Wives and Money

It's been an interesting morning. I had breakfast with a large diverse group of ladies. Learned about an acquaintance's husband being laid off. Wow. Our husbands are sort of in the same line of work. Wow. Also got to hear how my husband's business competition refers to themselves - all very interesting enlightening stuff.

So here's a table of ex-pat wives sitting around, having breakfast (that cost WAY too much) and talking about how living here is so not 'the real world.' If you come from one of 'the right countries,' then all of your living expenses are paid for - housing, car, kids' school tuition and fees, everything. Thus, many people live a life they couldn't otherwise afford, ie 'this isn't the real world.' So, there I am sitting in a VERY fancy hotel, having an expensive breakfast in my skirt from a massive discount type place, my top from a truly dirt cheap bargain basement 2nd hand store, jewelry I've had since my teenage years (except the bracelet my husband gave me almost 10 years ago), and I'm listening to how people are dealing with live-in housekeepers. As one woman put it, "This is a very strange place." Right on sister, right on. Living here, I drive a vehicle of choice that back in my home country would be totally impractical, I pay to have place to workout, I have to dress up just to have breakfast out, and to have breakfast out I have to pay big bucks to go to a hotel. Of course, some places will have breakfast type stuff after Ramadan, but it still isn't cheap.

As I think about the current world economy, I wonder how does the world get the money flowing again? Cheap/easy credit? But then everybody would in debt up to their eyeballs, and that's not a good thing. I just don't understand economics. You gotta have stuff. You gotta buy stuff, but you need money to buy stuff. But maybe you don't have money to buy stuff 'cause nobody is buying stuff from you! Sheesh, gives me a headache.

So instead of getting a headache, watch today's fish video.

Time for a coffee, quiet and peace. And prayers for you dear readers that the current world economic situtation is not hurting you or your family.