calmloki
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I've spent the past week driving from northern Virginia to Denver and I took the opportunity to do it the way that my working class family would have done it when I was a kid. I've been sleeping in under $50 hotels, eating at fast food, staying with my still working class sister, etc. The only luxury that I allowed myself was playing golf on small town courses ($20 green fees). I've been through small towns in VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, MO, KS, and CO on this trip ranging from disastrously poor to clean and neat. Total daily cost (gas, golf, food and lodging) was just under $100/day.
My wife flew into Denver last night and met me at our better quality hotel where we will spend the week. I greeted her with, "It is really amazing just how wealthy we are." When you see the opportunities and comfort that a net worth of even $900K brings you compared to most of the people in the US (let alone the developing world) it really makes me glad that we made the choices we did. I'll make the return trip the same way that I came out. Most of my future travel will be at a slightly higher level of luxury than this one, but this has been a great reminder of just how lucky I am.
I've had a great time on the trip. I really enjoy small town golf and driving, once you are out of the East Coast mess, is sort of fun. The only negatives have been musty hotel rooms and noisy AC. Just like growing up. It doesn't take a lot of money to have a good time, but it is nice to have options for your comfort.
Mostly when we are traveling around we stay in the lo-buck places - some, ok most, are pretty gawd-awful, but some are downright charming (thinking of the 4 unit in Congress Az and an old adobe motel in Santa Fe). We most recently stepped up to $100+ rooms, and while I much prefer the better beds, I have to say my expectations jumped up pretty much immediately. The same exact breakfast at day two's Holiday Express didn't thrill me. Be interesting to see how we feel about the dive motels after this run of better quality places. Suspect it will be like butter vs. margarine, which is fine till you have butter and then...
One thing about the dives - they by far make for the best stories!