Life on the Other Side
I work with people that jet off to New York City for the weekend (and that's for fun. Not business). Some own summer homes. Boats. Expensive cars. And live a life that for most standards is considered lavish. And glamorous.
Sometimes I envy the trips and the material possessions--as it would be fun to come home from a quick jaunt to one of the U.S. coasts and report on my doings. Even if they were simply visiting friends and relatives. But most of the time I'm unphased. It could be my working class upbringing and mentality. Or the Midwesterner in me. Or maybe it is just because I haven't grown up in an urban environment. Hell, Target is considered upscale from where I grew up.
However, there is a wee bit I DO envy about this crowd (and as much as I paint them in wealth, they are nice people. Down to earth and completely non-snobbish. So much so, they don't make fun of the jeanish type garb I wear to work. Even though my jeans likely cost $20 - 30 and theirs $200- 300). The whimsical trips and shopping sprees are superfluous to the fact that they can AFFORD to hire a cleaning person to come to their house at least once a week. And some have landscapers mowing the lawn. And others--the creme de la creme--even have a cook come over for dinner parties (and people say my barbecues with the hubby dressed in an apron are over doing it).
I don't care so much for the cooks (though nicely prepared every evening when I come home--ones that I don't cook--does have some sort of appeal). It's the housekeepers. The blessed housekeeper. I think I'd give my left pinky finger to be able to afford one (maybe not. I do tend to type the letter 'A' often enough it might be a job liability). Even just a once a week visit. And let me tell (warn) you, this person would have to be a saint to deal with our mess. But I totally can't justify that cost for one. I mean, how HARD is it to keep a house clean? I know, damn hard. I work full time. And come home to cook for a husband and kid. And then the laundry.... and remember vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, scouring the oven that has never been cleaned.
My husband, I can almost guarantee would give up his dream of a Mustang GT convertible for a landscaper. One that could come weekly to take care of the damn lawn that just keeps growing. And weeding. Oh, and don't forget all the edging, mulching, and then more weeding. Is this what weekends are for (cleaning and yardwork)?
I never dreamed as a kid, that indeed, that is their purpose. And of course grocery shopping. And home improvement store trips. And all the gazillion things we ignored all week long. Ahhh, the suffering of the working class. I can't imagine life on the other--able-to-afford-help-for-those-house-like-things--side. Can you?
Sometimes I envy the trips and the material possessions--as it would be fun to come home from a quick jaunt to one of the U.S. coasts and report on my doings. Even if they were simply visiting friends and relatives. But most of the time I'm unphased. It could be my working class upbringing and mentality. Or the Midwesterner in me. Or maybe it is just because I haven't grown up in an urban environment. Hell, Target is considered upscale from where I grew up.
However, there is a wee bit I DO envy about this crowd (and as much as I paint them in wealth, they are nice people. Down to earth and completely non-snobbish. So much so, they don't make fun of the jeanish type garb I wear to work. Even though my jeans likely cost $20 - 30 and theirs $200- 300). The whimsical trips and shopping sprees are superfluous to the fact that they can AFFORD to hire a cleaning person to come to their house at least once a week. And some have landscapers mowing the lawn. And others--the creme de la creme--even have a cook come over for dinner parties (and people say my barbecues with the hubby dressed in an apron are over doing it).
I don't care so much for the cooks (though nicely prepared every evening when I come home--ones that I don't cook--does have some sort of appeal). It's the housekeepers. The blessed housekeeper. I think I'd give my left pinky finger to be able to afford one (maybe not. I do tend to type the letter 'A' often enough it might be a job liability). Even just a once a week visit. And let me tell (warn) you, this person would have to be a saint to deal with our mess. But I totally can't justify that cost for one. I mean, how HARD is it to keep a house clean? I know, damn hard. I work full time. And come home to cook for a husband and kid. And then the laundry.... and remember vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, scouring the oven that has never been cleaned.
My husband, I can almost guarantee would give up his dream of a Mustang GT convertible for a landscaper. One that could come weekly to take care of the damn lawn that just keeps growing. And weeding. Oh, and don't forget all the edging, mulching, and then more weeding. Is this what weekends are for (cleaning and yardwork)?
I never dreamed as a kid, that indeed, that is their purpose. And of course grocery shopping. And home improvement store trips. And all the gazillion things we ignored all week long. Ahhh, the suffering of the working class. I can't imagine life on the other--able-to-afford-help-for-those-house-like-things--side. Can you?
