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Well mister "I ain't the man", I direct our company's regulatory and compliance group (i.e., I make sure that all taxes are paid, all licenses are filed, all contracts are in place, all of our employees are properly licensed, etc.). I went to a local university for my undergraduate degree and was fortunate enough to have parents that could help me foot the bill. Graduate school I paid for myself, as I worked during the day (for a CPA firm) and took classes at night. I appreciated my parents for the help with my undergrad. but I wanted to put myself through grad school. I have been in the "real world" now for 17 years, and the six figure amount is after my divorce and child support for three children (got married way to young when I was still an undergrad).
Because I have the extent of free time that I do, I contribute back to my community in a number of different ways. I teach Junior Achievement to one of the local high school 9th grades (God, if I was anything like that during school, it's amazing my teachers didn't kill me), I sit on the board of the Red Cross and our city's zoo, and I contribute time to the city to help low-income people file their annual income tax returns for no charge.
Oh, and as far as getting conned into marriage, I don't think people get conned. I think they are young and stupid and don't think through the long-term consequences of marriage (hence my first marriage). I am currently remarried to my soul-mate (yes as corny as that sounds she is just that). We are currently expecting a child, and all is good in my corner of the world.
So, in summation, would I trade what I have now? Nope, but it wouldn't bother me if someone came along and gave me a dive shop and boat in the Caymans. But hey, one can dream.
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