Quarterlife What?
So, one of John Mayer's songs on Room for Squares has a line that says, "Must be a quarter life crisis... " Some might say, "Quarterlife crisis? What the hell is that?"

The Baby Boomers probably think 20-somethings have it made. Most of us don't have kids to worry about (if we were smart enough to use protection.) We have disposable income (if we are lucky enough to have jobs.) And we are young; we have our whole lives ahead of us to do what makes us happy.

But that's not the truth; we don't have it made. What we do have are personal goals that are way too extravagant, incomes that are used mainly to pay off huge levels of education or credit card debt, and a hell of a time trying to find that right person with which to settle down.

Fast Car Versus the Australian Outback
Let's take a look at some situations to see which is easier, the midlife crisis or the quarterlife crisis.

Situation 1: Love life gone awry.
MLC: Divorce spouse. Buy sports car. Use money saved to lure hunky pool boy/big breasted secretary into bed.

QLC: Spend hours pining over lost love. Drink lots of gin, smoke lots of cigarettes, and watch all sorts of sappy movies. Cruise the club/bar scene only to realize your lost love will probably be the best you'll ever have.

Winner: MLC

Situation 2: Career is down the toilet.
MLC: You get to mid-career only to be laid-off because you're an expendable commodity. Try to look for another job only to get passed up for every position for a younger version of you. Decide that you don't really want the responsibilities of your old career anyway and pull a Kevin Spacey ala American Beauty and get a job at Mickey Dee's.

QLC: Spend loads of money on a college education at an expensive public college. Start new job. Work for two years. Realize the job, while giving you plenty of financial gain, doesn't make you happy. Since you have to pay back your student loans, you become a slave to the man until mid-career. See above.

Winner: Neither is a winner in this circle of hell.

Situation 3: Self-reflection leads to self-help.
MLC: Wake up one day and decide that you don't really like who you've become. Take continuing ed classes, start volunteering at the soup kitchen, and become a yoga master. Become a more peaceful, intelligent, and sympathetic part of humanity.

QLC: Wake up one day and realize your life is going nowhere and you don't like where it's going. Get a visa, pack your bags, and head to Australia, Europe, or Thailand for some soul-searching travel. Become a more peaceful, intelligent, and sympathetic part of humanity.

Winner: Both are winners here.

And the winner is...
It seems like the quick fix of a fast car and meaningless sex makes the midlife crisis win the contest by a landslide.