On being upper-middle class.

H's starting salary next year will be more than either of his parents ever made in a single year over the course of their careers. Another friend tells me the same is true of her and her mother. (All of the parents in question are public school teachers, both the young ones college professors.) We may almost feel rich, until next we stop by New York City.

Of course, we've spent much of our twenties poorish -- I mean cash-poor but with middle-class banking and saving habits and middle-class expectations -- but now we can finally catch up to the people who finished law school three years ago or med school a bit later. I'm kidding.