Recently an old boyfriend got in touch with me, who I haven't seen for 17 years, and haven't dated for 27 (aaagh I feel old).
Actually to digress a moment, he was was the first in a group of 6 exes who've recently made contact. By number 6 I was getting that real Twilight-Zone feeling, I can tell you!
Anyway, we communicated by email for a while, and had lunch last week. He hasn't changed a great deal, just looks older. we chatted a bit about old times, and he spent most of the time talking about what he's done since last we met. He's been living overseas, in Japan and Korea, and is about to move back to Australia with his 8-year-old daughter. His (estranged) wife may come too, although that seemed a bit confused.
Anyway, the point is he's done VERY well for himself. Appears to have a shed-load of cash, is about to buy a block of holiday apartments just north of Cairns in tropical Queensland. And while we were talking, I found myself mentally shaping up ways I could find myself feeling .. if not superior at least equal to him. I guess anyone would say that's understandable, but (here's the irony) I chose to find myself more personally developed than he was.
That all stemmed from his description of his life - which was to spend no more than three years anywhere because he gets bored. He also said he doesn't feel any different now to when he left Australia 17 years ago. Now I did genuinely feel incredulous at this - because my personal growth over the past 10 years has been astronomical (we're the same age so it's not impossible he'd be going through similar growth) and because in that time he's had a child. While I'm child-free, I have many friends and relatives who I've seen go through this - and it changes anyone.
I described the conversation to Mark as speaking to someone who's travelled externally - not internally. But I'm wondering if I've just sold him a little short. I mean, what do you talk about with someone you haven't seen in years? It's more likely to be things, not ideas, isn't it? And while I love my life, a bit more cash and a little less penny-pinching would help. So I guess I am a bit jealous.
Still, he may offer me some work through a friend's company when he returns to Australia for good - so maybe meeting up with him will help that way, too!