This is a very thoughtful essay. I would add to the list of luxuries time. Time to read, to listen to music, time to write. I think time May be the greatest luxury of all. It ably supports all the wonderful things in life!
Grew up in semi-poverty: never went hungry, but utilities were on and off, house was infested with fleas and roaches, and if something broke (like the AC or the oven) it was broken forever. For that reason, I have a complicated relationship with money now as an adult. I’m afraid it will disappear, and I also want to live more stably than I did. I run my AC. Broken things get fixed. But also, I’m always worried about money. Always thinking it won’t be enough. That I need to save more. That I should invest, but I can’t bring myself to risk what I have. I did, however, splurge and I bought an Apple Watch. It has lasted 7 years. The battery lasts til noon now on a good day. It is beyond time to get another one, but I’m stalling. I use a lot of the functions for work, so I can justify it, but I’m hesitant. I don’t really have a point in sharing this, but I really liked this essay and I thank you for writing it.
"There’s nothing wrong with entrepreneurship, of course, but it’s not for me. I don’t want to have meetings, I don’t want to have employees, I don’t want to have a goddamned HR department. The entire reason I got into show business to begin with was that so I wouldn’t have to deal with any of that shit. To me, that’s the opposite of living luxuriously."
sometimes i think about how i love not having to wear a suit and tie to work, and also how there are some tv shows and movies that friends of mine have created and been in where comedians act on the show and they play characters who have to wear a suit and tie to work. i feel like that's a better suit and tie situation, but still, i like a t-shirt.
The "wearing a suit and tie because I'm getting paid sit-com money" is preferable to the "wearing a suit and tie because I'm trying to sell you a whole term life insurance policy."
When billionaires are in the news (as in daily) I think of Ridley Scott's film "All the Money in the World" and my head spins at all their dough and their resistance to regulations, taxes, fair wages.
In 1973, J. Paul Getty III was kidnapped, but his billionaire grandfather, J. Paul Getty, refused to cooperate with ransom demands. There is a scene between family advisor J. Fletcher Chase, speaking on the boy's behalf, and dear old Grandad Getty:
CHASE [Mark Wahlberg]
Mr. Getty ... nobody has ever been richer than you are at this moment.
GETTY [Christopher Plummer]
I have no money to spare.
CHASE
What would it take? I mean, what would it take for you to feel secure?
These kinds of thoughts are what got me into minimalism. It’s good to be less mindless/more intentional about how we spend our time/money; even better when we can make it reflect our true values. Thanks for the essay.
I wanted the luxury of a paid subscription for a while now but I waited for the enticement of the 20% off offer! Ah, happiness! The best of both worlds! In the mundane is the universe.
I felt better when I read that Bill Gates likes to wear cheap Casio watches, and then I found a Casio watch that is a remake of an 80s watch with day of the week, world time in four other time zones, stopwatch, and digital second hand mimicking analog clock face so I can see how far into the hour, what day of the week, and what time it is in both California and Japan. Function is more important than luxury materials unless maybe you go scuba diving.
Other than that, my luxury is animals and plants. My family crave being needed and we trade our time and travel flexibility for love I guess.
I’m a trial lawyer and the only time I wear a watch is when trying a case before jurors. It’s a seiko I was gifted by the folks upon passing the bar. I think it cost about $250 30+ years ago. I later discovered it looks remarkably like a certain Rolex with a blue face. I then went and purchased a $16 Casio diving watch that my jurors can identify with. I’ve got some nice watches in safety deposit that were from my dad, and are going to my kids and grandkids. Dad was a bit more flamboyant of a trial lawyer than I, and that included his watches.
I live for rare days when I don’t have to be in sync with what time it is. That is freedom to me. Not being bound to anyone’s schedule but my own.
Holler if you have spare time while in Atx. You’ve got my email. And my payment info. I know the places to dine.
"We all mark time in different ways. Some of us with a watch, some of us with memory. Some of us measure time by what we have, or by what we’ve lost. Some of us measure time by what we’ve done or what we have left to do."
Very true. I must admit to be a watch nerd, although my collection is a far cry from the Kevin Harts of the world! I have many reasons for the obsession, ranging from a fascination with the mechanical engineering of them to their history and design language. What most resonates with me about watches is how they can be a physical reminder of special occasions, like the one gifted to me by my parents to celebrate finishing grad school; it is not an expensive one by the standards of most "luxury" watches, but it was a sacrifice for them, done out of love. Many of mine that I purchased for myself are dive watches and they got me inspired to actually get scuba-certified. When I am sitting at my desk on a rainy day and look down at one of them, I remember the time it accompanied me 50 feet underwater next to a school of hammerhead sharks, ticking away dutifully, and it makes me smile.
I was briefly a diver earlier in my life, and looking at my very durable Casio diving watch does the same for me. Yeah, I’d like to have one of the BIG seiko diving watches. They are, to me, a work of art. Tried one on onetime and found it way too heavy and bulky. If I was still diving, I’d prolly get one as essential survival gear, because I lack that confidence at depth with the Casio.
This is a very thoughtful essay. I would add to the list of luxuries time. Time to read, to listen to music, time to write. I think time May be the greatest luxury of all. It ably supports all the wonderful things in life!
