# Anybody Got It All Together - Truly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565 "2006-01-11T21:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/1 "2006-01-11T21:54:44Z")
We’re talking – Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) Satisfied with appearance No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) Happily married (most of the time) You have friends Satisfied with career & education ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/2 "2006-01-11T21:58:07Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > We’re talking – > > Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right > No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) > Satisfied with appearance > No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) > Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) > Happily married (most of the time) > You have friends > Satisfied with career & education Yes to 6.66 out of eight. Ooooh, that might not be so good . . . ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/3 "2006-01-11T22:01:24Z")
If I lost a little weight, I’d be able to check off everything. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/4 "2006-01-11T22:06:53Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > We’re talking – > > Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right > No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) > Satisfied with appearance > No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) > Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) > Happily married (most of the time) > You have friends > Satisfied with career & education Yeah, mostly. Let’s see: Healthy weight, exercise, eat right: Yes, for the most part No chronic problems: check Satisfied with appearance: Yes, mostly No debt: We have debt, but it’s easily manageable. House has furniture: House has too much junk! But yes, we have a full assortment of furniture. Happily married: definitely Friends: enough to make me happy (I’m an introvert so I don’t need too many) Satisfied with career and education: yup, pretty much Wow…that kind of puts life’s little annoyances in perspective for me–I guess I do have it pretty good, and I’m thankful for that. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/5 "2006-01-11T22:10:02Z")
I missed the marriage requirement earlier. Since I have no real desire to be married right now, I’m not counting that one. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/6 "2006-01-11T22:36:59Z")
Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right - Yep No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) - Yep Satisfied with appearance - Yep No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) - Yep Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) - Yep, and way too much art. Happily married (most of the time) - I assume that happily unmarried counts, so yep You have friends - Yep Satisfied with career & education - Yep Gosh - it looks like I’m perfect. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/7 "2006-01-11T22:37:29Z")
:dubious: Hardly. Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right - 30lbs overweight, don’t exercise, eat OK No chronic physical/mental problems - I’ll be better when I start therapy Satisfied with appearance - If I lost some weight No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) - HAH! (But at ~$13K, I’m sure my CC bills aren’t nearly as bad as some) Your house has furniture - Yes, although I don’t like all of it Happily married (most of the time) - Absolutely! (Although I don’t think this should be a requirement) You have friends - Yep Satisfied with career & education - Not at all (never finished college; job is OK, but I’ll hate it in a year or so) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/8 "2006-01-11T23:16:10Z")
Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right _overweight, should do more exercise (but don’t smoke or drink)_ No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) _no worries!_ Satisfied with appearance _well I don’t yearn for plastic surgery…_ No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) _mortgage will be paid in 4 years - no other debts_ Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) _my house has 3 computers (well, yes I am a little geeky)_ Happily married (most of the time) _still single (ah well…)_ You have friends _several very close ones, that I’ve known for over 30 years_ Satisfied with career & education _best job in the World!_ ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/9 "2006-01-11T23:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right Yes, yes and yes. > [@](#): > > No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) No, nothing serious. > [@](#): > > Satisfied with appearance I’m okay with it. > [@](#): > > No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) Just the one car loan. > [@](#): > > Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) Still adding and renovating, but the house is livable, yes. > [@](#): > > Happily married (most of the time) Happily engaged. > [@](#): > > You have friends Many good friends, new and old. > [@](#): > > Satisfied with career & education Yes, very satisfied. My God, you’re right! I did have a wonderful life! Clarence! Clarence, take me back! I want to live again! Hello, movie house! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/10 "2006-01-12T04:59:38Z")
-Ideal weight. Never exercise, though, as I hate it. Eating pretty well. Mostly vegetarian. Don’t drink or smoke much. -Perfect health. -Pretty good looks, well, at least until my hair falls off (my hairline has started to migrate… and I’m only in my mid-twenties!). When that happens, I’ll be done for. Still hanging in there, though. -Gargantuan student loan. Too freaking big to be typical. -No furniture, except for my bed and my desk. Then again, no house either, just a (very nice) one-room apartment. -No wife, no girlfriend. That might be just as well, though. -Friends, yes. -Career and education… well, let’s not get into that at the moment. What does that all come out as… 3 2/3 out of 8, I guess. More work needed, it seems. Well, of course, it’ll all look better as soon as I write that best-selling novel. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/11 "2006-01-12T05:06:50Z")
God I’m screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/12 "2006-01-12T05:07:29Z")
You have to be careful with a checklist like that. I have most of the things on the list and if you wrote up a superficial description of my life, many men would happily be willing to take my place. If you drill down deeper however, most homeless crack addicts would refuse to take the deal. I am a person of extremes and my life, my luck, and my fate reflect that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/13 "2006-01-12T06:21:34Z")
Hell NO! I’m out of debt (house, all cars, everything- paid in full), but the rest is kinda shakey. I’m pretty happy however. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/14 "2006-01-12T11:04:37Z")
Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right Hum, no. I am about 20 pounds overweight and don’t eat well at the moment. I am waiting for the “light bulb moment” so that I can do something about it. No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) OK here. Satisfied with appearance Yes - I don’t much care one way or the other, which is lucky as I’m no great catch. No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) No. Only mortgage and car loan. Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) Yes, it’s all cheap stuff but we don’t want nice stuff right now as we have two young boys and don’t want to spend our lives yelling at them. Happily married (most of the time) Yes You have friends Yes - right now I’m in a nice place with friends. Satisfied with career & education Yes This is an interesting thread, as others have said. It makes me realise that despite money worries and all the other niggles of normal family life, we really are in a pretty much OK situation and I need to be a bit more grateful! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/15 "2006-01-12T14:53:04Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > We’re talking – > > Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right > No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed) > Satisfied with appearance > No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan) > Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me) > Happily married (most of the time) > You have friends > Satisfied with career & education All of the above except married, but I have never had any desire to be. - 120 lbs. and in good shape. - no chronic health problems. - not as cute as I was 20 years ago, but holding up very well for almost 42. - no debts except the mortgage. - 4-bedroom house with nice furniture, some antiques. - friends, yep. - 2 Masters, and I make a nice living at a job I like. A few years ago, I realized that the worst thing I can say about my life is that I’m not a fabulously wealthy and famous best-selling author, so I really have absolutely nothing to complain about (\except for those crummy publishers who rejected my novels… \). ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/16 "2006-01-12T14:55:35Z")
Well, as a checklist for ‘got it all together’, it doesn’t really tell the whole story. I know one couple who I used to think ‘had it all together’. They certainly met all of your requirements, at least superficially. Wow, did that relationship ever implode into a nasty mess. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/17 "2006-01-12T15:35:59Z")
**Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right** A little overweight. I don’t drive, so I walk everywhere, but I don’t “exercise” for the sake of it. I eat pretty much whatever I want. I also smoke like a fiend. **No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed)** Aside from the cold I have right this minute, I’m okay. **Satisfied with appearance** Yes. I’m not winning any prizes, but as a rule, people don’t run away screaming, either. **No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan)** Very little debt. Of course, I don’t really have much in the way of assets, either. **Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me)** Good sized apartment, overstuffed. Lots of books, dvds, cds and art, as well as places to sit and enjoy them. \*\*Happily married (most of the time) \*\* Happily unmarried. **You have friends** A few real friends, plenty of acquaintances. Enough of both to socialize as much as I like, without having to socialize \*more \* than I like. **Satisfied with career & education** Not especially, but since I’m essentially in a holding pattern for the next couple of years, I’m not worried about it, either. I suppose I don’t really “have it together” in a way that would make other people think of me as “successful.” I’m pretty happy though, so it’s not keeping me up nights. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/18 "2006-01-12T15:41:42Z")
After taking control of a few of these items a few months ago, (mostly debt and exercise,) I can say yes to all of them. That doesn’t mean we have no problems though, ups and downs like everyone, but over all I know we have a happy and good life. I also know better than to say that all of these items will remain ok fovever just because they are ok now. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/19 "2006-01-12T15:45:56Z")
**Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right** Yep, pretty good. Lost a lot of weight last year. Could lose another 5kg, but I’m good where I am. **No chronic physical/mental problems** Again, good. I seem to have made a complete recovery from my earlier illness. **Satisfied with appearance** Yeah. I never was when I was younger, but now? Yeah. **No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan)** None. Don’t need a car and the house is in the clear. **Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me)** Yep. Not a lot of “stuff” that we wish we could have. \*\*Happily married (most of the time) \*\* Really good on this count **You have friends** Enough to keep me happy. I’m a bit of a loner. **Satisfied with career & education** Always looking to learn new things, but I don’t need any further degrees. As for the job, I don’t like how much time I spend on it, but I do it passably well and the pay can’t be beat. I guess 7.5 (minus 0.5 for the job) out of 8. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565/20 "2006-01-12T15:49:50Z")
Healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat right \>\>\>\> **Nope. Obese, I do exercise, tho not enough, obviously, and USUALLY eat right.** No chronic physical/mental problems (or at least they’re being managed)\>\>\>\> **Suffering from manic depression, ostio arthritis and high bloodpressure. All off medication since I don’t have health insurance.** Satisfied with appearance\>\>\>\> **Don’t make me laugh.** No debt (beyond typical mortgage/car/student loan)\>\>\>\> **My house and van are paid for, and only one credit card, carring my deceased dad’s debt. But being unemployed maked it crushing.** Your house has furniture (those people w/big houses & no furniture, you’re not fooling me)\>\>\>\> **OK in this department. Plenty of furniture.** Happily married (most of the time) \>\>\>\> **Not even close. Haven’t had a date since … 1997.** You have friends\>\>\>\> **A couple of very close friends, that unfortunately live half way across the country. Here in town, I have a couple of aquaintences but no one I can depend on.** Satisfied with career & education\>\>\>\> **Not at all. I have no career, and my education stopped at high school graduation. Damned depressing.** So… I ask… is there anyone here with a MORE screwed up life than mine??? 😕 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-got-it-all-together-truly/339565.md?page=2)