Anonymous
04/11/2024 12:06
Subject: Re:When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Ok of the friends I know who travel like this, both of the parents work full-time, and are 100% immersed in super high income earning careers that naturally take them away from their kids more than they might want to. The overcompensate for this absence by over vacationing, is how I think of it. I’m talking spring break in the grand Cayman Islands, surrounded by three or four of their besties from their kids $60,000 a year private school, weekends in Montana in the summer, in the Hamptons, a week in Iceland in the summer, three weeks in France, Norway and Spain in August, and more vacation throughout the year….. the kids are spoiled beyond belief and the parents travel a TON for work so a lot of that travel helps pay for the cost of the family travel through earning miles and accruing travel points. It’s a cycle and yes in our close in affluent Nova suburb it’s a whole thang.
So this has always been a thing amongst the wealthy. This is nothing new. What is new is the extensive travel and boasting of the MC/UMC demographic. It’s the neuvo riche of travel. It’s gaudy and pretentious.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 12:04
Subject: Re:When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I admit to struggling with this from a "keeping up" standpoint. We just do not have the money that some of our friends have and also don't have as many vacation days and can't work remotely. And now my kids are really into sports so a lot of their breaks will be taken up with required practices/games/tournaments. I really had to talk myself down that it's 100% amazing that they've done a European trip, several domestic national parks trips, a cruise, and lots of Eastern seaboard city long weekends. Compared to this forum, that is nothing, but really, it's great and has given them a good taste of travel.
Besides our family friends, I can't believe how much my young colleagues travel. One in particular takes 3-4 international trips per year, but I feel like it's just for the pictures! They will go for just 5-6 days, even places as far away from DC as Hawaii in that short time, and I feel like it's just to check a box and get some instagram pictures.
Ok, but WHY do you assume that? Most people who are posting pictures on Instagram are not traveling solely for the pictures. Why go through all that effort and expense for something you don’t enjoy?
Even if people are traveling to take photos, why is that a problem? Photography is a legitimate hobby. Lots of people wanted to grow up to be a travel photographer when I was in highschool and that was long before cellphones or social media. Are most amateur photographers pretty terrible and unoriginal? Yes, but that's true for any hobby.
I find it obnoxious, but then again I find all aspects of SM show offy and obnoxious and a huge waste of time mostly favored by thirsty attention seekers.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:59
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
The people I know are not wealthy, they are solidly MC verging on the cusp of UMC maybe. They are thirsty and want to be envied by others for going on janky cruises and to silly touristy resorts. I don’t want to be them, I could travel more if I wanted to. I have relatives in Europe, have visited a few times, it was okay, nothing special, kinda dirty and annoying. I have been many places, and from now on, I only want luxury vacations, 5 star hotels, no shitty cruises or crap resorts. It’s quality over quantity for me. I am too old to care about impressing people. I have life experience.
I don't think this type of travel is what the OP is posting about. It's that, in many UMC and wealthy circles, families of 4-5 are taking expensive international luxury vacations multiple times a year. These people aren't taking on credit card debt to go on Carnival cruises. I think the simple answer is that there are a LOT of people who are really rich, particularly in the DMV, and can afford it. And most of these people aren't sacrificing retirement savings, college savings, general savings, etc., they just can afford it. There are just people out there who make a lot of money, have family money, had good stock options, or some combination of those things.
Sure, but then these people wouldn’t be classified as UMC then imo.
It’s a trickle down effect, the ‘wealthy’ travel extensively, some living above their means, then down to the poorest of the poor taking trips they shouldn’t be taking, to appear to be successful and fun, worldly and interesting.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:59
Subject: Re:When did this become the norm?
