The Five Bedroom, Six-Figure Rootless Life

This article introduces the Link family who are representative of a growing trend in the United States: "the upper middle class, executive gypsies" The Link family, like many other families who partake in such a trend, are referred to as "relos" for constantly relocating due to employment opportunities. Despite the fact that the Links are obviously living the American Dream with a house in affluent, suburban neighborhoods near top schools, a salary over the $200,000 mark, and working for large multinational corporations, Kilborn paints the Links as a family who meaninglessly and routinely lives a life chasing upward social mobility. Kilborn describes how Jim is constantly away in meetings in different states leaving his family a vast majority of the time while Kathy, the stay at home mother, takes their three daughters to soccer practice, tutoring, and piano lessons. Kilborn describes how Kathy is involved in an array of volunteering opportunities in church to PTA to their daughter's classrooms to the point of being overwhelmed. Like Kathy, Kilborn describes how Jim is becoming increasingly tired of having much his job requires him to be away from home and traveling. After reading this article, it appeared that the Link family were very wrapped up in their lives and representative of the typical cookie cutter upper middle class family. They really didn't seem like they lived life with purpose. The lived life based on Jim's next promotion that would prompt an increase in income and thus enhancement of lifestyle. Additionally, the article also highlights how an increasing number of families are following this trend and allowing money to become more important than living a worthwhile life spent with family.