John Perschon, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Becky B. Lloyd, January 15, 2002: Saving the legacy tape no. 421

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JOEPER CHON R 2 2 BEC: And what about that makes you say that your glad u h d it . h t did you get out of that? JOE: I think it told me that basically life was cheap. That you r and you can be gone tomorrow. That you have to plan for the future in your lifi plan fi r a family, supply them for their needs. Just put your moor on an even keel with life it If because life is cheap over there. You'd be talking to a guy today, and the next day you push him in his mattress cover. There's no security at all none whatsoever. I think it made you a little cautious of the future and to secure your future, you know to prepare for it, because no one else is going to do it. I see people today that I went to school with and it's atrocious the condition they're in, both financial and health-wise, because of the way they've lived. I have never been out of a job. I've never drawn a penny of unemployment. Never have. And I think that's because of the ideas I got out of the war to take care of yourself and you family. No one else will, really. I think that's it. BEC: That's interesting. JOE: My wife was the same way. We buckled down. We used to always put something away. We bought a lot of property and then paid for it, so much a month, and that way we force ourselves to save. And because of that we were able to get a place at Bear Lake and friends say, "You're sure lucky." But we were saving, you were spending. That's the difference. We were looking out for another home, a new one, bigger one, but we've been here for so long we can't make up our mind which one to get, so we probably won't. But you know, change is good for you. Get new neighbors, new friends. Sometimes you wear the old ones out; they get worn out with you, too (laughs). It's like family. Some you get along with better than others. Those you don't get along 42