The Diametric Opposite to Vandwelling

[Ariel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/s...e-pits-millionaires-vs-billionaires.html?_r=0

I couldn't help when reading this but think about how the material consumption of a twelve thousand vandwellers wouldn't equal these people's broom closets. I got a little nauseous reading it. How can people walking into a private home's basement lounge with Fendi furniture and a decorative Bugatti not take a step back and seriously take a critical eye to what a joke it all is?

It also makes me sigh at the silly futility of my personal attempts at recycling and resource conservation when you see x number of 20,000 square foot mansions getting dumped, no doubt, into landfills.

 

[Queen]

Having spent much of my adult life working with people who have mental illness and are homeless, this type of excess makes me so sad. It's their money and they can as they wish with it, but really shouldn't be able to destroy the environment with their excess.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Yes Queen, they may do what they wish with their money. The excesses and disregard saddens me. Perhaps they make charitable donations as opposed to paying lobbies for their causes.

 

[LeeRevell]

This makes me imagine looking down upon all the hubbub there, and thinking how much it would look like a real-life version of the old computer game "Sim City". Put up a new fancy structure, only minutes later (game time) to see it razed and something totally different and much bigger put up in it's place, over and over again.

 

[GotSmart]

I have made a lot of money off of people like that.

Conspicuous consumption keeps a lot of people employed.

They tend to hire professionals with attitudes to do their work. (I am making more money since I got an attitude!)

 

[Seraphim]

Like GotSmart said: they employed people to build it, they'll employ people to maintain it, and when it's all said and done someone will get employed to tear it down and rebuild it. If it's developable land, it'll get developed, one way or another. Better a maintained home with greenery than an industrial complex or a mall. As long as mankind survives, they wil be a detriment to the environment. The environment will outlive humanity, then continue on its way as if such short lived parasites as we never existed.

---

IMO *smile*

 

[Kimbopolo]

I see people surrounded by this type of excess and I feel sorry for them. And not just because they are undoubtedly drowning in debt.

 

[akrvbob]

I agree Kim, I honestly think it's mental illness.
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

The net worth of some people staggers the imagination. I just cannot conceive what it must be like to be a billionaire. But on the other hand, like celebrities anywhere, they are trapped by their own Croesus-level lifestyle. They cannot go for a walk in public, go to the local box store, go anywhere without their bodyguards and others in an entourage. They have no 'freedom'. They probably like the attention, everyone kowtowing to them. Meh, I like going where I want when I want, without drawing a crowd.
Once my Navy ship was tasked with being weeklong escort for the Sultan of oman's private yacht. That effing 'yacht' was 100 feet longer than we were and had it's own helicopter (as did we, but his was way posher!). We embarked a group of SEALs for the duration. I wondered why we didn't just put the SEALs aboard his yacht and we spend the week on shore leave.......

 

[caseyc]

That's both funny and true. I too have an attitude which I flaunt whenever it serves my purpose, haha!

I have made a lot of money off of people like that.

Conspicuous consumption keeps a lot of people employed.

They tend to hire professionals with attitudes to do their work. (I am making more money since I got an attitude!)

 

[Luisafernandes]

I have made a lot of money off of people like that.

Conspicuous consumption keeps a lot of people employed.

They tend to hire professionals with attitudes to do their work. (I am making more money since I got an attitude!)

Hey, you talkin to me? Are you talkin to me? Didn't think so[emoji41]
Ok, pay up[emoji6]

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I have a mansion
Forget the price
Ain't never been there
They tell me it's nice

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Hey, that their thing, more power to them. I hate to get philosophical, but should we ridicule them as we abhor them ridiculing us? I think freedom comes in many forms...they have the freedom, desire and means to live that way, so let them be.

Its all relative anyway. Ive read homeless people online decrying about people in vehicles, saying pretty much the same thing. They aren't 'real homeless' like us. You can find plenty of jabs by vandwellers a those who live in big luxurious class As.

Let people be themselves. I think it is only sad when you are not being true to yourself.

 

[offroad]

HarmonicaB - so true. Do you have accountants who pay for it all?

 

[cdiggy]

Only when I live in hotels... And tear out the walls.

 

[Patrick46]

Poor Mr. Rosen.
He's got this wonderful, uninhabited mound of dirt in his L.A. backyard, and he's surprised & mad when someone builds something gaudy on it???

....sounds a bit naive' to me!!

Let people be themselves. I think it is only sad when you are not being true to yourself.

Well said DG.

 

[Almost There]

The problem of large housing is epidemic throughout North America and is encouraged by all levels of government.

Try getting a permit to build a home under 600 sq ft in most municipalities and you'll be turned down. They want the big housing so that they can collect building permit fees, sewer/water fees, property taxes etc, etc that are based on size and value.

Even rural areas have copied the large urban area building policies. A friend ended up having to connect a mobile home to the main house to satisfy regulations regarding square footage of a dwelling. You couldn't get from home A to home B without going outside but the attachment satisfied the regulations...sigh!! This on a 100 acre piece of property in the bush.

 

[LeeRevell]

The problem of large housing is epidemic throughout North America and is encouraged by all levels of government.

Try getting a permit to build a home under 600 sq ft in most municipalities and you'll be turned down. They want the big housing so that they can collect building permit fees, sewer/water fees, property taxes etc, etc that are based on size and value.

Even rural areas have copied the large urban area building policies. A friend ended up having to connect a mobile home to the main house to satisfy regulations regarding square footage of a dwelling. You couldn't get from home A to home B without going outside but the attachment satisfied the regulations...sigh!! This on a 100 acre piece of property in the bush.

That add-on could make a killer "mancave"!

 

[Almost There]

That add-on could make a killer "mancave"!

Yes, but the problem is that neither the small 'bunkies' that are allowed nor a 'man-cave' is allowed to be lived in. As in no running water (toilet/sink etc).

The closest people come to keeping it small is that some municipalities here now allow you to permanently park a TT on a lot BUT you pay an annual 'license' fee for being allowed to do so and you have to have proof of a contract with a sanitation company to come pump out your holding tanks. Oh and it's zoned 'recreational use only' so it can't be used year round. Got ya coming and going.