My vacation at a Club Med for the 1%

[catherine]

I had a mini-vacation/reunion last weekend with a bunch of college friends. One of my good friends, who happens to be one of the most "real" people I know, wound up marrying a man she worked with at a large, prestigious management consulting firm. They have 3 houses: one in Greenwich CT, a 5-bedroom house on the beach in RI, and another 5-bedroom home in a "club" on one of the Florida keys. This is not just a typical Florida gated community… it is owned and managed by the property/equity owners there, and my friend's next door neighbor is Kathie Lee. This is where we had the reunion.

Now, I'm not exactly Jed Clampett myself, but I felt like him looking around at the wealth. My friend's house's market value is about $5M. The boats in the Marina were enormous. They don't use cash or even credit--they have their own form of currency. My friend told me that some of her friends have two houses in this community: one on the east end so they can see the sunrise and one on the west end so they can see the sunset. I'm not even kidding about that. They get huge names to perform in their little 250-seat auditorium by raising money in the community--people become "producers" and pay $10,000 for a picture with the star--and they put the star up in their community (that in itself is considered to be part of the compensation). They don't lock their doors. They get around the community in golf carts, and my friend said that some of her friends don't leave the community all winter--it's completely self-contained and who would want to wander out of Paradise for a trip to BJs?

One of her good friends took a liking to a little girl's presentation at an charity event for kids, and on the spot she decided she was going to pay for the little girl's--a total stranger mind you--college education, and she has followed through on that promise.

Throughout the weekend I'd check my Facebook page and this site and I truly felt like I was living in an alternative universe--with my Bernie Sanders feeds, my Overgrow the System and other permaculture feeds, the posts here on keeping food bills to $100 a month, etc, it was just a weird experience.

I have resisted any value judgements. I'm not about to launch any Occupy [My Friend's Community] protests. I had a WONDERFUL time with my friends, hanging out in the pools--both the community one and the indoor one my friend has in her house. We ate wonderfully well, had great conversation and laughs, enjoyed the sunset, and had Marguerita cruises in my friend's boat.

And yes, I was happy to hear that the community had sent one of their own to jail for cutting down mangroves to improve the view.

And still, there's no place like home. I felt the social pressure intensely, with their incredibly stringent rules and dress codes. I think in many ways my life is a lot freer than my friend's.

Just a few observations.

[pinkytoe]

There was an interesting article in the NY Times last week called Poor Little Rich Girls about that very demographic. I believe the author is a sociologist who has a new book about the topic. It is a lifestyle we envy from the outside but the competition must be relentless - especially for the children born into it. No thanks.

[iris lilies]

Are her houses cool, old, and interesting?

[Float On]

What an interesting experience for you. I probably would of bailed just for the fear of not fitting in or having the right things to wear.
I'm reminded in a tiny tiny way of one of my husband's aunts who exclaimed when going over our simple wedding registry, "How can you get through life if you don't have the proper Sherry glasses?"

[catherine]

Are her houses cool, old, and interesting?

Her house in FL is a typical Florida house on a large scale: stucco, Spanish influence, lower to the ground (although it is a two-story), ceramic tiled throughout.

Her house in RI is very charming: typical New England weathered grey shingles, an updated "cottage."

I've never been to the CT place

My friend definitely has latent natural talent in interior design (she and I were both theatre majors, which is how we became friends). She decorated her houses herself, and they are absolutely beautiful, warm and charming with a touch of whimsy. Some big expensive houses are cold and barren, but not hers.

Pinkytoe, that article looks interesting--I'll look it up.

[kib]

What an interesting experience for you. I probably would of bailed just for the fear of not fitting in.

I thought about that for a minute. I think I would have wanted to spend my time there walking along the beach or maybe looking at the other scenery, but wouldn't have done it because, it seems to me, not Participating would have been seen as an impolite judgment. So in that way I much prefer sitting here reading about this beautiful place than being a guest.

[nswef]

It sounds like a wonderful weekend escape. I enjoy seeing other people's lives . How nice that your friend is still your friend, that doesn't always happen when circumstances change.

[JaneV2.0]

That experience would have been as instructive as a weekend in the Amazon with the Yanomami, approached from an anthropological standpoint.

[Alan]

I made a few weekend trips to the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo back in the day. A different life for sure, but the people were nice.

[jp1]

Sounds like a fun vacation and I'm glad you enjoyed the company. Wouldn't want to live like that full time though.