I'm not going to lie. The multiple showerhead system that your money buys you at The Royal York, or the Half Moon Villa with cook, driver, and maid, or the just damned beautiful decor at The Hudson--more money than I'm willing to take out of my pocket (I just can't wrap my head around spending my money on hotels...leather coats, I get, and electronics...just not hotels), but I can see where the money has gone.

In my head I separate expensiveness for a real reason from inflation for prestige. And as I go along, I learn more. Swimsuits? Don't be distracted by the amount of fabric. That's not where your money went. More money goes into stitching the seams. Or why this car costs more than that--sometimes you're paying for the brand name, sometimes you're paying for the whisper quiet engine (how silent would an electric Lexus be? It'd be like a black hole of sound, I wager).

And then I read about things like this tuck box some of my relatives were selling for hundreds of dollars.

Dude. Box. Sure,you can do things to boxes to make them more expensive--use more expensive materials, for one. But still...box?

I had a much more streamlined point when I started. Mostly I want them to bring me my food so I can lay back down. And some Benadryl, so my dilaudid-induced itch can go away.

Cool! This computer is a Linux box! I don't even know where the computer is. In the wall somewhere, maybe. All I get is flatscreen panel and cramped keyboard, but I'm surfing from a Linux box. Good choice, hospital people.

I felt plenty wealthy three years ago, because I had a lot (well, to me) saved up and my living arrangement choices were made based on having no car payment and $1.75/gallon gasoline. Nowadays not so much, as a new car loan and higher gas prices have put me a bit in the red each month. But I certainly don't feel poor, and stubbornly remain in the situation because I'm happier with where I live than I ever have been previously.

I feel incredibly lucky that we could afford a house. We were on a five-year intense savings plan to afford to buy a small condo, and my brother lending us the downpayment allowed us to get a house and to do it this year. (Now our savings plan goes to paying him back!) We live frugally, with 10-year-old cars and no fancy clothes or eating in expensive restaurants and vacations once every three years or so or whatever, but I feel very content. Even on a budget, I have real luxuries like TiVo and going to live concerts a few times a year and pretty Fiestaware to eat off of and being able to hire someone to scrape the popcorn off the ceilings of our new place instead of doing it ourselves. I am lucky and I know I am.

Here's an old NYT article about the state of hangriness:

[link]

Monthly metro pass? $45.

Wow! In Rochester, NY the monthly bus pass is $56 and Starbucks is about $4.50. I could buy a house for $70,000, though, and my rent is $485 for a one bedroom with a full attic, additional alcove, huge kitchen, and screen in back porch.

I guess I'm an asshole.

I think his assholish-ness is related to his complete inability to express any sincere appreciation what he does have. (note: I haven't read the article)

Gas was more expensive in the Bay Area, food was cheaper. Rents were about the same -- but that means there was a full spectrum. Housing stock is greater in DC and more varied.

Food, gas, and housing are all premium priced up here!

Woo!

(I just can't wrap my head around spending my money on hotels...leather coats, I get, and electronics...just not hotels)

I'm willing to pay more for hotels in specific situations. If I'm going to the F2F, my hotel room is pretty much just a place to sleep and shower, and while I'd prefer that it not be a bug-infested motel hell, neither does it have to be a swanky 4-star experience.

But if I'm going on vacation with my honey, and it's our first vacation together, and we've both expressed a serious need to just veg and loaf around (not a euphemism), then I'm willing to pay more for a nicely appointed B&B/inn that will give us room and comfort to loaf around.

That said, my idea of "paying more" means $160/night at a B&B which will feed us twice a day. Factor in the food as well as our expressed desire to loaf around in comfort, and that's not really a whole lot more than a Holiday Inn, and paying the difference is worth it to me.

Bon, do you see yourself as just like him? Similar drive on this particular topic? Who are your Joneses?

Gack. Breakfast came, and the yoghurt has artificial sweetener.

GOOD THING I'M ALREADY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MIGRAINES.

Except no one has treated me yet.

I went a little further along the "hangry" link to the Double-Tongued Dictionary and saw something that confused me: a NEW citation for cast eye? But it's such an old word!

Of course, when I click on it I find it's only an old word if you're Jamaican, pretty much.

Cool.

Can I haz doctor?

I think the revelation about wealth came to me at a swanky hotel once.

I had the same experience when I stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria. It was a nice enough place and the location couldn't be beat, but for $400 a night, I was expecting something more than "nice enough." Hell, we didn't even get free coffee, which is always available at the Hampton Inn/Red Roof Inn that I can stay at for a hell of a lot cheaper when I drive out to visit my mom.

I have a really ambivalent relationship with money--I love it, don't make enough of it to live the way I want to live (and grew up expecting to live with my success in school; it didn't translate to success in life, unfortunately), and right now, I just want to make enough between my two jobs so I can pay off my credit cards, get a new computer and TV, afford my diet food until I lose some more of this weight, and then maybe see if I can get a better paying job when I'm several sizes smaller and feel presentable at an interview.

I've been at this company for fifteen years, so the idea of job-hunting now frightens me to death, especially in this changing marketplace, but I can't afford to retire on what I'm making here (no pension, and the 401(k) deposits they make every year are not enough to live for one year after retirement, let alone the hopefully 20 years I'll need). If I do get accepted by the library school next year, I'll stick around until I get my degree, but that's it.