October 26th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Stopping by Starbucks today to get some mocha and a coffee cake for lunch, I felt out of place with my Buick SUV against those parked there — a silver Lexus LX SUV, a red Ferrari F430, a metallic blue Porsche Cheyenne SUV, a couple of black and silver Porsche 911 Carreras and a dark blue 7 Series BMW. The Ferrari alone retails at about $160,000 without any extras and the Porsche is at least $80,000 each.
It turns out that a group of rich stay-at-home wives were mingling and socializing there. I did catch a glimpse of one of the lady’s humongous diamond ring - one of those rings that makes your arm longer than the other because of the weight (if you know what I mean).
It brings me back to an occasion couple of years ago when I was at a business conference in La Jolla, San Diego and I pulled up in my rented Toyota Camry at a fancy seafood restaurant. I was going to have a valet park my car but decided against it when I saw the type of cars that were there - Ferraris, Mercedes, Porsche, Bentleys to name some. I did end up parking the car myself and tried the restaurant out. Oh yes, John Travolta was sitting in the corner eating clams a couple of tables down from me. The restaurant is his favorite dinner hangout (and of many celebrities) and he supposedly flies his private jet from his Florida home just to have dinner there — flying back home after.
I know it is just materialistic things and there is more to life than money and richness but sometimes you can’t help but feel a little jealous and envious when it is thrown in your face like that.
10 Responses to “Envy”
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kristarella said: @ 6:32 pm
October 26th, 2006
I wonder if they know there’s more to life…
kailani said: @ 8:34 pm
October 26th, 2006
You may not have a Lexus but you do have an awesome new site!
kat campbell said: @ 9:26 pm
October 26th, 2006
They say money can’t buy happiness. I’d be happy to test out that theory. Just to make sure, not because I’m envious or anything…
Bean said: @ 9:46 pm
October 26th, 2006
You can have the cars, but I sure would like some coffee cake.
The Foo said: @ 9:56 pm
October 26th, 2006
Kris: yup, there is more to life than that, isn’t it?
Kailani: thanks for the compliment! now i feel better even though I don’t have a lexus ;-)
Kat: actually i won’t mind giving it a “test” myself ;-)
Bean: The coffee cake sure was yummy! Starbucks just makes the best coffee cake! :-)
Angela said: @ 1:30 pm
October 27th, 2006
Well, “research” says that money really doesn’t buy happiness — after a certain point, anyway. (About $30K per year, I heard.) The Dalai Lama has some interesting thoughts on desire and it’s role in our lives, but I haven’t explored them enough to get to the point where I don’t feel jealous and envious, too. I remember some phrase from somewhere that said, “There will always be people who have more and less than you do.” The trick is to find something that you love and hang on to it. Not many people envy my ‘95 Honda Accord with the happy-meal stained leather and dent in the side from where a neighbor kid ran his mini bike into it. But I really love it, and every time I walk toward it or start it up I get a warm fuzzy feeling because it suits me and makes me happy. Finding things that suit me. That’s my mission in life. :o)That, and having things work *for* me, not *me* working for *them*. Little moments of happiness. Just give me those and call me good.
Angela said: @ 1:31 pm
October 27th, 2006
ack, English major typo. “its role in our lives” {{slinking away embarrassed}}
Jeff said: @ 5:43 pm
October 27th, 2006
There are so many things that make up a “happy life”. Money is just a small part. I like to look at having money is akin to having your favorite team become world champions. “You may have a big house and enough money to buy all the luxuries you want, but you are still a Cubs fan!”
Six on one hand; half-a-dozen on the other.
Kristyn said: @ 8:31 pm
October 27th, 2006
I sympathize. Fortunately for me, I don’t get out much, or rather I don’t go out of my town much and being a university student, I see a lot of eclectic vehicles but no overt shows of wealth. The fact that I live in a tiny town in Central Texas means I see lots of trucks, not many Ferarris. It bothers me a little, it could be my socially conscious side, but those sorts of shows of wealth make me uneasy.
I grew up in Southern California, and there you do see a lot of wealth. My ex-husbands God Mother was one of those people who thought extravagent cars and huge houses and jewelry make a person. Sadly, so does he.
On another note, you saw John Travolta?? I love him, I’m not afraid or ashamed to admit it. ;)
Jenniewren said: @ 10:29 pm
October 28th, 2006
I love our life….just the way it is! :-)