I never said you have to work for money to have a life purpose, but if you were volunteering, making art, organizing within your community, etc. -- you would have said that when he asked what you did for a living. If someone is passionate and has direction, they don't characterize the fact that they don't have a paid position at the moment as "taking a break." They talk about what they do with their days. It sounds like you dont' do anything with your days. This reminds me of a scene in the movie About a Boy with Hugh Grant. He's a trust fund baby who is wealthy because his dad wrote a single hit Christmas song. He genuinely does not do anything with his time except hang out in his nice house or go play billiards. At one point he's at a dinner party and a woman asks him what he does and he says "nothing." And she's confused and figures he must do *something* even if it's not work, surely he takes classes or volunteers or travels or something, right? Nope, nothing. She's not put off by his trust fund, she's put off by how freaking boring and directionless he is. That is what you sound like. |
You don't have to rush but it's weird if there's really nothing you want to be working on. For most people in your situation, figuring ou what they wanted to do long term would mean trying a bunch of things that sound appealing to them now. The people I've known with that kind of financial freedom in their 20s did things like live and work on vineyard for a couple years, tried acting, wrote novels, or pursued exciting but not high paying careers to see what it was like (working in television news, teaching aerial arts, etc.). None of these people continued doing these things into their 30s except the woman who went into TV news, but they still enthusiastically threw themselves at these efforts when they could. I get why this guy was put off. It's not that he's jealous of your money, it's that he's annoyed that you have such a great opportunity right now and are apparently too dull or dumb to come up with a way to take advantage of it. It does not speak well of you. |
| I would be afraid someone would date me for my money. He shouldn't have said that but you shouldn't have told him. "not opposed to working" is also a weird thing to say. I don't want to work but I HAVE to and that is true for most people. |
| OP on the chance you are not a troll I hope you take a second and read some of your replies and realize how you come across. I have known a few people who have had a lot of money and the only way they have any relationships with any non trust funders is to realize their situation is 1) unusual 2) not something they earned and 3) something to be very grateful for. The difference between “I needed a break after going to college” and “I’m fortunate enough to be able to take some time off” is huge. You don’t need a break. Surely if you have interacted with other people in the past you realize that? |
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When you have something that other people would like to have, some will hate you for it. I've learned this as a woman with lifetime alimony. I certainly didn't play some kind of long game to marry some poor goofy man and have him turn into a high-earning but dysfunctional alcoholic and cheater. That's just how my life turned out. Some people will act like it's a character flaw of mine. And they're welcome to. I don't have that many slots for meaningful relationships in my life. They're helping me move on to someone who likes me for who I am.
I've learned to focus on what I do - I'm still a SAHM, I own some rental properties. And not be like, "Well guess what, some doofus has to pay me a lot of money every month until one of us dies," as much as it gets a laugh at dinner parties. I'm not dating yet. But I can't imagine it's a drawback that I zero-percent want or need someone to take care of me. I just want a little companionship and sex. I don't want your money. I don't want to manage your life for you or buy presents for your relatives. I just want dinner and sex. |
| I mean, this guy isn't for you, but moving forward you need to do better PR and messaging for your situation if you want to find someone with substance. Living on savings while applying to grad schools is a perfectly fine answer. You can even couch it as this may be the one time in your life you can take a break so you are enjoying the peace while you sort out next steps and count your blessings that you have savings you can live on. No need to mention trust funds and all that. |
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I can relate, OP. I’m an artist and part time yoga/mindfulness teacher. I live a nice life not thanks to my exH, but thanks to a trust. I’ve learned to keep this info private. Because I previously had a high earning career I just say I was lucky to make hay while the sun shone and I’m fortunate to be able to pursue this alternative part time path earlier than most (I’m 50).
Don’t mention the trust till things are serious. It never serves you to reveal your wealth early- you’ll intimidate or turn them off, or you’ll become insecure that they’re just with you so thy too can live a life of leisure. |
The vast majority of people aren't devoting themselves to something meaningful. You sound jealous. |
DP but I disagree. Most people do find some way to infuse their life with meaning, whether it's through work or parenthood or relationships or their community or a hobby or something. OP's behavior on this date isn't that different than someone who is in kind of a boring, dead-end job and, when asked what they do, just says "oh I'm in this boring dead-end job" and nothing else. That would also be a turn off for most people. When you are dating, it is so much more interesting to talk to someone who seems to care about something, whether it's their job or something else. I had a really boring job I was not passionate about in my 20s, but I also had interests and hobbies I did care about, and would have mostly talked about that on a date. I think it's particularly sad OP doesn't have that when she doesn't even have the burden of spending 40 hours a week at a job just to pay rent. She sounds directionless. Most people have meaning in their lives. |
OP can find joy and meaning in whatever she wants. She mentions multiple hobbies and interests. It's not really your place to tell others what counts as meaningful to them. |
Your grandad is rolling in his grave seeing his money wasted when he was thinking he built multigenerational wealth that his descendants would add to and grow. |
When it comes down to it, obviously her date did not think she was doing anything meaningful. Presumably after spending an hour with her, he picked up on the fact that she's a boring dud who lacks self awareness. If she'd waxed on about her weekends scooping shit at the humane society and spending 3 hours a day 7 days a week at her great grandma's memory care facility, he probably wouldn't have accused her of being a lazy trust fund kid. |
Or her date was a big AH who can't handle a woman with her own money. Insecure man children don't tend to make good partners anyways, so the trash essentially took itself out. |
As does OP. Just because her meaning doesn't line up with yours doesn't make hers any less valid. Raising your crotch spawn might feel very meaningful for you, but that doesn't mean everyone wants to dedicate their life to that. |
I mean he was still trying to bang |