I came across two articles in the LA Times today, both items are IMHO, driven by the housing bubble which is small part of the irrational consumption society.
Granted, each in the each is likely to see a doubling or tripling of business from the article, and I admit, I’m chagrined I didn’t think of them. Still I wonder how they’ll do in a downturn and what the larger societal implications are of people stretching themselves for such “needs”.
I found it insane that people would live in a 2500 sq ft house in Reno, come into San Fran 3 days a week to drive a cab and sleep in a mini-van in the parking lot of the cab company.
Or, buy a 3500 sq ft house in Nevada when your kids are grown and out of the house so you could fly into the bay area. The best part, her monthly expenses are now $2000/month higher! But, “we’ll own the house” She’s 57…
But my favorite was the fire captain in SF whose wife wouldn’t leave the 4200 sq. ft house in Minnesota.
Such long commutes are insane. People live in big ugly suburban characterless houses. For what? I’d rather live close to the city in a small but high quality house.
A friend of mine is a pilot. He lives in Chicago but commutes to NYC. At least he gets to fly for free.
Regarding the Affluenza article, I feel that hiring people to do chores is more of a status thing than a necessity. From the cars people drive to the clothes they wear it seems to me like everyone is trying to imitate Hollywood. I can’t wait for the economic downturn that’ll bring everyone back down to reality.
One of the women (or, as she referred to herself, a “busy single girl”) in the affluenza article is a Realtor:
“I’m a busy single girl, so I first started by asking Lisa to get me cases of water and things like that,” Rich said. “And then she started sitting some open houses. From there, it’s kind of a decadent thing, but I got used to it.”
OK, so she’s already farming out her open houses and getting some schlep to bring her water. And, she’s gotten used to such treatment. I can’t wait for the real estate market to completely implode so we don’t have to read any more of these idiotic lifestyle articles.
Call me bitter, but I hope the Tax Board is taking notes that 10% of the cab medalion owners in SF live out of state. All profits of which are earned in State for *employees* and not contractors, thus TTBOMK, is taxable as California income. That includes the nurse in Nevada, her crash mate in Phoenix.
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