Reply #85: Well, I have lived in both side of the spectrum, really poor in a third

[Seansky]

world country and now doing pretty well, so I know what you are trying to say. As a child, I did do go to bed with little to eat, being one of four children to a widow. So, no, I didn't take your comment as being condescending to the rich doctor's commentary.

Seems I didn't make my post clear...but here is my experience of poor vs. comfortable.

Selecting from the list provided and what I have personally seen thru my volunteer work in the US, poor is someone whose part of the house floor is dirt, lacks heating for most of the winter because there is so little money, and struggles all the time to afford sending kids to school. Or, the homeless with mental illness who can't recognize the inhumane state they live in. Or, the elderly with health problems unable to cover basic medication cost. The spectrum of poverty I have seen in the US since I first arrived is rather broad, almost as bad as what I saw in my home country.

Comfortable, on the other hand, is someone who has no debt, at least two houses with all the toys necessary to make it complete, and enough left to enjoy trips, good dinners as much as desired, and so on.