This article in the Washington Post magazine provides food for thought

Twin brothers with the same sets of opportunities growing up wound up following very different career paths.  One is a teacher; one is a high-flying New  York lawyer. This is just the opening block, but it’s worth noting.

On a weekend trip to visit my twin brother in New York City a year or so ago, we found time to take a run along the Hudson River. As a couple of midcareer dads each with two young sons, our lives had taken parallel paths. Except in one way.

“My bills are killing me this month,” said Jim, as we skirted the driving range at Chelsea Piers.

What gee-whiz expense was it this time, I wondered — $700 a month for off-street parking?

“I wrote 65,000 bucks worth of checks the other night.”

“Huh?” I said, assuming I’d misheard.

“I couldn’t believe it myself. But I’m floating two mortgages right now until we sell our place; then there’s the construction loan on the brownstone, and I had to pay my quarterly taxes. That was about 30 grand right there.”

Wow. I was hooked right there, and read on. The question that really comes up is one of life satisfaction. The brother with the big salary has some very nice things in life, indeed, but no yard. The brother with the smaller salary has a yard, but stress and worry over paying the bills and his family’s future.

How true a measure of success is money? And is there always some inevitable compare/contrast among adult siblings to see how each is stacking up? Do you feel good for your siblings’ success or does it make you wish you had more?