goodfountain

Remember that game you used to play when you were a kid, or perhaps you play it with your own kids now, where at first glance five or so things seem like they are all the same, but one of them is actually different and … not like the others?

At my Husband’s work Holiday Party last night, he and I felt like not the One that didn’t belong, but the Two. Sure we had an enjoyable time making idle chit chat with other similarly-aged and -occupied persons. It was nice for me to wear “pretty” clothes instead of my usual Mommy wardrobe of comfy jeans and a sweater.

However, once all the kid-bragging and what-part-of-town-do-you-live-in conversations were maxed out, we started to stumble. Ever since writing about my 2008 Financial Goals, I have been thinking / planning / strategizing ways to achieve them. Thus, they are on my mind. A lot.

Standing in a lovely near-million-dollar home, I listened to a Dad talk about his first-grader playing competitive basketball. Then there was a Mom who complained about her preschooler’s too-busy ballet schedule. Another Mom bent my ear about her daily trips to Target and how she can’t get out of there for less than $50. I heard tales of daily take-out for dinner, swim club memberships, classes at Gymboree, dollars thrown here, dollars thrown there. My head was spinning.

I was at a loss on how to participate. While I’m proud of my financial goals and excited by the challenge of spending less money shopping, bringing that up would have been the proverbial lead balloon.

In a social setting like that, standing amongst the corporate cookie cutouts, with their designer handbags and their iPhones, it’s easy to look at all the toys and lose sight of the Bigger Picture.

Driving home, though, we talked it through and reminded ourselves that while They may have more *things* to show for their money, it’s not what makes us happy. I couldn’t care less about This New Gadget or That Excellent Thing.

No, rather, we love the thrill of watching our investments grow, and the buzz from saving money on an exceptionally good bargain. We are proud of our small business and how it’s grown because of our own ideas and decisions.

It was a timely reminder, spending an evening with people with whom I couldn’t have a meaningful conversation, that not everyone shares our Vision of Financial Freedom and Passion for Entrepreneurship.

And I was happy to hop online again and browse the Blogs of the many I’ve discovered who do share our Vision and Passion. This is substantially more rewarding (in more ways than one) than any single item that money can buy. And I no longer feel like the one who is …not like the others.