I was skimming the Forbe's website today, not because I am dreaming of becoming one of the poster boys for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, but because of an interesting article they ran on vaccinations. (This is odd, because I do want to become a poster boy for LotRaF, and I do frequent Forbes to look at pictures of pretty things I can't really hope to own.) P.S. I am posting pretty pictures from this slide show throughout the article.
However, I came across an add for the 100 homes on the market in 100 of America's richest zip codes. I didn't get through the list because I got bored, and shockingly, some of these photos are grainy and fuzzy - not very Forbes or buyer friendly, if you ask me.
Never mind the fact that I can't afford a 150 million dollar home, it's nice to look at them from time to time. But while I skimmed the first few homes, mostly in New York, Connecticut, Texas and California, I had a sudden thought. Why on Earth would you own a single-family home that is over 30,000 square feet. The home I grew up in could fit in one of these mansions twenty-five times.Â
Now, if you are one of the LotRaF elite, and you have 14 cars, I don't begrudge you having a garage that fits them. I also don't even care if its underground and you have a car elevator. In fact, I think that's badass. I also don't care if you live on a giant compound that is on a 100+ acre estate. That's great. I'm glad you own some land. I hope you plant a garden, have tennis courts and make pretty fountains.Â
So what, might you ask is my issue? I just don't understand why you would have a home with twelve bedrooms, (check out this link to the Forbes slideshow). I think it's awesome that you have a ballroom, or a 24 kt gold swimming pool like one of the other houses in this list.
My issue is practicality. If you frequently host large parties in your ballroom and you house your overnight guests, then that's fantastic. I wonder though, how often do these LotRaF's have these parties? Quarterly at best, I imagine. It's a waste of energy and space to have these things and not use them.
A friend and co-worker of mine is at the time in his life where he and his wife are down-sizing. He is moving from a house with either four or five bedrooms across two floors. I've never been in his home, but I have seen pictures and it seems lovely. He and I were talking, and when I asked him why he wanted to move, he responded by saying this: "I realized that I had not been in three of the rooms in my house in the last six months."
At the time, I said that I agreed, and his decision made total sense. Sure. I let it go, and I haven't come back to it sense I ran into this article. I again assure you that as an aspiring LotRaF, I don't begrudge any of these people from having these homes... I just question why would they want them? Why not invest your money in accounts that make more money? Buy multiple smaller properties? Live in town in a condo? You'll notice I'm not posting any of the condos/apartments in New York or Chicago or wherever that are retailing over $100 million. Those are smaller spaces. Generally less than 8,000 square feet. Property is just more expensive there.Â
I just hate to see these beautiful spaces go to relative waste when no one is or could possibly use them. And that leads me to one aspect of the LotRaF lifestyle that I truly dislike. Wastefulness. In order to be a LotRaF, you have to be ostentatious and wasteful. The French have a word that is so delicious I have to include it here. It's called "gaspillage." (Click here to hear this word so you can impress your friends). How can you be a LotRaF without having to gaspiller, (French verb for "to waste," this is the verb form of the noun I just taught you.)
If I can ever become a LotRaFer, consider this my pledge. I will not waste these spaces. I will make them available to people. I will use the space to better others. I will make them truly magical and share their splendor with other people that would enjoy and appreciate them...
Or at least, one day I'll own my own home. Baby steps.
