Lifestyles of the Rich and Rural
With Christmas passed, you don't hear as much about the less fortunate, the forgotten members of our society for whom each day brings new obstacles. Thanks, then, to the Washington Post, for their font-page story highlighting the struggles of a class beset by problems most of us could not even imagine having: The poor souls who own 7,000 square-foot homes on 100 acre lots in Loudoun county. Sure, you think they have it easy, owning million-dollar homes up to 10 times larger than the national average. But just listen to their plight! "Their friends never visited." No! One woman allows, "We weren't fully prepared for the impact of the weather." Not the weather! Another family "couldn't find a nanny who would come to their house." It's true: They couldn't find a nanny. The put-upon father of another migrant family admits he "was spooked by the strange night-time noises." Another breadwinner said there are more chores than he bargained for: "I still get some golf in, but not as much." Can you imagine? NOT AS MUCH GOLF.
The sad ending of most of these stories? The families are forced to sell their homes -- sometimes only making small profit -- and move to smaller, just-as-expensive homes. We just hope they're able to get in some more golf.