Ok of the friends I know who travel like this, both of the parents work full-time, and are 100% immersed in super high income earning careers that naturally take them away from their kids more than they might want to. The overcompensate for this absence by over vacationing, is how I think of it. I’m talking spring break in the grand Cayman Islands, surrounded by three or four of their besties from their kids $60,000 a year private school, weekends in Montana in the summer, in the Hamptons, a week in Iceland in the summer, three weeks in France, Norway and Spain in August, and more vacation throughout the year….. the kids are spoiled beyond belief and the parents travel a TON for work so a lot of that travel helps pay for the cost of the family travel through earning miles and accruing travel points. It’s a cycle and yes in our close in affluent Nova suburb it’s a whole thang.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:56
Subject: When did this become the norm?
I don't travel every break but I am a much more *aggressive* traveler now. I grew up a pretty poor city kid and never flew until I was 22. If we could afford a family vacation it was one trip to Ocean City for a few days at the end of August. In my 20s I was in grad school and starting my career so still too broke to travel. My 30s were focused on getting married, getting pg, buying a house, and raising kids. As I approach my mid 40s and see many friends and family members become sick or disabled or pass away. I realize there is so much I want to see before I get too old. I also want my kids to have a much broader view of the world than I ever did. This also means low key road trips and domestic trips. I also think because my DH and I have sacrificed and worked so hard we owe ourselves a nice reward so we choose travel over a bigger house or newer cars.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:55
Subject: Re:When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I admit to struggling with this from a "keeping up" standpoint. We just do not have the money that some of our friends have and also don't have as many vacation days and can't work remotely. And now my kids are really into sports so a lot of their breaks will be taken up with required practices/games/tournaments. I really had to talk myself down that it's 100% amazing that they've done a European trip, several domestic national parks trips, a cruise, and lots of Eastern seaboard city long weekends. Compared to this forum, that is nothing, but really, it's great and has given them a good taste of travel.
Besides our family friends, I can't believe how much my young colleagues travel. One in particular takes 3-4 international trips per year, but I feel like it's just for the pictures! They will go for just 5-6 days, even places as far away from DC as Hawaii in that short time, and I feel like it's just to check a box and get some instagram pictures.
Ok, but WHY do you assume that? Most people who are posting pictures on Instagram are not traveling solely for the pictures. Why go through all that effort and expense for something you don’t enjoy?
Even if people are traveling to take photos, why is that a problem? Photography is a legitimate hobby. Lots of people wanted to grow up to be a travel photographer when I was in highschool and that was long before cellphones or social media. Are most amateur photographers pretty terrible and unoriginal? Yes, but that's true for any hobby.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:54
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
The people I know are not wealthy, they are solidly MC verging on the cusp of UMC maybe. They are thirsty and want to be envied by others for going on janky cruises and to silly touristy resorts. I don’t want to be them, I could travel more if I wanted to. I have relatives in Europe, have visited a few times, it was okay, nothing special, kinda dirty and annoying. I have been many places, and from now on, I only want luxury vacations, 5 star hotels, no shitty cruises or crap resorts. It’s quality over quantity for me. I am too old to care about impressing people. I have life experience.
I don't think this type of travel is what the OP is posting about. It's that, in many UMC and wealthy circles, families of 4-5 are taking expensive international luxury vacations multiple times a year. These people aren't taking on credit card debt to go on Carnival cruises. I think the simple answer is that there are a LOT of people who are really rich, particularly in the DMV, and can afford it. And most of these people aren't sacrificing retirement savings, college savings, general savings, etc., they just can afford it. There are just people out there who make a lot of money, have family money, had good stock options, or some combination of those things.
Sure, but then these people wouldn’t be classified as UMC then imo.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:52
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
I am curious about these extensive travelers’ life savings. I just don’t think they save much. These people live in a middle class neighborhood, why do that if one is so wealthy? Why not live in a wealthier neighborhood? I am convinced they live above their means.
Some people prioritize a big, expensive house, others prioritize big expensive trips. How is that hard to understand?
