There is a lot of new money in our county, buying up the real estate. One new neighbor told me he moved up here because it was cheaper than where they lived in the East Bay. Yikes, people moving here because it’s cheaper?
As we see our towns filling up with fancy cars and fancy shops we hear more and more people complaining. “I miss the town I grew up in.” or “This place ain’t the same as it used to be.” Well folks, no town is. Very few places are the same as they were 50 years ago. What if your hometown were Flint, Michigan?
I have a cousin who can find the good in anything. He can be very annoying. But he does have a different perspective on all this new money.
One thing my cousin noticed is that the thrift stores have definitely upped their inventory. It’s nice to know that rich people throwaways are now available to us not so rich. If only it didn’t take months of machine washing to get that industrial cleaner smell off those clothes.
Many of the fancy restaurants that seem to pop up wherever rich people congregate are fantastic, with award-winning chefs and beautifully designed food presentations. My cousin likes the ones with big windows. He says those are easier to look inside without having to press his face to the glass to imagine what it would be like to eat there.
The quality and quantity of books at the local library’s used book sale has definitely improved. New hardbacks, no dog-eared pages, books of varied and interesting topics that I haven’t seen at used book sales before.
That has to be thanks to the new rich folks in town. Thank you, I cannot even remember when (or if) I have ever been able to afford new books but once read books are just as good; I think the content is the same.
My cousin also says he enjoys seeing all the fancy cars. I have to admit until last year I had never seen a Lamborghini up close and one man let me touch his Maserati. It was quite a thrill. I declined his offer for me to wash his car, but thanked him for letting me get so close to it.
Never having been a fashion maven, I often dress like I’m a hobo simply because I don’t notice how I look. But I am enjoying seeing the latest fashions parade by me on the street, some with their designer logos advertising their wealth — beautiful people with beautiful clothes.
I do wonder how some of them can walk with those really high spiked heels. And, if I wore those tight-tight jeans my feet would turn blue.
My cousin seems to enjoy watching long time family homes razed to the ground and replaced with oversized, new ultra-modern palaces. The palaces are gorgeous, especially when compared to the older, well-worn, small homes on the rest of the block. One angry lady called these new homes a “sore thumb on our block.” To which my cousin replied, “I think it’s more like they are giving the block the manicured finger.” I don’t think he meant it quite the way it came out.
There are lots of great reasons to welcome the ultra-rich. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Their toys are good visual entertainment. We should learn to appreciate all the benefits wealth almost affords us.
We have no choice.
Rich people invade, force out the natives and take over. It’s the American way. Somehow, it just seems different when you’re one of the natives.
Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 45 years. He can be reached through his website at: www.gabrielfraire.com.
