It’s colder here in Vegas today than it is in the Ville. Of course, when I get back to Indiana, Vegas is to warm back up and it’s going to be cold in the Ville. Just my luck.
So yesterday I was talking to the neighbor — the owner of the two pekinese dogs that Sasha lusts after. I’ve shared photos of the backyard at this house, and while it is pretty, it’s nothing compared to what’s next door. The neighbors live in their house full-time and enjoy working outside, and of course, this house is inhabited sporadically (and it’s not like I’m going to be out there planting lemon trees). I found that Mr. & Mrs. Neighbor have lived in their home 12 years now, and are originally from Oregon. Our chat began over the weather as he was covering a lemon tree in his backyard before the temps dropped to freezing last night.
Mr. Neighbor explained that he works at the Aria (one of my favorites) but that isn’t what defines him. He prefers to talk about his honest-to-goodness live pomegranate and carefully shaped bonsai trees. He beamed with great pride when I told him how amazing his place looks. And that’s when the conversation turned interesting — to me anyway.
It’s no secret that the housing industry took a direct hit with the economic downturn, but he made it real for me. He explained that when he and his wife purchased their home for $350k 12-years ago, it was such a bargain. You could see him physically wince as he told how much it appraised for a few short years ago and what he felt it was worth on today’s market. He let me know that he didn’t feel his investment would recover during his lifetime.
Mr. & Mrs. Neighbor’s home is much smaller than this house, and I’m sure it’s more cost effective to heat and cool than every single place in this neighborhood. Still, his water bill runs over $200 a month and his electric around $400. Although he’s retirement age (obviously), he still goes to work everyday. What’s leftover after utility bills and regular expenditures keep the couple tied here — not enough cash for traveling “back home” to see family in Oregon. Now before you scold me for feeling sorry for this couple that live in a fabulous house with a pool near Vegas, please understand that I “get it”. Yes, they are lucky that they have a home and they are able to work to sustain it. It just makes me sad when anyone — because of circumstances totally out of their control — has a dream that they probably will never realize. (As opposed to whiners with unrealistic dreams who do nothing to acquire them.)
