I always feel weird about this stuff because I'm deeply sympathetic about increasing social stratification in America and how hard it's become to live a secure lifestyle with a working-class job, but I also get so frustrated by how little people understand about this stuff. I feel like I'm on the side of the assholes when I point it out, but it's true.

So many of the comments in this thread are "it's family money" or "they're up to their eyeballs in debt." I've been inside many big, fancy houses in this state and known many people who live in others. The answer has literally never been "it's family money" or "they're up to their eyeballs in debt." The answer has always been "they have jobs that pay a lot, often with a dual income." It's weird to me that people don't seem to understand that a) a lot of these jobs exist, and b) they can buy you a big-ass house. It's such a simple answer, but I guess the logic is "I don't know how to access these jobs so they must not exist"?

Just off the top of my head, here are some jobs held by people I know who live in houses I would characterize as big and fancy, all of which I've been inside:

• Owner of software development company and attorney
• CTO of software development company and spouse with unknown job
• Executive at major corporation and non-working spouse
• Executive at major corporation and financial adviser
• Corporate attorney and editor for a national news publication
• Two executives at a large engineering firm
• Owner of said engineering firm
• College basketball coach and hairstylist (cheated a little on this one, it's my wife who knows the hairstylist, and I've never been in the house but they did give us their piano. I just thought it was cool)

These people exist and there are a lot of them. That's who's living in the houses. Remember, these are just houses that I've personally been inside and it's not even all of them. Of course there are some people who watch TV all day and live off their trust funds from their robber-baron great grandfathers, but they're a small minority.

Because you left essentially the same comment twice.

“I’m 40. I have a historic mansion in Providence. I didn’t buy in a fancy neighborhood. I’m about 15 years into my software career. I taught myself everything I know about technology and didn’t study it in school.

I don’t have family money. I am maxing out my 401k. I’m also supporting my partner financially while she figures out her next steps. No hustle. No money from a FAANG windfall. I’m making well over 200k on my own.”

Vs

“I have a historic mansion in RI. Senior software engineer/security/operations person who is very good at their job. Didn’t buy in fancy neighborhood. No family money, and I don’t care for being entrepreneurial. I could make more likely, but I am lazy and have no hustle these days”

It’s common to downvote one of these comments.

Yes!

🤣that's all it takes to drive quickly thru our lil pothole-filled state

I own an inflatable paddle board, do I get boat cred?

For what it's worth, there's a boat parked in my yard that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to a friend who doesn't have a good place to keep it and I had space in my driveway. I have zero inclination to own a boat.

Software engineer for 25+ years. Bought my house 25 years ago when the market was down. I make enough to pay the bills and have some for occasional vacations.

I believe wells fargo still has a decent sized IB office in downtown providence. Also there are a bunch of independent wealth management companies especially in the wealthier areas.

If you could get into Brown why wouldn't you choose to go to a nicer school with better rankings in a nicer city?

No you didn’t, this subreddit likes to wallow in self-pity.

So what about the satanists? Was that a stupid question? Think about the context and how broad the proposal is. Nobody said all gay people are pedos.

I’m 40. I have a historic mansion in Providence. I didn’t buy in a fancy neighborhood. I’m about 15 years into my software career. I taught myself everything I know about technology and didn’t study it in school.

I don’t have family money. I am maxing out my 401k. I’m also supporting my partner financially while she figures out her next steps. No hustle. No money from a FAANG windfall. I’m making well over 200k on my own.

Absolutely. Many individuals live beyond their means and are unable to maintain their quality of life through retirement.

Did I answer the question wrong? Not sure I understand the downvotes. Not all money is family money.

Electric boat. Its a living :-/

If you see something you like throw down on it.

https://careers-gdeb.icims.com/jobs/search?ss=1&searchRelation=keyword_all&searchLocation=-12823-

Sounds just like my situation, especially as a musician. But no kayaks. I'm far too disaster prone to have those.

Burrillville voted for Obama twice. It's complicated.

I've also seen multiple BLM signs throughout town.

Everyone is very pro-environment here. But people also love their guns.

You see what everyone wears.

You see most people's cars.

You might see their house.

You don't see anyone's retirement accounts lol

Lol I guess I’m a SINKWAD

…what

Did I pee on your rug sir!?!? I’ll say it again, did I pee on your rig sir?!?!?

Everytime a rug is micturated upon in this fair city some loser comes to me asking for a handout. The Bums lost Lebowski! The Bums will always lose!!!

Thank you so much! I was lucky to purchase in 2018 right before the pricing skyrocketed

Back in the day when I cleaned fish tanks there were pockets of Italians living like that all in the “jewelry business”, they paid well and recommended me to friends and offered me side jobs.

Do you drink an unusual amount of White Russians? Has someone soiled a rug that tied your room together?