Introtoletyouknow

If anyone got that Outkast reference in my title, I like you already. Some background; I'm a 31 year old guy from the Midwest who moved out to California almost 6 years ago. When I came here I had dreams of a fresh start filled with palm-tree lined roads, golden-sand beaches, star-studded streets, and million-dollar careers. For the most part Cu-lee-for-nya has been exactly what I expected, aside from the blindingly high rent, stagnant job market, still over-inflated housing prices, and myriad natural disasters. Granted, had I really done my research I probably would have expected all those things as well, but c'mon, I came here with blinders firmly in place, and I'm now paying the consequences for my choices.

At 31 I don't own a home. I drive a late-90's Honda. I couldn't buy a single share of Berkshire-Hathaway stock. I just finished school. I'm constantly nervous, anxious, and slightly depressed about my job situation. I get mad, I get sad, and sometimes I get sauced.

Granted, I'm looking at a real estate market where FORECLOSED homes are selling at upwards of $200,000 and in my current city of Santa Barbara, a one bedroom condo still goes for about half a mil. I'm a young 31. I own my Honda outright, it has low miles, I drive less than 5,000 miles a year, and I don't have to entertain clients, so it's perfect for me. Bershire stock is currently trading at about $102,000 per share. I graduated with honors with an MBA. Everyone I know in this economy is nervous, anxious, and slightly depressed about their job situation. Lots of people get mad. Everyone gets sad. I can put away the sauce.

All told, I'm doing pretty well. I'm an only-child Leo with a great family. My mom's the most loving woman on the planet, almost to the point of completely smothering you with calculated, stress-filled love. She's ridiculously smart; toughest person I've ever known, and the inspiration for almost every positive thing I've done in my life. If my dad were any mellower people would think he was dead...unless you're riding a bike with him. Then he's a god damned machine. Get my dad talking about anything cycling related, and you better have a few hours of free time, because you've just opened Pandora's Box of information. That's where I get my thirst for knowledge and tendency to ramble. The other thing about my dad; biggest heart I've ever seen in my life. That is without question. My two cousins are the other part of my immediate family. They've lived with my family for more than a decade now, and they're more sisters to me than cousins, so from this point forward I'll refer to them as such. The youngest is a quiet, sweet kid (shit, young woman now) who would drop anything to help out someone she loved. The older one reminds me a lot of me at times; strong-willed, pig-headed at times, but well-intentioned and always there. Being a part of such a great family has helped make me who I am, but it can also make it very hard for a partner who might feel they have to compete. Lucky for me my fiancee loves my family, and they love her.

I guess I have it pretty good after all.