M. Ted,

Actually, I think we haven't missed it at all - many of us are the people for whom things have been tight for quite a long time.   I've never had a good income, and have therefore been very careful about debt, and very conservative with what little money I have had to invest. I suspect the same is true for many others here. I think for many of us, we have had times when things were tight, and times when things were even tighter financially.   It leads to confidence that we will manage, no matter what happens.

My house is paid for and I have no debt. Ditto my parents and sister. I've never borrowed money to buy a car in my life, and hope I don't ever have to. I'm not a good money manager, but I am confident I can make whatever adjustments are necessary to live within my means, whatever those means may be. Again, having family, neighbors and/or community with a clear sense of interdependence helps bunches.

I think my situation may be pretty typical of the average Mudcatter.