I have one aunt who won't let me near her kids; seems happy minimal employment is a dangerous example for the children.
That's tragic. Not for you, more so for your Aunt's kids. Diversity is what makes humanity interesting.
You must understand that my aunt, like most of those around us, is heavily imbued with the Protestant Work Ethic (TM). Possibly the most poisonous notion our ancestors brought to these shores is the notion that Men Must Work. Not for any particular reason, just because that's what humans are supposed to do. Never mind that 90% of our activities add no real value to anything and damage our landbase, a good man (or woman) works his or her ass off most hours of the day just because that's what they're supposed to do. We build, we develop, we design, we invent. This is, after all, God's purpose, and of course we had to eliminate the lazy bastards who occupied this space to begin with because they weren't fulfilling God's purpose, and their lifestyle used up too much land per capita to allow us to do it.
IME, there are two perfectly legitimate reasons people get mad at this lifestyle: 1) if you are on government assistance, and therefore your lifestyle choice to go fishing rather than work is negatively affecting other people and/or 2) if you have a child and they don't think you are appropriately providing what that child needs.
As long as you aren't on government assistance and your kid (if any) has food, clothing, a safe place to sleep, and someone to watch them 24/7, then, yeah, they are probably just jealous. Otherwise, they may have a (perhaps somewhat unpalatable) point...
I won't lie... we're on government assistance for health care. Given that the US is the only developed nation on the fucking planet that doesn't have some kind of universal healthcare, I don't feel a damn bit guilty about that. We also get food stamps, but they almost never get used because I grow the vast majority of what we eat. Last I checked our balance was something like $4000. To be honest, I kind of relish the government assistance (especially given the fact that we don't really need it). You see, there's a certain subversiveness about me. I like to think I'm doing my little bit to bleed dry a rotten, life-destroying system that cannot be brought down via direct confrontation. As I said in another thread, I'm something of a radical.
And yes, I have a four-year-old. She has all of the things she needs, and thanks to my skills as a scrounger a lot of the stuff she wants. But you know what's funny? Even at four, she's no materialist. Given the choice between toys and people she'll hang out with people and ignore her toys. I think this is because
our lifestyle affords her that choice. My wife's availability has been intermittent due to her illness, but Maiya has had Daddy almost every day since the day she was born. As much Daddy as she wants. Lots of people (notably my daughter's grandparents) think we're somehow underprivileging her by denying her the good life, but exactly what the hell is the good life? Maiya gets to spend ore time with her dad in six months than most kids get in six years. She informed me about a month ago that she wanted to go fishing every day all summer, which is of course impossible because I gig on weekends. I asked her how four days a week sounds, provided it's not pissing rain... she said fine. So far we've kept that bargain except for the last few days, and that's only because she's out of town with her mom till tomorrow, and anyway i'm laid up with a gimpy foot (which is why I've been posting so much the past couple of days; thank christ i didn't have a show last night). But anyway, who else do you know that can take their kid fishing four days a week AND provide for all of her needs?
Anyway, lots of the people that get mad at the idea haven't the slightest notion whether or not I'm on government assistance, or whether I have a kid. It's the Protestant Work Ethic (TM). But you're right about one thing: the fact that I have a kid pisses them off tremendously when they hear it. Because dammit, a kid needs shiny toys and dance classes more that she needs her father.