Columns & Opinions

Amiddle-class woman from Virginia was visiting her sister’s home in Carmel, a modern, walled estate overlooking the Pacific. The sister’s family owned six new cars: She and her husband each owned two and each of the two children had been given one apiece. In the back of the property was a large garden, a swimming pool, a hot tub under its own gazebo and enough patio furniture for a large party. The sister had her own domestic employees: a yard and pool keeper, a maid and a weekday cook. Within the first half hour of her visit, the sister from Virginia whispered in awe to her sister, “I want what you have.”