2006年NPR美国国家公共电台六月-Choosing Life Over Career（在线收听） |
| No matter what the wages might be for a typical job after college, commentator Dana Goldman has decided they are not enough. --------------------------------- I used to wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares about mowing my boss's lawn. Hours later, I'd find myself picking up dead mice in a windowless, centre-block room I shared with four co-workers. I'd fall asleep soon after arriving home, hoping for no more nightmares. But eight or ten or twelve hours of rest couldn't resolve my anxiety. So last year, I handed back my office key. I started marketing myself as someone who'd do just about anything for money as long as it was legal, ethical and part-time. A two-day a week at teaching high school students gave me enough steady income to pay rents and health insurance. I loaned out my body for a clinical research study, copy-edited a friend's feminist Christian novel and wrote press releases on scientific discoveries. At moments, I felt in over my head like when nurses drew blood from my arms every ten minutes for twelve hours straight. For a few months, I worried about having enough money, but I've always been frugal and now I have even more motivation to spend and save thoughtfully. So I use the library instead of going to the bookstore. I rent part of my friend's house and work a few hours a week at a local community garden in exchange for cheap organic produce. And I'm ready to drive my nine-year-old car to its grave rather than take out a car loan. Now, flipping through a clothes catalogue, I can't help noting that brand-name jeans just don't seem that different from the ones I get at the thrift store, paying less than I used to for a sandwich. Without a daily job to report to, I revel in occasional two-hour weekday lunch with my mom and dad. Without a budget for eating out, I've learned to bake, and my 9 to 5 friends are always grateful to gather in my kitchen. "You're so much happier now", my best friend says. And that's true. After a few months away from my former job, my anxiety disappeared, as did the need for therapist and even escapist movies. Someday, if I want to buy a house or have a kid, I know I'll need more money. Security will be more important then. I may need to trade in my odd jobs for work that's more stable or substantial. But for now, I'm doing things I love on my own terms and keeping my options open. Pocket changes are all I need to live happily and I don't want for anything I can't get at the grocery store. I'm beginning to understand that happiness and money are not always connected in the way I once thought. And for now at least, simplicity can be everything. --------------------------------- Commentator Dana Goldman lives and works, or not, in Atlanta. This is Morning Edition from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne. And I'm Steve Inskeep. --------------------------------- nightmares : n.梦魇, 恶梦, 可怕的事物（night夜+mare鬼） mow one's lawn : 给某人修剪草坪. market oneself : 推销某人 feminist : n. 男女平等主义者, 女权扩张论者 frugal : adj. 节省的; 俭朴的; 量少的, 花钱少的 brand-name jeans : 品牌牛仔裤 revel in: 深爱, 酷爱; 纵情于, 沉湎于 therapist : n. 临床医学家 escapist : adj. 逃避现实的; n.逃避现实者 thrift store : 跳蚤市场，物美价廉，装修简易的商店，如上海的襄阳路市场。 |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/NPR2006/40830.html |