You wrote, "So I am sorry you don't get it."

Didn't I write that you make some good points? So, I get some of "it."

You wrote, "You talk about a "social network" as though it is superficial or trivial-- it isn't."

Perhaps you haven't read many of my past posts. I often write about the essentiality of knowing one's neighbors. I just drove home and all along the way, folks from the mailwoman to kids hailed me: it was slow going. I live in community with others. I get "it." I also get that one can construct community right here and over there.

You wrote, "Because I am a single lesbian and not a breeder...."

If you value making friends, you might want to drop "breeder."

You wrote, "it sounds like your balance sheet is entirely composed of dollars and cents."

Sigh. Maslow had a hierarchy. Friendship and community rest upon physiological needs, like food and water. If food and water become too pricey for Heather one day, she'll move. You too. And both of you will likely find friendship and community wherever you go...if you have the social skills. Happy, social people tend to be happy and social wherever they are.

You're not factoring inflation. The calculator does. Heather stated that in the essay.

Po' folks are allowed to write about their struggle. Rich folks must hush. Is Joan Walsh rich? If so, she won't participate in the series of financial essays because...she has no current story worth telling. All stories worth telling are stories of struggle.

...her portfolio is barely in the market. She made her money by having people give her money by talking about money, rather than investing in more reproducible ways. In this way, Ms. Orman runs a pyramid scheme and guess who has the good view, from her five homes?

Ms. Hepola might have noted that, but she was likely distracted by her saucy slant.

But hey, I want a red star: How about if I echo what Ms. Hepola said and then some intern who was given 1.2 minutes of instruction can slap a red star on this post:

Heck, yes, I love Suze Orman

What I haven't disclosed is that, when my partner dies, I'm likely to move back to a city. My portfolio permits that, I dig big cities, and like For Heaven's Sake!, I think artists work best when clustered (if they can control the drama that every group generates). Back at the beginning of this thread, I was just trying to assure Heather that small cities also have their charms and that she has options other than dry beans.

@ For Heaven's Sake!

Stay. Go. Whatever, I wish you happiness.

Sigh. With lunar regularity, I tire of the Internet because of comments like this: "Comments criticizing her for it only smacks of envy."

Only?

ONLY?

ONLY!?!

AKA, I've read your posts and you're generally too smart to assay and reduce someone to an absolute. Seriously, I have trouble taking you seriously when you reduce me to only.

Here's a short list of what five houses do to the world:

1. I guarantee that they're temperature moderated, meaning cooled sometimes and heated sometimes when NO ONE'S THERE. Yes, Ms. Orman shoe shops at Paymore for Godzillas.

2. Our structures compress the soil, in some cases precluding future agriculture.

3. We are practicing speciocide primarily because we're bulldozing habitat. Ms. Orman bulldozed five times her share.

4. Her homes are likely landscaped with poison, which is how rich people cultivate their verdant lawns. They're likely planted with exotic species. So, her lawns likely look pretty, but are eco-nightmares for indigenous species.

I hate that Donald Trump has multiple houses. Hell, I hate that Ma and Pa Schlenklehopper have a summer cottage. And most of all, I hate that you give Ms. Orman a pass because she sports a vagina.*

Want another house for Ms. Orman?

Help her colonize another planet.

* A "virgin" vagina, according to Ms. Orman. She considers herself a virgin because she's a lesbian, which is yet another reason to NOT say, "Hell, yeah, I like Suze Orman."

Funny lad!

Or is it, "Wicked lad!"

I know. It's: "Wicked, funny lad!"

I think everyone should live in a city and the country. "Country Mouse, City Mouse: is a fable for kids. People who think small towns are purely provincial are provincial. Likewise, people who think that big city folks aren't good eggs are rotten diagnosticians. I also think people should have to skill set to survive on their own in wilderness areas, but that's probably wishing for too much.

I already made my point(s). I can only repeat them:

A. She's a crappy person because she owns five homes.

B. She's a crappy financial advisor because of her miniscule expertise in making money in market.

C. She's a crappy lesbian because she doesn't count lesbian sex as real sex.

Other than that, she dispenses some good ideas...so that she can make more money...so that she can bulldoze another rabbit warren and build another home.

"...lifestyle choices..."

Blech. I hate the first word and deeply distrust the second. I thought you were progressive. If so, why are you using fundyspeak?

...points A and C speak to Ms. Orman's character, such as it is.

Approach the bench?

Yes, your honor.

No, your honor.

Yes, your honor.

Thank you, your honor.

I withdraw points A and C.

Regarding your $2500, I think you should invest $2000 in the market and drop the other $500 into an emergency fund. I also think you should get another job if you're just earning $30,000 and only saving $2500 a year. Save all the earnings from the second job.