I knew I shouldn't have gone in

[Korihor]

I love motorcycles, 4wheelers, UTV's, etc. Just love it.
I stay out of powersport dealerships because as soon as I walk in, I feel my wallet instantly increase in temperature and create a sizzling burning sensation. I love the eye candy of anything with 2 wheels, but as we know - moderation in all things.

Well, today I succumbed and browsed a local dealership that I hadn't visited previously. This place is virtually a Mecca for machines to rip across the desert.

Needless to say, while looking at the price tags, I began evaluating just how much I value my monthly budget, my savings and my marriage. I even wondered what price I could get for my kids!

All joking aside, I would love a new toy but it's just that - a toy. But I really really wanted a new toy.

While driving home, I became angry. I knew I should not have visited that place. I remembered the thousands of $$$ paid for my celestial membership fee. I remembered countless weekends, especially Sundays spent inside a drab building and not in the great outdoors - actually enjoying life. I felt like my free time in the most capable years of my life were consumed with a conservative print silk noose around my neck and white shirt as a straight jacket.

Damn.

[MerrieMiss]

Sorry about that. It sucks.

You’re not the only one feeling like that today. We’re buying a new house and I got a phone call that I need to have a savings account at the financial institution we’re getting a loan through. Sure, whatever. I’ll sign up for a savings account that I have no money to put into. Yep, that’s right. No money. And why? Because I permitted a church to tell me to plan for being a wife and mother instead of a wife, mother, and something else too. Just like you, best years of my life wasted. Instead of getting an education in something I valued or having a job that would lead to a career, I got an education while trying to find a husband, worked a dead end job while supporting my husband in his schooling and continued in the same job while attempting to have kids. And now I’m the SAHM I was trained to be! What a waste. (Not the kids or the husband, just that I went about it all wrong because I was doing "what god wanted me to do.")

I really hate that I didn’t wake up until my thirties. It’s days like this I wish I were fifteen years younger.

[MalcolmVillager]

Kori, next time I am in town we will need to rent something to ride around for a while before heading out for drinks to drown your sorrow! I feel you brother!

[Mad Jax]

I understand. I got my eye on one of these right now:

Mine eye is single to its glory these days.

[RubinHighlander]

Oh my brother, how I empathize with that!

I have an old Honda ATV I would love to replace. I've beat the crap out of it, most plowing snow, moving rocks and dirt when we bought our new house and landscaped it. It's also taken me on many awesome west desert adventures, but it's worn out and I'd really like a new side by side. I too feel the pain of all those 40+ years of paying the corporation and think about all the awesome time I could have spent in the great outdoors, all the toys I could have purchased, all the money I could have in retirement. At the end of the day all I did was finance the old guys in SLC and the education for all their kids and grand kids. It's a serious kick in the balls! At least I'll have a few years at the end of my life, not to have to tread that wine press anymore. Now I can drink real wine and fully enjoy my weekend and week nights and enough health to still hike up a mountain or two and shred a few curves down fresh pow.

[NOMinally Mormon]

I can relate to that, Merrie Miss. I put my career on hold to be a SAHM, only getting back in the game later in life. Now I work 6 days a week at three jobs so that I can catch up on retirement savings. Occasionally ward members show up on my doorstep bearing cookies, because I'm one of those inactives they're trying to reel back in. Even if I wanted to go back to church, my 12-hour shift on Sunday precludes attendance. Ironically, 'following the prophet' led to my inactivity!

There really needs to be a disclaimer in YW lessons that if you choose to be a homemaker, you may have to compensate for it later or risk living under a bridge when you get old.

[Brent]

The lovely Missus calls my motorcycles her "Sister Wives".

[Korihor]

Before I die, I shall ride thee.

[redjay]

I sat my full motorcycle license a couple of years ago - a career change has seen my disposable income slashed, so I can't justify a new toy - but I'm in the 'one day' club too.

On a different but related note - We went on our only second family holiday last year. It was a tremendously bonding time. I remarked to my TBM wife that I wished that I would have not paid tithing for the last two decades, and instead took my family on holiday each year - she didn't disagree.