I don't typically worry about my level of income or whatnot, except when I think of retirement (which I also don't think will happen, honestly). I'm more conce

I don't typically worry about my level of income or whatnot, except when I think of retirement (which I also don't think will happen, honestly). I'm more concerned on whether my family (wife and dogs - no kids - talk about a money sink) is happy and safe. On that level, we are doing very well. We have a roof over our head in a relatively safe, if older, neighborhood. We have reliable vehicles (ok, both of mine are money pits - but off-roading ain't cheap). We have electricity, water, cooling and heating. We have time and money for regular entertainment and minor "luxuries". We have good health, and can afford a doctor's or dental visits. We have vision care. We can and do eat well. We have time for leisure and laying around doing virtually nothing if we want. We can afford hobbies and other interests. By such a measure, and yes it is arbitrary and may not fit with other's ideas - we are "rich". But more than that, we are happy and safe. We have decent incomes, modest savings, and virtually zero debt (other than our mortgage, which is secured debt and doesn't really count - we didn't buy our house as an investment, but rather to live in - amazing idea, huh?). Yes, we both know we are rich. To that end, when and where and how we can, we also donate to charities and other non-profit causes, respective to our values. At the same time, I know monetarily I am not "rich" compared to even my local peers in the software engineering realm. I am sure that if I tried and looked (though my age might be a hindrance), that I could probably break six figures as an SWE here in the Phoenix area. It kinda irks me that I haven't yet, despite having over 25 years of experience, but it's mainly because I tend to enjoy and thrive at working for smaller software engineering businesses which tend to have few employees, and smaller client contracts. I'm fine with that, as I am happier in such places than in larger ones with more internal politics; or at least that's how I perceive it. I don't make as much as I could - but I make enough to keep my family and I happy, safe, and comfortable. That's my definition of rich, for as little as it's worth I guess.