They actually grew up in the city near each other. Enjoying life together...having so much carefree fun.
When their young married lives started, the city mouse was poor as could be...and the country mouse would bring groceries whenever she could.
Throughout, they remained the best of friends...
City mouse eventually inherited quite a bit of money...and moved into a mini mansion...gorgeous home, pool, great neighborhood...not too far from a freeway that could take them to any entertainment establishment around (and there are many, many of these places around)....the freeways are often clogged to a standstill with all the people trying to get to them.
Country mouse moved to the country. It took her a few years to figure out that she wasnt a city mouse anymore...and that she didnt need to run off to a job in the city everyday to have a fulfilling life.
Country mouse made alot of changes to become the country mouse that she always wanted to be...she stopped buying alot of clothes (she only owns one pair of shorts, two pairs of pants and a few summer and winter tops)
No designer anything...nothing fancy...just the basics needed to get through a country day. She hangs her clothes, cooks from scratch, uses coupons, loves freebies, splits wood in her backyard, raises dogs, and cares for parents and grandbabies.
City mouse calls herself a 'clothes diva'. She shops bargains and gets clothes pretty darn cheap....but country mouse sees no need...and as she recently read in another blog...she saves 100% by just not buying any.
City mouse and her DH take a nice vacation each year...photo albums fill her shelves with memories of cruises, exotic beaches and elegant dresses and suits.
Country mouse and her DH camp by a nearby river or lake. Pictures of fireside visits with family and friends. Coutry mouse dreams of one day taking a short cruise..but is content with her vacations as they are...as they are an extension of the country life she loves.
City mouse and country mouse love each other dearly...but they look at each others life now with a slight head-scratching. City mouse is clearly mystified by the changes in country mouse. Country mouse didnt realize there was so much "you do what" in her daily routines.
City mouse and country mouse love to visit each other...to laugh like teenagers again and enjoy the solidness of a long time friendship...but neither would change lives with the other. City mouse would be bored to tears...and country mouse detests the crowds and costs of city life. And that's ok...they both are content with the way things are.
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
August 1st, 2006 at 03:05 pm
August 1st, 2006 at 03:18 pm 1154445509
August 1st, 2006 at 03:25 pm 1154445954
August 1st, 2006 at 04:28 pm 1154449730
August 1st, 2006 at 07:18 pm 1154459926
I get the same response from my upwardly mobile friends. They are eager to bring me up to date on all their latest purchases, trips and status scores. I'm happy to listen, but we really don't connect at that level. Neither, however, do we compete.
August 1st, 2006 at 07:44 pm 1154461479
I would like to think there is a happy balance that falls somewhere in between either extreme. I don't think we should get to thepoint of depriving ourselves just to save a dollar, becus well, life is short and it's all about quality. And of course, excessive spending puts you on a treadmill that rotates faster and faster and which is very hard to get off.
I have tightened my belt to various degrees over the years, as required, but on average, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being a spender and 1 being frugal, i guess i'm about a 3.5.
August 2nd, 2006 at 04:49 pm 1154537356
We are very much the city mouse/country mouse duo and each perfectly happy in our own version of life.
Nice to visit, wouldnt wanna live there!