project 365: day 65

day 65, originally uploaded by shalimargonzales.

My co worker was telling some joke about the fact that he's currently dating a woman who is much younger than he. "But see, the thing is," he said (and then I paraphrased here...), "I'm financially 25, so no one my actual age wants to date me."

Blog posts can come from the most unexpected places.

The idea of being financially any age struck me. What co worker was saying is that he currently makes the same amount of money that most 25-year-old should/do and that on account of that "salary" he's only capable of leading a lifestyle that a such-staged person can live (note: in fairness what Roy was really saying was a joke not intended for over-analytical blog fodder).

I get it, and I agree with it, except for the fact that I had friends who were making more money at 25 than my mother makes today? Did they behave like a 50-something woman and date people around that same age? No. But did they live in a manner way different than my 30K 25-year-old self, yes.

That means the real crux of what co worker was saying has a lot to do with what I've been thinking about for a few weeks ago - the issue of whether or not you can date outside your professional progress zone and last.

Professional progress is almost undoubtedly tied to financial progress. And what comes as the by product of both those things is the ability to live a life we all equate with "being an adult."

Co worker's joke is that he can't manage the expenses of a life beyond that which a 25-year-old can afford. I'm guessing here but it's likely: can't afford to buy property, can't afford lavish vacations, has to live in a neighborhood on the fringe of the more expensive neighborhoods, probably shouldn't have a kid. In a phrase: financially 25.

So then I guess the saying should go, "age - it's just a dollar sign." Though, tell that to a bank-rolled 23-year-old living in the apartment she bought with the interest off her trust fund.