My husband is in the trades, and would easily be classified as Blue Collar.
Humblebrag Alert: Please forgive me, I'm going to make a long, rambling point.
Here's what our Blue Collar life looks like. Our lovely home is valued at over $1.3M. It has no mortgage. It is beautifully furnished, mostly from consignment stores. It is within easy walking distance to his work. Our cars all match and look great. They range in age from 2002 to 2014. They are paid for and DH maintains them meticulously. We do our own home improvements. We own multiple rental properties in a resort area. Our net worth is a around $3M. He also has a Defined Benefit Pension Plan that is rock-solid and has amazing health benefits. We have zero consumer debt. We are FI, and I am RE.
DH does not have a college degree. His grammar is occasionally atrocious. He missed most of third grade due to a critical injury that kept him hospitalized for months. Whenever he drops a clunker, I say a prayer of thanks that he is healthy, with all major organs intact. He can teach himself how to fix anything, typically via YouTube, reading dense technical manuals and using his brain. He's insanely logical, but not pedantic in the least.
He's the smartest, most practical and most generous guy I know. If you have a problem, he's the one who can and will help you figure it out. He has a friendly word for everyone he sees. He has above average vision and he sees things that others don't. He sees other people's pain. He never forgets a face. He remembers all the important things.
In sixteen years at this job, he's never taken a sick day. He is never late for work. He is hard working and works smart. He is extremely self-motivated. He always has his boss's back. He can fix the shit that others screw up and does it willingly.
Tomorrow, we are going to a Christmas Party at a former mayor's home. The future mayor's party is on the calendar for Friday. He can speak in a friendly manner with anyone from any walk of life. He enjoys live theater and Nascar NHRA. He is an active community volunteer and gives generously to community-based non-profits. He helps others willingly. He does not smoke and drinks very minimally. No drug use of any kind. In a full course of adult orthodontia, which included tooth extraction, and lowers twice, he took aspirin maybe three times. He looks as good in his thrifted tuxedo as he does in his new Costco fleece-lined jeans, because he exercises and stays fit. Come to think of it, he doesn't swear much either. At least, compared to his lovely wife :p
Okay, I think I'll stop now. Later today, I'll show this to him. I suspect he'll be slightly embarrassed. Especially the part where I tell y'all I love my Blue Collar man with all my heart. ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
EPOWER, I kinda doubt you'll get my rambly point, but I sure enjoyed writing this. Perhaps someday you'll understand. If not, the loss will be eternally yours.
Edit: I showed this to DH. His only comment was "I don't follow NASCAR". Oops. Fixed that. I probably could mention that he doesn't sit around watching tv much either. He records and watches the highlights well after the fact, or he views it on his not-an-iphone while he's on the (free that he fixed) treadmill in the garage. What a guy!