Wealth

Cindy and friend are off exploring the island, so I decided to visit a different coffee shop. Rather than walk the 2 miles back after being dropped off in Princeville, I walked to the coffee shop a 1/2 mile away in the 1 Hotel at Hanalei Bay. I would typecast this place as where wealthy parents would gift newlyweds a two-week vacation after everyone else has gone home from a destination wedding. I put on a shirt with a collar in the hopes they would not throw me out, so I managed to drink a mediocre $9 latte and use their wifi for two hours.

I happen to be reading Caste and the combination of that book and my $9 mediocre latte put me in the mood to think about wealth. Many may assume Cindy and my lifestyle is extravagant. We are able to afford some great experiences, but there are many levels of magnitude beyond our opportunities. You get a great sense of wealth on Kauai. Zuckerberg has an estate near here and there are locations where they have to build housing for teachers so they can afford to teach in the local schools. There are also folks we see sleeping on a local soccer field each day because that is what they have. Zuckerberg wanted to dredge a path through the coral reef so boats could land near his estate, but local officials, no matter the gifts to local causes, would not allow this to happen. 

I don't have the attitude that such is life. Income inequalities are a serious problem in our country and things are getting worse rather than better.