Arrgh--I could rant on that forever! The amount of effort required to have some semblence of a 50's lifestyle is staggering. And I'm fortuate enough to have the money not to work and to pay little league fees.
For the record...I was single on Long Island. Folks that I know who were married..did everything 'right' are working two jobs to keep a house,etc.etc. Country living is where it's at if you want to save money. It's just gravy if you can get a really good home based business that pays above the prevailing wage. That way, one doesn't have to shop for the family at Walmart :sigh: Enough land one can grow food and keep animals. The costs work out to be the same and it's more satisfying.