[lotsofpulp]

I have the same line of reasoning when people talk about having enough to feel secure. Even simple civil legal matters cost in the tens of thousands of dollars easy.

And the system works so that you’re either rich enough to be able to defend yourself and the money spent doesn’t affect you, you’re poor enough that you have nothing to lose, or you’re in the middle, busy trying to get from poor to rich, but you are vulnerable to losing it all because you don’t have enough to protect it, but you have enough that it’s worth for someone else to try and take it.

[cyberlurker]

Yes, that middle zone (that most of us probably live in) is terrifying. And it’s why we get conned into so many different types of insurance.

“One disaster and all that progress is gone.”

[hutzlibu]

"Yes, that middle zone (that most of us probably live in) is terrifying"

More terrifying than the bottom where you got nothing to loose? I doubt it. Otherwise, why be afraid of it?

[vmception]

I would say just because of the energy and sacrifices used

At the bottom you don't have to pretend that the circumstances will improve, and there is some freedom associated with some approaches to that. Careers don't need to have continuity, I know many people in hospitality and service industry whose vacation policy is saving and quitting one restuarant, travelling, and getting another job at a different restuarant when they get back. Sure other approaches have lots of energy used on finding food and shelter that day, and service and hospitality work is not necessarily at the bottom, my post isn't about those approaches and dilemmas.

People in the distinct category of "professional" careers, not my term, don't feel like they have that freedom to have any timegaps and are resigned to earning small periods of time off, and often times that is true.

[hutzlibu]

"At the bottom you don't have to pretend that the circumstances will improve"

Well, sorry, but I would also say, you don't know what you are talking about.

First of all, there is no bottom at the bottom - you can always fall deeper, until there is no more escape than suicide. I know people who did.

What you maybe mean, are people who don't care abobut materialism and live with little to no money by their choice. I lived with those people for quite some time and it was fun.

When you are young and healthy and on your own, you don't really have to worry about a lot of things. I worried about my backpack with my laptop and that was it. I slept in a tent or under the stars or wherever. When the money was gone, there were always places or ways to get food. Work a little, travel a little. Easygoing.

But now I have a family. Now I cannot not have money.

[michaelmrose]

You couldn't possibly be more wrong. Have you ever not been able to afford medication that you know you needed to breath and gone to sleep to have a nightmare about being attacked and suffocated and woke up to find it was real save for the fact that it was your own body?

Ever wondered if you could afford to keep a pet from dying due to being able to afford the care?

Ever wondered if losing your home was going to stress your marriage so much that it might splinter?

The only people who think the bottom is less stressful have never been there.

[cyberlurker]

To be clear, I don’t think the bottom is any less terrifying. It’s just the anxiety of being poor and powerless is now replaced by reality.