Jay Rayner, the Guardian's food critic, says that when it comes to food, he much prefers an ordinary everyday meal to supposed luxuries like champagne receptions, 11-course tasting menus, hotel afternoon teas, extravagant food presents, or even breakfast in bed. The blatant over-indulgence and fancy-pants palaver is not for him.
Well, being of modest means, my experience of luxury has been pretty limited, but I tend to agree with him that luxury is rather over-rated. I have no desire to be chauffeured everywhere, buy £200 shirts, sip exotic cocktails on my private yacht, or own a 50-room mansion.
I'm more than happy in my unassuming house, scoffing mushroom risotto, sipping a humble glass of white wine, and reading a good book. That's more than enough to send me to bed feeling happy and relaxed. I see nothing inferior or deprived about such a low-key lifestyle.
That said, I can think of a few luxuries I'd appreciate. First class travel on planes and trains would be rather wonderful. Ditto a huge private swimming pool with nobody to collide with. Ditto a private beach free of children kicking balls in my direction. Ditto private health care that avoids the horrendous NHS waiting lists (I hasten to add I've always been loyal to the NHS, even when I waited 18 months for routine prostate surgery).
But they're all things I can easily do without. In any case I don't like the way luxury lifestyles cut you off from the rest of society. What's the point of £200 shirts if it means you look down on those who can barely afford to eat?
The tantalising smell of a delicious meal is luxury enough for me.
I've flown first class exactly once -- the first time I ever flew!
ReplyDeleteI was on my way to navy boot-camp with several others and our tickets were standby tickets. This was in 1971 when airlines routinely had empty seats. We were really surprised when our seat assignments placed us in wide seats in the front of the curtains that close us off from coach while in flight. What I remember most was that we got free booze and I had shish kabob for the first time -- and my first experience, unexpected when I though the kabob all meat, with mushrooms -- mushrooms hasn't ever been a favorite food since.
I agree with you for the most part about luxury being overrated.
We, too, live a relatively modest life, though we don't have horrendous health care waiting lists. Our doctor has a policy of seeing patients with emergent needs the same day or the next. Three months ago, he spotted an abnormal reading on a blood test done for my cardiologist and had his nurse contact me to make an appointment -- turns out I am pre-diabetic.
Nicjk i am in complete agreement about luxury - and agree that first class air travel is an exception, especially for a wide body like myself. Ahem. I have also been on a cruise and the luxury accommodations were very nice but only if the shipboard stay was of any length. Otherwise I can sleep anywhere - especially after a few single malts.
ReplyDeleteMike: I travelled business class to London a few times when I worked for Diabetes UK (a good example of charities wasting money). I felt very out of place surrounded by taciturn men in suits. Didn't get any free booze either!
ReplyDeleteI can still see a doctor fairly quickly - in a few days or a week at the most. But getting to see a consultant usually means a very long wait.
Chuck: I insist on premium economy if I'm going long haul, because with my long legs being crushed into an economy (coach) seat would be miserable. I'm not good at sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, so I don't sleep much on planes.
ReplyDelete"Humble white wine"? Ripple, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteIf I had all the money in the world, I would still prefer things like split pea soup, cornbread, steamed greens, and so forth, and if I upgraded from my Toyota Rav4, it would be in the interest of safety rather than buying some half-million dollar car that I would be embarrassed to drive, and would worry about being vandalized by someone who hates the filthy rich (the emphasis being upon filthy) as much as I do. I even wonder how many rich people even place a positive value upon planet-destroying excess. Here's a link to a wonderfully enjoyable blogger who also posted about wealth today: http://highriser.blogspot.com/2019/04/eat-rich.html
As for the things you would spend money on, there are things that I too would value. For instance, I become all but phobic when I feel trapped in a crowd, so if I flew at all (which I stopped doing), I would actually need to fly first class, although I would feel guilty for doing so.
We've always lived below our means, worried about retirement and supporting our daughter with autism. No luxury cars, clothes or jewelry for us. However, we've splurged on some very nice trips (not overseas, but wonderful destinations in the US) and treat ourselves to fancy meals for special occasions.
ReplyDeleteI like first class for flying and train travel but I rarely do either. The rest of my life is typified by the fact that we live with IKEA furniture and I live in yoga pants and t-shirts.
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush: Me too. If I had stacks of money, I'm sure my personal tastes wouldn't change much. I also dislike having too many people around me, which is another advantage of premium economy.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: If I have to choose between luxury items and a nice trip somewhere, I would certainly go for the trip.
