Why I Live in the Valley of Ashes

I live in the Valley of Ashes because I really cannot afford to live anywhere else. I do not really get much business here, so I am practically broke. My wife Myrtle does not work for a living, so I have to support her in the best way possible, which means I have to keep this job. I wish I could move to West Egg or even East Egg, but I know that would never happen based on my financial state. I wish I could get more business at my garage shop, but when people see how disgusting my surroundings are, they keep on driving by. The only person who occasionally comes over is Tom Buchanan, and that is to take my wife out into New York City. All of this makes me feel awful at times, and I want to go somewhere else, but I know that I do not have the money to do so. I had an idea of moving out West to start a new life with Myrtle, but I am so poor that I do not even have a car to get out there. This is why I bug Tom about giving me his old car for me to take out West. I desperately want to get out of this horrible place, but a lack of customers is really hurting me right now. I also live here because Myrtle lives in the garage with me, and she means the world to me. She is the only thing worth living for and I enjoy her company. Even with all of the negative things you could say about the Valley of Ashes, it does offer seclusion for Myrtle and I from the rest of the busy world. We really have the garage shop all to ourselves without anyone bothering us or coming to us with their problems. Now that I think of it, the Valley of Ashes does have many similar characteristics that can be applied to me. Just like how people just drive by the Valley of Ashes without really noticing it, that is what most people do to me. They go away from me and don't care what I do, especially Myrtle at some times. The feelings people have about the Valley of Ashes, such as disgust, probably carry over to me as well. Life in the Valley of Ashes is terrible; it is boring, uneventful, and flat out dirty. I need to get out of here, but I am stuck in a financial crisis at the present moment.