One of the reasons I have liked living in Kansas so much is because people live in a very middle class way of life. There is none of the "Keeping up with the Jones'". I like that people can drive a Ford and fit in with out any problems. Yes, Manhattan has it's GIANT houses and people do drive nice cars, but they are like a BMW or maybe a Porsche.
Well while being back in O.C. I have noticed a big difference in the way of living. This became clear when 2 Bentleys, not one, came driving down a this road we were on while on our way to Malibu from Agora Hills (Simi-Valley area). It's not a completely uncommon thing to see a car that is worth more then a house, a nice house in Manhattan for that matter, but there was two of them! What struck me most was that one of the drivers thought that because he/she was driving a Bentley that they could just cut into the line of traffic waiting to turn right onto PCH, a road that goes along the coast. This person even honked the horn at the people that were actually trying to let the Bentley in, but the driver was too stuck up or moronic to realize the fact. That Bentley turned the same way we did and angrily sped down PCH, driving crazily and cutting off more vehicles on it's way down the road. What a jerk. I guess having lots of money doesn't make you a happy person.
Clint and I had actually seen a Bentley on our drive out to CA. I think it was in Colorado or Utah. He was really hoping that this guy would stop at the same gas stations so that Clint could strike up a conversations that would go something like this: "Hey, nice car, what kind of gas mileage do you get? Oh great, mine gets like 28. So how does it feel to know that the price difference between your car and mine could feed an African village for 4 years?"
I had told Clint that he should ask the other Bentley driver that we saw on our way to Malibu the same questions. After all she had her window down, and it would have been VERY easy and I would have loved to see her facial expression!
The other two pictures I have on the blog are for a house in the neighboring area of where my parents live. It has been recently built, I think about the same time that Clint and I moved to Manhattan. Here is what the listing says: "One of Orange County's Landmark Estate Properties located in Coto de Caza's Los Ranchos Estates. This 9.5 acre Tuscan influenced property has everything the equestrian, athlete or entertainer could want! From the moment you pass the guard house you will enter this private hill-top compound with lakes, pastures, stables, tennis court, pool, staff quarters, guest casita, pool house & outdoor kitchen! Main house features a great room, 2 commercial kitchens, theater, billiards room, subterranean wine cellar with tasting area, library, 2000 sqft master suite with his & hers baths, recreation room, exercise room & music conservatory." Price: 12,9000,000. Yep that's right, almost 13 MILLION dollars! Who has that money in his economy!
Did you catch the part that mentioned the 2 thousand sq ft BEDROOM! You could fit two of the houses that I live in, into just the bedroom! What the heck is a music conservatory! Is that a fancy word for a "giant wasted space" that you can listen to your I pod in? And who needs 2 COMMERCIAL kitchens? I can understand having a pool house, and I guess I'm use to the ideas of a guest house and staff quarters, but I still think it's ridiculous. Well except for the pool house, I think that would be cool because it would keep the water and mess from pool parties out of your house.
So after witnessing such extremes, I am a little worried about moving back some day. Clint and I REALLY want to live next to our families, and we could buy a nice modest home for way too much money, but it's putting up with these extremes that makes me worried. I didn't even mention the education system. More like the lack of. I found out yesterday that the state has stopped paying for bus services and libraries. LIBRARIES? How can you call yourself a school with out a library!? I guess I went to a small private school that didn't have a library because it was new, and that is probably why I struggle with finding good books at a library because I didn't get that foundation growing up! What are we teaching our kids if people drive around in cars that usually cost AT LEAST 200K and live in 13 Million dollar estates, but we can't provide libraries at the schools they go to. Pay your taxes people!!! This isn't even taking in account that the classroom teacher has to teach EVERYTHING. On top of teaching Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, teachers here also have to teach P.E., music (if they know how) and Art. Now they have to take control in the libraries and computer labs WHEN those rooms are open. My brother-in-law is in High School and his library is LOCKED 3 out of the 5 days of school! Not that I think teachers should be lazy, but I have liked teaching in KS because we have highly qualified teachers for Music, Art and P.E. oh and our library is open not only to our students but to the COMMUNITY as is our computer lab! The community pays for it, why not allow everyone to use it?
So I guess, be thankful for the wonderful things that we have in our lives and the better education we got as kids, because kids now are getting screwed. Hopefully we can fix it before my son will be heading off to CA's public education system. If we haven't fixed it, then our kids won't be going to public schools!
Clint says that none of this matters because the mountain biking here is just too good.