Linda: We don't have any IKEA furniture apart from a set of bookshelves and a rug, but we do have a lot of inexpensive pine furniture we have no desire to "upgrade".
ReplyDeleteIf we won the lottery Andy says he would refuse it --- it would interfere with his life. I said I would be willing to figure out how to give it to good causes.
ReplyDeleteWe love our life the way it is. I feel wealthy and grateful because we easily live within our means and have the freedom to spend our time on the things that matter to us. What could be more luxurious than that?
Fortunately I never aspired to luxury. Comfortable, yes!
ReplyDeleteI'm like Joanne, comfort first and definitely don't fit in to the standard way of "furnishings".
ReplyDeleteAs to First Class I got a taste of it when one of my bros had a luxury life style in Mexico City which included a chauffeur and maid service, etc. And I got used to it in a hell of hurry. My clothes laundered while I slept, the chauffeur carrying the shopping and taking us wherever, Acapulco, etc and picking us up at the curb.
Flew First class a few times and of course what happens is I hate economy now, squashed legs, discomfort, noise.
But no aspirations for luxury apart from aforementioned. I guess I am content with very little.
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I travelled first class on the Eurostar once - they have their own waiting room - it's fab. I don't think I could do Eurostar any other way now! I'd rather stay at home.
ReplyDeleteI like being comfortable too, it's what I aim for.
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Jean: I agree, why not take the money and give it all to good causes? That's better than someone else getting the money and frittering it away on personal luxuries.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: My sentiments entirely.
www: We got a taste of first class when we were staying at hotels on our New Zealand tour. Lavish meals, priority check-in, baggage taken in and out, rooms with spectacular views etc. I can imagine getting used to that very quickly if it was permanent!
ReplyDeleteI can put up with economy seats for six or seven hours but anything longer than that, no way!
Ms Scarlet: We're planning a first class train trip from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montreal later in the year. Should be fun! I've never been on Eurostar.
ReplyDeleteI have had my share of luxurious living but, in retirement found that the concept of luxury is relative. I live in what most well to do people would consider as an average home whereas for someone who comes from the old city I live a luxurious life and my home could be considered as palatial. Similarly, for a two wheel vehicle driver, my car is a luxury whereas the model that I use is middle range family sedan. It all depends on quite where you are in the pecking order.
ReplyDeleteHaving trekked through the first class compartments of innumerable planes on my way to my seat in sardine class I have noticed that the occupants of said compartment look distinctly underwhelming. Usually slovenly, often sleazy.
ReplyDeletePlenty of money would buy me premium economy flights...a replacement tin box of a car for our bad roads....but that is about it.
Ramana: I suppose what you see as luxury is partly a personal perception and relative to your current living circumstances. So yes, one person's luxury is another's bog-standard.
ReplyDeleteHelen: Sardine class is about right. I think the seats are gradually getting smaller. I seem to remember having a lot more space when I started flying some 35 years ago.
I have no hesitation in saying that the times when I have experienced luxury I loved it.
ReplyDeleteQantas club was fantastic, a seven course meal remains in my memory and I will pay extra for beautiful clothing. Money makes life convenient and easy and I love that.
Things like marbcle floors, top line white goods and gold taps hold no appeal at all
Kylie: I don't think my stomach could cope with a seven course meal. Two courses are usually more than enough. I share your lack of interest in luxury furnishings. I don't care if my taps are gold, copper or Kryptonite, just as long as they work properly.
ReplyDeleteI would rather eat a meal cooked by one of my children than in a fancy restaurant. First class air travel though, could be nice.
ReplyDeleteLiz: The meals Jenny cooks are invariably tastier than anything served up by the local restaurants. And a lot cheaper!
ReplyDeleteLuxury is relative. Comfort has always been the name of the game for me. Unfortunately, seems like getting that is more and more expensive, possibly falling into the luxury category -- definitely commercial flying is one such area and first class is what I would prefer. Real luxury would be chartering a private jet to fly on my schedule. Unlimited financial resources would certainly allow me to determine what of the so-called luxury services I would want to be routine and the ones to jettison -- an experiment to which I could probably adapt.
ReplyDeleteJoared: I think you're right that simple comfort is getting both more expensive and more elusive. Overcrowded trains and buses are routine in England. So are flat rentals that cost a fortune but are poorly furnished and maintained.
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