This past weekend my family and I were invited to the new house of my sister-in-law’s sister in a ritzy neighborhood in San Diego called Rancho Santa Fe.
Early last month, they bought this house which was listed in March 2007 for $6.5M for $4.7M and the old owner had thrown in an almost brand new Jaguar convertible as a deal sweetner. This gathering was sort of a house warming party according to my wife and a “show off” party if you ask me.
Being without a doubt the poorest family in the midst of all the other invited guests, I was going around the house to find a corner to hide in or atleast find someone who I felt comfortable with. You guessed right! I am money and status concious. In the back yard, I found a group of men who were smoking cigars and drinking cocktails. They looked less rich and intimidating than some of the other men.
I casually walked towards them and one of them said hello and asked me to join the real men’s corner. I shook hands with them and joined the conversation (more as a listener of course).
One of these guys was discussing his new yacht which was docked at one of the harbors in San Diego and the others were commenting. Apparently a 62 ft $1.5M yacht is nothing more than a toy these days. The numbers these people were throwing around started to make me dizzy. I realize I was in probably one of the richest towns in the U.S. but then I started thinking how many of these towns and cities there is in the entire U.S. of A. 10, 20, 50, 100? more?
Places like Monte Carlo, South of France, Corsica, Dubai and alike maybe playgrounds of the rich and famous or subjects of fantasy movies or TV documentaries. But boy in the whole scheme of things, there is so much money and wealth in the U.S. that anything and everything else in comparison is almost a joke.
Its no wonder this is the land of opportunity. The pie is so big that even smallest pieces of it, hell even crumbs of the damn pie is enough to make one rich beyound dreams.
I know money doesn’t bring happiness, but it sure makes life easier.
Thats my opinion. Whats yours?
