Wealth redefined.

Today I followed an ancient Chevy pickup truck down the road. I observed its rusty, chipped paint; wide, side-wing windows; an old green recliner roped down in the back; license plate frame reflecting something about the happy life in one of our local, rural communities. Two happy-looking men had elbows cocked out the windows, smiling and chatting in the afternoon sun.
Cruising behind him, I also noticed an absolutely gorgeous, sleek, black 2010 BMW 745iL in the next lane. With tinted windows and pristine detailing by some dutiful car wash attendant, it was a beauty for my eyes to behold (and, of course, to drive…if you know me, you know my love for the driving machine).

Later, it really stuck with me, looking at these two side by side. I couldn’t stop thinking, “Who is more wealthy?”
Was it the man driving the beautiful car, driving home to his manicured lawns and strict HOA rules about parking only in the driveway? Or was it the dirty truck bound for a modest home tucked into a mountainside, surrounded by dirt and wildlife?

I mean, that was one ugly recliner that they kept a dutiful eye on to make sure it didn’t flop out of the back. I bet the BMW dude has a sumptuous couch that cushions the back in just the right spots. And I know for a fact that one’s tailbone is hugged in comfort while the foot is happily responded to by a bouncy and willing throttle in such a BMW. Ahhh, the joy of a bimmer.

But, then again, I caught myself wondering…who is more wealthy? See, here’s what I guess the reality is. The Chevy guys own that truck outright. They just came from somewhere where they got the recliner for free or close to free (gotta love Craigslist). Based on that observation, I’m willing to speculate that they didn’t overspend on a home or other material good. Shoot, they might even live together or with family to make ends meet. And I know it’s totally wrong to make such assumption, but I thought these telltale signs of “thriftiness” might even indicate that the majority of items they have in their possession are actually owned, free of indebtedness to anyone?

Because, friend, the way I imagine the BMW guy is this. He looks damn cool in that car and has a blast driving it. But, he drives a car he will never finally own, either by lease or trade-in. He makes monthly payments on a home that he will not own; he never anticipated living there for 30 years to reach full amortization on that mortgage. It’s possible he’ll never pay off the card that bought the Coach purse, gas for the family vehicles, dinners out, or other signs of wealth and wellness in most communities. Most likely, he’ll transfer that debt into some other form. There’s even a good chance he sleeps on a borrowed mattress (he expects to pay off the interest-free purchase with next year’s tax return).

So, as I began to evaluate the two, I realized something about these Americans.

They’re equals.
Those poor Chevy guys have physical pains from sitting on old chairs and having to sit on an old-truck bench seat. That poor BMW guy has joint pains and fatigue from his rubber-tire belly that he’s accumulated in working 12 hours a day to stay ahead of ongoing monthly expenses.

The only difference is in what the eye chooses to see.
And this is a choice most of our overworked eyes struggle to overlook in our modern world.

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