MALE OR FEMALE, WHO PROVIDES FOR THE FAMILY?

Mapleleaf, Sounds like our family. I retired early while my wife still works. She started working as a nurse before I even got my college degree. Since she works at Kaiser Permanente, I'm under her health insurance and Medicare, and I pay no deductibles for anything. Meds and doctor visits are all free. I make no wages. I'm Asian American, and I'm 67 years old. Although my wife could have retired last year, she says she's going to continue to work for another couple of years.
c.i.

My wife quit the workforce 6-months after our first was born, because she had the opportunity to take over an in-home daycare biz. She did that for six years, and now works (volunteer) at our (now three) kid's schools. She works in the office, in the classrooms, helps serve lunch, drives them on fieldtrips and to team sporting events. It's hardly like she doesn't work.

I sit here at my desk job, bringing in the bacon, and goofing off on A2K a bit as well.

cj
I'd think I was looking in a mirror, can you take off your glasses and dye your hair

Well, it's getting to the point where I probably need to dye my hair anyway, and if I take off my glasses I won't be able to tell how stupid I look.

Eh, it depends. Sometimes I'm the breadwinner; sometimes it's Mr. Jespah. Currently it's Mr. Jespah. Two years ago it was me. Ten years ago it was, uh, Mr. Jespah (I'm skipping years when we traded). Fifteen years ago we hadn't met.

Ummmmm.....I support myself ~ granted, I couldn't do it if I didn't have a roommate (me Muddah). I also help my ex with our son, financially. Food, clothing, allowance (and this is no easy task since the child is 6'1", 220 pounds and likes to spend money!).

My husband was the breadwinner in the beginning of our marriage. After my son was old enough I returned to college, got my degrees, and went to work for about 18 years. He was still the primary breadwinner, and still is. Although we are both retired, his business is still throwing off some nice commissions.

I've always been the provider, but I'm single.

We both provide - however, I make more money than my husband. But that doesn't mean he depends on me. He did fine when we met. Of course, it is easier with a bit more money. Isn't is always?

I was the breadwinner until just recently and now I'm phasing out and squinney is phasing in.

As a self employed person in a service industry (entertainment is a service industry at the end of the day) I no longer have the stomach to interact with people, and have sold my events business.

squinney has quite a nice ebay store in development that is bringing in good income already and I am beginning to buy and sell guitars while still doing dj and karaoke work part time, although I am phasing out of that as well.

My kids, who are great spenders, we are a spending family actually, have directly told me they'd rather sell the house and buy a trailer and have me more available and screw the money, so we're on the same page.

When you spend your life doing 275 to 300 shows a year, early retirement is a viable option.

Sometime before I die, I'd like to get to a point where I like people again instead of innately disliking them.

Go off on a rant didn't I? Sorry.

BBB, Bet you felt a lot better after your rant. Rant away whenever you feel the need. It's healthy! c.i.

Some woman called and wanted a clown a little while ago....I told her we were out of that business and recommended the best clown in this area. As I was giving her a reference on this wonderful clown she cut me off in mid sentence to tell me she had already been in touch with this clown and she was too expensive.

She then told me it was a fundraiser for one children's thing or another, I wasn't paying attention, and proceeded to go into the usual fund raiser spiel designed to make me feel like I hated children if I couldn't help her out with free entertainment.

Then God spoke directly to me and said "Steve, you're out of business remember?"

I said "Lady, if you think anyone can put on a rubber nose and be a clown, and if you're so concerned about these children, and you can draw a straight line, why don't you go buy a 20.00 clown suit, a five dollar red nose and wig, and draw rainbows on these kids yourself?"

Needless to say, this suggestion went over like a pregnant pole vaulter.

Man, it felt great to tell her though.

Good for you...my wife and I got burned out on supervising. We retired in '98....have not missed a bit of it. We are busy doing what we want to do.

Hi Mapleleaf, Yes, I'm in full agreement, retirement is grander than grand. c.i.

I am currently the 1 vote for none of the above. I'm single so I support myself. I think it varies widely from couple to couple and even over time. My dad supported my mom for years and then vice versa. I guess it depends on your lifestyle if you need two incomes to survive. Then there is the child thing to. With children life is expensive!