Today Kevin Depew commented on Minyanville about the increased chasm between what we need and what we want, and how often "what we want" is focused completely on ostentatiousness rather than on any sense of real need. (His comments were inspired by a piece in the New York Times cooking section.)
Made me think about the experience of helping my brother buy his new condo recently. Came with a gorgeous kitchen, with lots of inessentials and plenty of just plain "show off" items. For example, it came with a 36", six-burner stove. Looks great, until you look inside and see that it has no overhead broiler, just the cheap "drawer" broiler found in the cheapest ranges. And no self cleaning. And no high BTU burners. In fact, it was nothing but a slightly oversized "builder special" range from a no-name manufcturer.
Of course, since the kitchen was built for a 36" range, replacing it with a normal, good quality range is impossible. He's going to be limited mostly to ultra-expensive professional ranges to fit the space. (Yesterday we finally found one that will fit the space that is under $2500.)
The conversation with the developer was counterproductive. Of course a 36" range is better, he says. It's 36" rather than 30". And it's stainless steel. And looks really cool.
Broiler? The drawer broiler is "good enough for him."
Self Cleaning? You really don't need it unless you cook a lot.
Why would you care about a 36" range if you don't cook a lot? Because it's so much better.
I gave up.
I also gave up on the discussion of the utility of a huge electric fireplace (aka a light show with a small electric heater in it) that is encased in a huge mantelpiece/hearth/surround in such a manner that it makes much of the living room useless. Obviously it's "better" to have one than to have the open space, or wall space for pictures. Or for a far-more-useful 60" TV. I did convince my brother to rip that one out completely. The developer can't understand why.
But of course, all this is indicative of the change that has happened in our society in the past 40 years, which Kevin suspects is peaking.
About 40 years ago, my grandfather, who was a successful entrepreneur and made enough of a fortune to give me a great start in life, wanted a car. Not any car. He wanted a Jaguar. Presumably one of those really cool classic 1960s models.
My mom's cousin, who worked for him at the time, occasionally went to the showroom with him to look at them. Clearly he had earned it and could afford it. But he never got the Jaguar.
Why? My mom's cousin told the story of his simple answer:
"What will the neighbors think?"
My grandfather was a creation of the great depression whose business ventures failed more than once before he succeeded. He knew the meaning of money and he didn't waste it or show it off. It was too important for that. I suspect that the "neighbors" were an excuse. He just didn't think it was appropriate to show off, regardless of the neighbors, most of whom were family and old friends, many of whom also did quite well for themselves over the years.
So what do the neighbors think today?
They couldn't believe it when I sold my Audi convertible and traded down to a fairly subdued 4-cylinder Acura.
They can believe it even less now that I've traded for a Prius.
They are amazed when I inform them that I often ride the bus and that I use my bike for the 15-minute commute to work. (Takes about as long on my bike as in my car.)
They simply can't believe that I wouldn't want to show off.
Fortunately, I don't care what the neighbors think.
-btc
Comments (2)
Grandpa N's last car was a Cadillac. He would never admit he'd actually bought it himself; he would always tell people that his son had bought it for him. Same thing. He couldn't bring himself to admit he'd actually spent that much money on a car.
Posted by fiat lux | May 10, 2007 1:41 PM
Well, truth be told, my grandfather did get talked into a Mercedes in '71 or '72, shortly after he had a stroke and retired. I suspect he was having some pangs of "it's now or never" during that period, and -- let's face it -- nobody in the neighborhood was exactly poor. After about a year he decided that he didn't feel at all comfortable with it, either as a car or a way of life. It was replaced with a '73 metallic green Dodge Dart which my grandmother drove almost to the end.
In addition to that Dodge, my grandfather had a series of leased Buicks for several years during the late 70s and early 80s. He'd lease them for the 8 months of the year that they weren't in Florida rather than owning a second car and having to store it somewhere when they were away.
Eventually I got old enough to make use of the Dart, so for a couple of years they'd leave it with us during the winters and bought a rather crappy Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to use themselves year-round. The Dart was a perfect vehicle for a 16 year old because my grandmother had bent the frame on a large rock near the mailboxes (the rock, I'm sure, is still there). That fact imposed a de-facto speed limit on the vehicle beyond which it would shake and shudder and become uncontrollable. When I went off to college, the Dart was sold. Its engine is probably powering a large village in Peru.
Grandpa never really could drive much of anywhere anyway. He could get lost going to the mailboxes. My mom and aunt confirm that this had nothing to do with age.
-btc
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May 11, 2007 12:43 AM