Did the "American dream" change over time, or was it just my interpretation of it? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by NotSpez@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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So growing up, I had this idea that the American dream was about that if you put in an honest amount of work, you would be rewarded with a good life. This would mean you would be able to take care of yourself and your family, afford a car and a house. In my view, working one job would probably be enough.

Nowadays, I get the idea that the American dream has become about working your ass off in order to have a chance to become a millionaire. Somehow glorifying “the grind” appears to be a part of it too now.

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[-] RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

All that is true, but you forgot to add the part where the person living the life you propose is healthy, quite fit even. Not everyone, even fit young people, would do well living in a tent while they try to understand how to build a house. Let alone run a concessions stand from a van or something. That takes a massive physical toll and not even over the long run.

[-] SmokeyDope@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

@recursiveparadox Thanks for your thoughts! I somewhat disagree that you need to be a fit and physically active person to do most things I mentioned. Definitely not everyone can build a cabin but if you want to live out of van and pitch tent and boondocks its certainly possible for the old and out of shape.

Here are the two things I point to. When doing my own research I came across these two particular yt channels that truly inspired me! cheaprvliving and Bushradical.

Cheaprvliving's host Bob wells is a now 70 year old and sort of out of shape man who still manages to live the van lifestyle. Just a few weeks he reviewed putting up a canvas tent and hooking it with solar powered air conditioner. In the Midwestern desert summer.

He also has constant interviews with many people usually on the older side who are again in no way healthy or fit and some partially disabled but still able to make the nomadic lifestyle work.

Its quite sad but a lot of older people are forced into homelessness as their rent eats them alive with meager SS. Young people also sometimes appear but not as much as you would expect.

As for the concession stand thing Maybe I'm not sure how physically able you need to be to tow and detach a small concession trailer. You make a good point there. Can always have an online store and ship depending on the thing selling maybe. Bob however did have a trailer attached to one of his rigs about five years ago and managed to get it around as a 65 yo man.

Cheaprvliving channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj7O3LCDbkIR54hAn6Zz7A

Bushradical is a couple with years of experience building cabins that have made excellent videos on how to build the cheapest and easiest lodges possible. The way they show this particular build it seems possible. They truly present it in a way that I am convinced I could realistically do it with maybe a few novice beginner mistakes. As a single person.

Bushradical easy cabin blackthereof https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOXmfkXpkM&t=1

Everyone's lie circumstances and desires are so different so what may work for one person won't work for all others, but I think a lot of people have alternative options available to them that they either never think about or convince themselves they can't for X reasons. At the end of the day people are responsible for the life they choose to live and the resulting satisfaction they get living it or lackthereof

[-] RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

You make some good points, thanks for that. And unfortunately as you allude, this may become the fate of many in the not too distant future, whether they choose the lifestyle of their own volition ...or not.

this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023

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