What makes you happy? What is your American Dream?
mcantor: My "American Dream" is to be free to do the following things as often, and in whatever proportions, that I please:* Learn and improve myself* Contribute to and improve the world around me* Spend time with friends, loved ones, and interesting people* Travel the world, because the three prior goals: self-improvement, world-improvement and socializing; seem to be different everywhere we go, and I think the variety would be enlightening in many ways.I view this as a goal that will be achieved gradually, rather than in one fell swoop.  While I still have a 9-to-5 job, I make time to improve myself--physically and mentally--by reading, drawing, fencing, and lifting weights.  I endeavor to contribute to my surroundings by volunteering when I can, and always lending an ear to someone who needs to be listened to.  I use the money from my 9-to-5 to pay for gas and plane tickets so I may visit friends and they may visit me.My financial goals are mostly to get out of debt (I have $30k in student loans; I never carry a credit card balance).  I make less than $60k/year and live quite comfortably on it, even paying $600-$1,000/mo. in student loans.  In the 2 - 8 year term, I plan to save up a buffer of 1 year's living expenses so I don't need to worry about unemployment.  In the longer term, I plan to start some form of business that will generate "passive income" (ugh, I hate that term) to the extent that my living expenses will be taken care of, and I no longer need to concern myself with employment to stay afloat.  That will free up massive chunks of my most important asset: time.In terms of "stuff"... I would eventually like a place where I can have a studio and fitness room, but I endeavor to have as small an amount of "stuff" as possible, as I find clutter exhausting.