A smart bird builds a safe nest, but apparently all birds aren't smart. You'd think a tall tree would be a safe bet, but cats climb trees and so do snakes and other predators. Want your eggs kept safe? Put 'em where the predators can't find them, and that's not easy to do. If safe nests were in the order of things, the world would be overrun with birds . . . but it isn't. Most of them aren't endangered, but some birds have already vanished. Too many predators they couldn't stay clear of. Makes you wonder if they weren't just dumb birds, but that's probably not the case. Maybe they were highly sought after by predators because they tasted better than most birds, laid bigger eggs, or were for some reason considered a prize. Perhaps you can see where I'm going with this analogy, but in many ways people are in the same boat with them.
Like birds, people seem to have a nesting instinct. We want security, and most of our energies are spent trying to create safe homes. We can't do that without money, and we can't get that without finding some way of making it. Jobs, professions, a craft . . . that's what I'm talking about. Earning money is all about being able to build our nests and settle in, and that's not easy to do. Too many predators out there, too many people trying to find ways to get in our pockets. That threatens our security, makes it hard for us to build strong nests. Some of us overcome the obstacles and manage to prosper, but many of us don't. Some people, like birds, just aren't as smart as others. Some people, like birds, are more of a prize than others.
Nobody really prepares us for what will happen when we grow up and start building our own nests. Our parents warn us about predators, and schools and other social institutions point out some of the pitfalls in life. The problem here is that the predators are often considered the good guys in our society. They don't look or act like predators, but they often are. Take government for instance (you had to know I was going to get around to this). We look to government to help us build strong nests by securing our basic freedoms. And they do a pretty good job of this, better than most countries. But to do that government is placed in the same position as a person. To be secure and build a strong nest of its own, they need money. You are the source of that money, and government doesn't miss chances at taking it away from you. If you end up being a decent wage earner, say something like $75,000 a year, you'll end up giving somewhere around a fourth of that to government. Depending on where you live, that might be more. Some states and communities are tax friendly while others are tax predatory. What this all means is that where you build your nest can be important.
When it comes to finding good nesting ground it takes some research, and an inclination to build there should you find the right place. Most people pay far too much to keep from having to move. "I have roots here," I'm often told. "I was born here, my family and friends are here, and I feel secure here." I can buy into that, but there's no need in being stupid about it. if your home gets unfriendly (in ways you might not notice right off), it's time for a change. If the state and community where you live saps your income to the breaking point (high housing, utilities, taxes, etc.), you'd be wise to start looking for another nest. Wisdom, though, sometimes comes after you've reached the breaking point. I don't understand the tolerance of those who continue to be victimized by bad situations, and just because they're reluctant to leave a particular place. There are lots of ifs here - if you can find a good job somewhere else, if you can accept moving as an adventure, if you're bold enough, and so on.
On the other hand (and this is important), there are lots of ifs to consider when a chance to move comes along. Get a better job offer somewhere else? Opportunities seem better somewhere else? My advice is: DO THE RESEARCH. Check out every conceivable factor in the move. You need to know housing costs (what kind of home can you afford there), schools, crime rate, taxes, utilities, insurance costs, etc.). Don't jump into a move too quickly, especially if you're content where you are now. It's good to be bold, just don't let it overrule your better judgment. And if the move looks good, don't let home attachments hold you back. Nest building is hard to do, and to do it right, it takes some practice. Sometimes, it takes a little luck.
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