from corporate to the dealerships. But when the E46 was out, it was a different time--more people purchased their vehicles.