time is money?

this is a supergood article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html

i ran into a professional looking young woman at our local courthouse several months ago who recognized me from the post office. as we chatted a bit while we walked to our vehicles, it came to light that  i had used my USPS employment status in the past tense.
she inquired about the particulars of my leaving that position,
she stopped, looked at me like i was growing tentacles and said
"you LEFT a federal job?!"
she shook her head in dismay and slight disgust.

obviously i was a crazyperson.

suddenly i felt a panicky the need to justify my decision to leave my "good paying federal" job for a "oh, you're one of the low class slobs who works food service" job.

i explained to her that i had no control or flexibility in my schedule, the benefits weren't really that great, my position was technically temporary/part time (despite the fact that i was working more than most of my "full time/career" coworkers, and making less) and my opportunities for advancement or even a better schedule was pretty nil.
i told her about how i never had time to spend with my family, how i didn't have the freedom to plan a trip, to even make any kind of a long-term commitment; how i couldn't do thing things i loved, i couldn't plan my life because my job owned me.
i explained this to the best of my ability while walking across a small parking lot, and she still shook her head like i was an idiot.
and i kind of felt like an idiot for a couple seconds.

then she climbed into her shiny, black, $40,000+ SUV and i climbed onto my shiny, olive green $400 bicycle,
and i understood....and felt even more foolish.

i didn't need to justify myself at all. not to a stranger; not to anyone.
 her interpretations and reactions to my situation reflected  her own values and fears. it had little to do with me.
i'm not addicted to money.
my time is more valuable to me than money.
yes, i need to work, i need to pay for heat and electricity, my house, food...things people need.
and i like to watch movies and i like to go out with my friends and see a band play from time to time.
i do not, however, need to work to make a payment on a new SUV. or a huge house.
or a fancy new suit. or a purse. or a phone.
because those things don't define a person.
they don't MAKE you.

and suddenly,
as i felt the fresh air on my face as i pedaled through town on my day off (not just my lunch break),
i felt free.