Source: WIBC 93.1 FM https://share.google/zSh1oXQqudAL9HLaP

What is the American Dream?

According to major news outlets, there are i parts yo the dream:

• Retirement
• Homeownership
• Cars
• Putting 2 kids through college
• Vacations
• Healthcare
• Pet ownership
• Wedding ($38,000)

I was pleased by the recognition of pet ownership.  I was surprised that a wedding made the list. People have found another reason to feel surprised by this list.  People make half of the $5 million needed over zero lifetime to fund everything.  Regular people, I mean.

MY LIST

1. Life-long learning in formal settings.
2. Pet ownership
3. Starting a business
4. Annual travel to a new destination
5. Owning a home
6. Healthcare
7. Mutual support of friends and family
8. Life-long saving
9. Community investment

This is the list I want.  In the first list, we only spend money on ourselves and extensions of ourselves.  There is no community-mindedness in the “American Dream.” Moreover, there is no thought of education once we are adults.  I don’t believe education had to stop. Nor do I see myself as someone who quits work.  There is something vital to our self-worth when people count on us to show up.  It is important that we can run the risk of being late–instead of no one caring if we appear. I think it matters less what kind of job we have, as long as we are doing something someone feels is worth paying us to do.

Others will have a different list. Many people would put tithes and offerings to their church as a part of their dream.  The fact that I can choose to leave that out is part of the freedom of religion we Americans hold dear, and writing about it embodies freedom of speech. 

I want to own a home. But maybe my home should be a boat or an RV to combine home and travel.

What’s your American Dream? Can you afford the life of your dreams?

Here’s a question no one asks: how can we help others make their dreams come true? That is my dream as a real estate agent in Hawaii.

• #lifestyle
• #homeownership
• #americandream
• #helping others
• Hawaiirealtor
• #tangeelazarus