The Shrinking Middle Class

O.K. So finally the media has caught up with what I have been telling everyone I know all along...New York is for the rich! A news story today revealed that in order for a family of four to live comfortably in the city it would cost on average about 75K. That figure of course did not include health coverage and other incidentals...the new estimated total would then be 130K! I was born and raised in New York and have always known that the surrounding territories are being taken back by the rich. No longer are "those who have" limiting themselves to Manhattan. In addition to that island, the well to dos are also laying claim to all of the other boroughs particularly in neighborhoods where low and middle class families have views of Manhattan. They like to call it gentrification...I like to call it stealing with full approval of government policies. Don't quote me to the exact percentage however foreclosures are up substantially particularly in Brooklyn. What amazes me about Brooklyn is the fact that just about anywhere you look, housing prices are very high in the borough. The same in true in all of the boroughs. The problem is that you have to be either very rich or very poor to own real estate in NY. Right not I guess you could say I'm in the latter category. I'm not homeless (at least not yet) however, I don't have the resources available to even buy property in my hometown. My group, single, in the 30-40 category, no children..we are the workhorses...every law or provision is for those with children or some other protected category. What is very perplexing to me, especially during election seasons, is the fact that very little is ever said about the single, middle class population. Is it to be assumed that we are supposed to be earning so much that we are o.k. no matter what? That simply isn't true. I remember when I was unemployed five years ago and having to apply for medicaid. I was told that I didn't qualify but if I had kids I could qualify for WIC and Mitchell-Lama Housing. I guess the assumption was that it's just me so the situation was not that desperate. I can assure you that not having medical coverage was a major issue for me at that time. It still is. Needless to say housing is never really a consideration discussed by politicians when it comes to the single middle class community. Family health coverage, the War, tax refunds for homeowners, and foreign policy are what politicians discuss. I wonder what would happen if all of us single, middle class people simply didn't work and became ultra-dependant on emergency room care. What then? Total chaos. Social security would crumble overnight and taxes for everyone would skyrocket. Who knows...maybe that would be a good way to end unnecessary wars. Interesting sidebar. Anyway, getting back to my original point, I have always known that NY is for the rich and the poor. It's unfortunate that when I do get to the level of ownership, it won't be in the city where I was born. How ironic. My heart will always belong to NY but unfortunately, I don't have the dollars to belong here. The good news is...I like to travel so I am sure there is that right fit out there when the time is right.

In other news, i've been very busy with schoolwork as usual. I can't wait for school to be done but at the same time I'm like...I can't believe school is almost done. I just ordered graduation announcements! Can you believe it?!? I might actually pull this thing off and graduate in five weeks. It's been a very challenging road but the journey is so worth it! I am still living on the edge in terms of finances. I have now started living off of my small savings so my right fit great job needs to come up no later than the end of June. I'm working hard to find it. Oh! Before I forget, I accomplished something today at workout. I have succeeded in run/walking a mile in thirteen minutes! I am so happy! Considering that when I first started there six months ago it was taking me just under 23 minutes to walk a mile! What a drastic improvement if I do say so myself. I hope by next year this time I will be jogging a thirteen minute mile. I will do it. So far i've lost two dress sizes and have gained even more confidence in myself. Even though I have my down days, I know that I have more up ones. Out of the three witches actions, progress has been made by me and for that I am thankful.

Lor was asking me if I heard from O'Neil. It's weird that she would ask since somebody else was asking me the same thing two days ago. Like I told her, I don't expect to hear from him since it would actually involve him having to pick up a phone to call me. I'm simply not in his radar for him to even do that and that's o.k. We all have to make choices. I'm choosing to move forward and be around for friends who have time to share. While I will miss the small portion O'Neil shared of himself, Jean has a good point when he says at least I know where I stand with him. I was simply not good enough to be in his circle. What can I say except I am but a simple girl. Just like I was so easily forgettable the first time we met, I am sure I will be easily forgettable the second time around. In fact, i'm sure he has already forgotten about me. The good news is, I'm good enough just the way I am for others. I have found that very similar to my improvement time at the gym, I have also developed an improvement time so to speak with failed friendships and matters of the heart. My recovery time gets shorter with each one. I find that I can analyze and evaluate each situation, take the time to be sad, and then simply move forward. No need to wallow in what should have, could have, would have...I must focus on what is the next adventure to come. Now what use to take me years now takes me a few months, sometimes as short as a few weeks. In the case of O'Neil it was months...maybe because I really felt strongly about him. I thought for sure we would at least be friends. My heart was being optimistic while my head was being pessimistic. This is the one time following my head first (would have) come in handy. Oh well...you live and learn right? It was good to go through the process though. It helped me to reinforce my commitment to myself to never settle in friendships and in the long run love. I better go...still a lot of writing to do. I did see an interesting story on Russian president Vladimir Putin. I'll write my commentary tomorrow.