Grew up in semi-poverty: never went hungry, but utilities were on and off, house was infested with fleas and roaches, and if something broke (like the AC or the oven) it was broken forever. For that reason, I have a complicated relationship with money now as an adult. I’m afraid it will disappear, and I also want to live more stably than I did. I run my AC. Broken things get fixed. But also, I’m always worried about money. Always thinking it won’t be enough. That I need to save more. That I should invest, but I can’t bring myself to risk what I have. I did, however, splurge and I bought an Apple Watch. It has lasted 7 years. The battery lasts til noon now on a good day. It is beyond time to get another one, but I’m stalling. I use a lot of the functions for work, so I can justify it, but I’m hesitant. I don’t really have a point in sharing this, but I really liked this essay and I thank you for writing it.
Our luxuries align. Love this
dear michael,
another great piece! i'm with you here:
"There’s nothing wrong with entrepreneurship, of course, but it’s not for me. I don’t want to have meetings, I don’t want to have employees, I don’t want to have a goddamned HR department. The entire reason I got into show business to begin with was that so I wouldn’t have to deal with any of that shit. To me, that’s the opposite of living luxuriously."
sometimes i think about how i love not having to wear a suit and tie to work, and also how there are some tv shows and movies that friends of mine have created and been in where comedians act on the show and they play characters who have to wear a suit and tie to work. i feel like that's a better suit and tie situation, but still, i like a t-shirt.
thanks for sharing as always!
love
myq
The "wearing a suit and tie because I'm getting paid sit-com money" is preferable to the "wearing a suit and tie because I'm trying to sell you a whole term life insurance policy."
That’s true! Though the tie is still physically more uncomfortable to me than a t-shirt.
Love this thanks.
What a beautiful post. Thank you.
When billionaires are in the news (as in daily) I think of Ridley Scott's film "All the Money in the World" and my head spins at all their dough and their resistance to regulations, taxes, fair wages.
In 1973, J. Paul Getty III was kidnapped, but his billionaire grandfather, J. Paul Getty, refused to cooperate with ransom demands. There is a scene between family advisor J. Fletcher Chase, speaking on the boy's behalf, and dear old Grandad Getty:
CHASE [Mark Wahlberg]
Mr. Getty ... nobody has ever been richer than you are at this moment.
GETTY [Christopher Plummer]
I have no money to spare.
CHASE
What would it take? I mean, what would it take for you to feel secure?
GETTY
More.
That response was chilling. "More."
I also enjoy those little potato rolls.
These kinds of thoughts are what got me into minimalism. It’s good to be less mindless/more intentional about how we spend our time/money; even better when we can make it reflect our true values. Thanks for the essay.
I wanted the luxury of a paid subscription for a while now but I waited for the enticement of the 20% off offer! Ah, happiness! The best of both worlds! In the mundane is the universe.
Get out of my head Michael!
But, why is it so very and oddly satisfying? I am happily mystified when that small bell rings! Thanks for reaching me ❤️🩹
That's pretty beautiful
I felt better when I read that Bill Gates likes to wear cheap Casio watches, and then I found a Casio watch that is a remake of an 80s watch with day of the week, world time in four other time zones, stopwatch, and digital second hand mimicking analog clock face so I can see how far into the hour, what day of the week, and what time it is in both California and Japan. Function is more important than luxury materials unless maybe you go scuba diving.
Other than that, my luxury is animals and plants. My family crave being needed and we trade our time and travel flexibility for love I guess.
A lovely message as I tee up a restful summer weekend (I don’t golf). Thanks, Michael.
I’m a trial lawyer and the only time I wear a watch is when trying a case before jurors. It’s a seiko I was gifted by the folks upon passing the bar. I think it cost about $250 30+ years ago. I later discovered it looks remarkably like a certain Rolex with a blue face. I then went and purchased a $16 Casio diving watch that my jurors can identify with. I’ve got some nice watches in safety deposit that were from my dad, and are going to my kids and grandkids. Dad was a bit more flamboyant of a trial lawyer than I, and that included his watches.
I live for rare days when I don’t have to be in sync with what time it is. That is freedom to me. Not being bound to anyone’s schedule but my own.
Holler if you have spare time while in Atx. You’ve got my email. And my payment info. I know the places to dine.
"We all mark time in different ways. Some of us with a watch, some of us with memory. Some of us measure time by what we have, or by what we’ve lost. Some of us measure time by what we’ve done or what we have left to do."
Very true. I must admit to be a watch nerd, although my collection is a far cry from the Kevin Harts of the world! I have many reasons for the obsession, ranging from a fascination with the mechanical engineering of them to their history and design language. What most resonates with me about watches is how they can be a physical reminder of special occasions, like the one gifted to me by my parents to celebrate finishing grad school; it is not an expensive one by the standards of most "luxury" watches, but it was a sacrifice for them, done out of love. Many of mine that I purchased for myself are dive watches and they got me inspired to actually get scuba-certified. When I am sitting at my desk on a rainy day and look down at one of them, I remember the time it accompanied me 50 feet underwater next to a school of hammerhead sharks, ticking away dutifully, and it makes me smile.
I was briefly a diver earlier in my life, and looking at my very durable Casio diving watch does the same for me. Yeah, I’d like to have one of the BIG seiko diving watches. They are, to me, a work of art. Tried one on onetime and found it way too heavy and bulky. If I was still diving, I’d prolly get one as essential survival gear, because I lack that confidence at depth with the Casio.
Casio cost $16 plus tax. Runs like an Olympian.