I have a high standard of living.

Perhaps this makes me spoiled. But I like to think of it more as trying to live up to what I've seen around me. Deerfield is an affluent town. It wasn't when my parents moved there...but I can't help but want things that I saw other people having as I grew up. In all fairness, I got much of what I wanted as a child, and my mother made sure that I never felt "lacking" like she did growing up.

But that means that now, I tend to splurge to live up to a lifestyle in which I've become comfortable. It's a blessing and a curse to have a mother like mine, and it's hard for outsiders to understand. I can't tell you the number of times I've been told "do you know how lucky you are to have a mother like that?" but it's usually from people who can't see my side of it.

Whatever, this isn't a mother-bashing entry. I just got used to a certain way of life, and I want to continue to live it. So I go to Panera a couple times a week. And I occasionally buy books from Barnes & Noble.

I live a comfortable life and I'd like to stay that way. I just need an income to support this.