They seem to prioritize being thirsty attention whores more than anything. They like to just spout out about all the trips their family has planned, without even being asked. Do I care? I didn’t even ask them, why do they feel the need to tell me and then compulsively post pics to social media? Never asking a thing about me or my family hardly ever. Self centered aholez.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:48
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
The people I know are not wealthy, they are solidly MC verging on the cusp of UMC maybe. They are thirsty and want to be envied by others for going on janky cruises and to silly touristy resorts. I don’t want to be them, I could travel more if I wanted to. I have relatives in Europe, have visited a few times, it was okay, nothing special, kinda dirty and annoying. I have been many places, and from now on, I only want luxury vacations, 5 star hotels, no shitty cruises or crap resorts. It’s quality over quantity for me. I am too old to care about impressing people. I have life experience.
I don't think this type of travel is what the OP is posting about. It's that, in many UMC and wealthy circles, families of 4-5 are taking expensive international luxury vacations multiple times a year. These people aren't taking on credit card debt to go on Carnival cruises. I think the simple answer is that there are a LOT of people who are really rich, particularly in the DMV, and can afford it. And most of these people aren't sacrificing retirement savings, college savings, general savings, etc., they just can afford it. There are just people out there who make a lot of money, have family money, had good stock options, or some combination of those things.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:41
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
I am curious about these extensive travelers’ life savings. I just don’t think they save much. These people live in a middle class neighborhood, why do that if one is so wealthy? Why not live in a wealthier neighborhood? I am convinced they live above their means.
Some people prioritize a big, expensive house, others prioritize big expensive trips. How is that hard to understand?
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:37
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s related to social media. Guaranteed, part of the attraction to taking all these bougie trips is posting the photos to Facebook and Instagram after.
I am one of these people who travel internationally three times a year and I have never posted a travel picture online. I am a very private person who happens to love travel. It’s really sad that some people can’t seem to under that.
Thanks for sharing, I guess?
There are posters on here who seem to believe all trips are solely for posting instagram pics. I travel extensively and many of my friends and family do, and we never post or share pictures. What's the point? I don't need to see pictures of places I've likely already been to. It doesn't cause jealousy or resentment. We're solidly UMC people, not super rich.
The % of travelers traveling for the sake of Instagram is going to be tiny.
Not true, according to my travels and the groups that are dressed alike, taking the same pics over and over again for hours, and blocking the way in most cases. Ew.
It's really hard to take anyone seriously who uses the phrase "Ew."
Whatever. If you take trips for the photos, you are missing out. If you count other people's pennies, you are missing out.
Ditto for "whatever." How old are you? (And I don't even have social media.)
NP. How about you just let people express themselves the way they want?
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:31
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
I am curious about these extensive travelers’ life savings. I just don’t think they save much. These people live in a middle class neighborhood, why do that if one is so wealthy? Why not live in a wealthier neighborhood? I am convinced they live above their means.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:15
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
The people I know are not wealthy, they are solidly MC verging on the cusp of UMC maybe. They are thirsty and want to be envied by others for going on janky cruises and to silly touristy resorts. I don’t want to be them, I could travel more if I wanted to. I have relatives in Europe, have visited a few times, it was okay, nothing special, kinda dirty and annoying. I have been many places, and from now on, I only want luxury vacations, 5 star hotels, no shitty cruises or crap resorts. It’s quality over quantity for me. I am too old to care about impressing people. I have life experience.
Anonymous
04/11/2024 11:05
Subject: When did this become the norm?
Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.
True. But this is DCUM and people will adamantly insist that it isn't the rich getting richer its just the solidly middle class being middle class. After all, they fly United to their 5 bedroom ski-in/out chalet in Aspen; they do not have a G650!
Anonymous
04/11/2024 10:57
Subject: When did this become the norm?
I am UMC and see this constantly. These people are living above their means and are SM whores. They book cruises everywhere, Caribbean, Europe, Asia etc. as it’s the least expensive way to travel and then boast about it. You couldn’t pay me to take a cruise. I have traveled, not extensively, but enough to know that I find it anticlimactic and downright annoying and exhausting much of the time.