Money is important. I'm sorry, but it is. It's less important to some, more to others, but we live in a world where you have to be making money to survive. As for Marten, he lives in a city, eats and drinks at establishments, etc. Money is important to him. If he was given a million dollars, he would be happy, just like anyone would be.
I never said money isn't important. Believe me I understand how important money is. I'm ridiculously in debt, so I really don't have any money. I completely understand the importance of making money to survive. However, you make it seem as though money is the
only important thing. I'm pretty much broke. I can't even
afford to finish school because I screwed up and ended up in so much debt. But I'm still relatively happy. Would I be happier if I wasn't in debt? Sure. Would it take me making a ton of money to make me happier? No, not at all. I have a great family, great friends, my health, my awesome dog, and I have a job. For me, that's good enough. Someday, I'd like to own my own home, but I'm 24 years old, it's okay that I haven't hit the point in my life yet. Marten's character, not so far off in age from me. And to be honest with you, if I won a million dollars, I'd pay off my debt, got school, give some money to my parents and my sister, maybe put a little in savings, and give the rest to charity. By the rest I mean probably more than half of that million dollars. But lets be real, that's never going to happen.
In the first post you mentioned something about wanting Marten's character to go back to school. But, having a college degree... it doesn't guarantee you a job. Even going to grad school, doesn't guarantee you a job. Go into a profession that will automatically make you a ton of money, or will always guarantee you a job? Cool. If it's something you want to do and can handle. My mother tells me every day of my life I should go into nursing. I think she's crazy. I could
never handle being a nurse. But she thinks that's the best way to guarantee that I'll have a job once I finish school. But I know that could never be a nurse. I can't even handle going to the doctor when
I'm sick. You also mentioned he should pick a "low-risk" attainable career. There is no such think as a low-risk career choice. Some things that may seem like the best idea ever, by the time you finish school, may not even be around anymore. I started off as a journalism major. And then when the AJC (I live in Atlanta) laid off several hundred people because the demand for print journalism has gone down so much, I realized... even that was no longer a guarantee. Even being a teacher isn't low-risk anymore. They closed down four elementary schools in the Metro-Atlanta area this summer. Four entire schools. I don't believe there is such a thing as a low-risk job. And I think that someone in their mid-twenties... should be shooting for their dreams. You don't have to have the perfect life by the age of thirty (seems to be your magical number).