You were whining about having to deal with the public, so I just provided a simple comparison as to the work environment others face. In this case, I used my wife's work as a nurse to show that others out there have it tough, too. Some people lack the ability to put their own hardships in perspective. I guess you fall into that category.

You complain about having to deal with the public. Try my job on for size. I'm working on a project to reengineer how the government performs space surveillance, an essential activity for national security that has been developed piecemeal over the past 45 years. If we succeed, we'll increase our capabilities to perform the mission and actually save millions of dollars each year. However, to do so, I have to contend with departmental turf wars between US Space Command, Air Force Space Command, Army Space Command, Navy Space Command, the CIA, NRO, NSA, NIMA, and a host of other bureaucracies in and out of the Department of Defense. The squabbling and politics can be frustrating but that just makes the challenge more interesting. In the end, I work on this project because I sincerely believe it needs to be done, both from my perspective as a veteran and someone who pays over $40K a year in taxes. It's my job to succeed despite the obstacles and I intend to succeed.

In an earlier post, you implied that since you live in a small town, you know everyone's circumstances. Your words were:

"OK, this one is my fault. You haven't the slightest idea how small a town I live in and work in. If I see someone in a big vehicle, 2 times out of 3 I know who the someone is. I know their kids, I know their neighbors, I may even know their kids' GPAs. Because the kids tell me. I don't have to jump to conclusions here. When our new director came to town, she said, "My God, Mary Anne, you know everybody!" Not really, and not on purpose, either. But I have served on a lot of committees. So, yeah, I do know the facts."

Frankly, that struck me as being a busybody and perhaps a gossip. At the very least, it's arrogant and presumptuous to think you have the right to dictate to others, especially when you rightfully complain that others try to dictate to you. It's none of your business what other people drive. It's none of your business what kind of home people choose to own. It's none of your business how people choose to lawfully spend their own money. My pointing that out to you is what seemed to set you off in the first place. You came across as arrogant, judgmental and jealous.