[anothertraveler]

There are platitudes that money doesn't really matter. Money doesn't buy happiness, etc... But in the US, money is very important. If you have to go to work every day to survive, you are working class. If you get laid off, and you have to find a new job to make a mortgage payment, you are working class.

Having money is simply a means to an end. For some people, that end is the freedom to not have to go to work every day. To focus on things they care about. To have new experiences that don't involve sitting at a desk for 14 hours straight, 5 days a week. But there are many ends. For me, I respect those who don't have to work to survive as having made it, because I know the guy driving the BMW probably financed it and is driving to work.