Wow, I have to say that this validates a lot of my life decisions so far. Never wanted kids, bought a modest house, drive a beater car because it gets me where

Wow, I have to say that this validates a lot of my life decisions so far. Never wanted kids, bought a modest house, drive a beater car because it gets me where I need to go (with air conditioning because I’m not a sadist). I just always sort of naturally despised the status games of society and didn’t feel like I had to participate. The goal is to be able to retire at 49. Not that I necessarily will, but that at that point I can say “fuck you” to anyone if I want and keep doing my own thing. I feel fortunate to currently work for an employer who I don’t want to say that to anyway. I think there’s a common belief on either “side” of the child/childless divide that the other one must be secretly unhappy with their choice, but I’ve tended to believe that most people end up where they prefer, so it’s interesting to hear a perspective that’s a bit different. I think children are cute and all that, but as you said, a $1 million expense sure blows a hole in my budget. I also have some philosophical issues with the whole thing very much like the OP stated. Also, I feel pretty bad about the state of the world being left to children born today, primarily around climate change, but not limited to that. Given all those factors I’m surprised that fertility rates are as high as they are, but perhaps it is no surprise that they are falling almost worldwide.