Missing Middle Class

Sometimes this is much harder than we expected.  We actually didn't expect to be so broke and so poor that we'd ever have to make the decisions we are forced to make.  Sometimes its just the little things too.  Things that we took for granted for years.  Things that poverty can't even consider.

I miss wine.  I miss the ritual of opening a bottle of wine, pouring the glass and looking at it, smelling it, tasting it. I miss sitting down at the end of the day with a glass of red wine, and taking time to relax. I miss pairing a nice red wine with a fine dark chocolate and savoring each. I don't suffer from not having wine, but I do miss the peaceful rituals I had with it.  I think that my husband feels the same about craft beer.  I think we both miss the evenings where we had our drink and sat and talked together, having missed one another through the day. We gave both up, having drank our small collections.  Likewise, I miss some of the winter drinks we used to have.  I miss the smell of scotch.  I miss the bottle of honeyed whisky I would indulge in once a year. Obviously, not necessary to life, these things were cut early from our budget. They were just something fine and enjoyable to us.

I miss shopping for housewares.  Not even the buying of housewares, but we've gone so far from middle class that we won't happen across that perfect-something-on-perfect-sale-so-we-should-buy-it item. There is no perfect something to look for no matter how inexpensive it is.  Even free is too expensive at this point.  I looked forward to Bed, Bath and Beyond opening this summer, but its opening coincided with my injury.  So I never had the chance to go look for cheerful, cotton napkins.  And now I'm at the point where new napkins are such a luxury item that shopping for them is akin to looking at brand new Jaguars.  Its completely ridiculous to even consider buying something so extravagant.  But I miss thinking that I should pick up new kitchen hand towels if I find any I like the next time I'm out.

I miss being able to call a repairman or even just replace a faulty item.  Everything seemed to fall apart the moment we no longer could afford the basics. I'm not sure how so many appliances knew that we couldn't afford to fix them, but they must have, since so many things went wrong.  A malfunctioning washer is just highly inconvenient when you can afford to go to the laundromat, or to replace it, but its a heartbreak when you can't afford any other option.

I miss simple things like going out once a week or even once a month.  There is no quick-trip through a drive-thru, or going out for dinner.  Going to the movies, buying new ones, or even renting from RedBox is out of the question.  There is no taking the kids out to try something new, or enjoy something old.  If a much anticipated video that we've had on hold for months doesn't get turned back in to the library, we don't get to see it. Birthdays and Valentine's day are simply days on the calendar.

I miss going to do other things, like fishing, hiking, and taking the dogs out. Sure, these things are free, or otherwise very cheap, but I can't go anymore if I can't walk.

I'm not sure you realize on your way up to middle-class just how much easier life becomes with money.  Sure you realize that life is a lot easier than when you were a young couple, married and just starting out in life, but you don't always notice that money and time have changed you that much.

And I know I'm whining.  But before you roll your eyes at me, think about the little (or big) luxuries that you indulge in.  Is it craft supplies?  Wouldn't you miss being able to sew or knit or scrapbook?  Wouldn't you miss relaxing at the end of the day?  Wouldn't you miss grabbing a quick bite to eat when you were too tired to cook? Or going out on a special date?  Wouldn't you miss being able to have clean, dry clothing and clean dishes?  Wouldn't you miss walking?  If you say no, you aren't being truthful with yourself.