I was in Miami this weekend because Taz and her hubby are spending a week relaxing in a quiet AirBnb house complete with heated saltwater pool. A pandemic haven. It is a beautiful, 2-bedroom, 1-bath oasis that is minutes from the airport and beach. I picked the kiddos up at the airport and we immediately went to Joe’s Stone Crab, a Miami institution, for lunch.
Let me back up for a minute. Everyone had a Covid test beforehand, Taz has been vaccinated, careful protocols were in place for this visit. Taz and her hubby are being careful and using only grocery delivery and outdoor restaurants.
Back to Miami. It was nice being back. Miami has a vibe to it that is unlike any other city in the US. People are out and about, with masks on. I was warned that masks were optional, but I didn’t see that too much What I did see was Miami money on full display. Have you seen a Rolls Royce Cullinan, their SUV? I saw two. The starting price is $330,000.

Another popular choice is the Audi Spyder. It starts at a more affordable $155,000. I have always liked this one.

Porsches are a dime a dozen in Miami. The 911 GT3 is a popular choice. I saw several. Starting price around $190,000.

How about Lambos and Ferraris? Yep plus Maserati and Bentleys. All told I easily saw over $2 million of autos in a 20 minute drive. Crazy, right? What’s crazier is seeing them as I drove past a park full of homeless people sleeping on benches. Miami is a city of extremes. Very, very rich and very, very poor. Living virtually next to each other.
Do I have any envy? Nope, just mild interest. I have let go of envy a long time ago. I have lived amongst blatant displays of wealth for decades and it means nothing to me these days. I know a lot of it is false displays of wealth, drug/illegal money, foreign capital hidden safely in the US, inherited. Some of it is rightfully earned by the entrepreneurs that come from all over the world to Miami because it is a city that will embrace anyone. However, most of the skyscapers in this city were built with laundered drug money, Hong Kong capital, wealthy South Americans seeking a safe haven for their legal and illegal gains. It is a crazy town.
But I always have noticed the cars and I am not a car person. It was the first thing I noticed when I arrived back in the summer of 1984. The next thing I notice with a smile are the handbags. Prada, Fendi, Louis Vitton — you name it, they are easily spotted. Once again, it is notable, but not meaningful to me. I drive a fully paid for Hyundai and carry a $20 purse from Target that I love (anything with a tassel wins my heart). Guess what? The Hyundai gets me where I need to be and the purse holds my stuff. I am at peace.
It was great spending time with Taz and her hubby. I haven’t seen them in over a year. I’ll pop down later this week for one more visit. They are happy, busy and have a lot going on this year. It is wonderful to see them and have some conversations that are best had in person and not on the phone. Nothing earth-shattering, just those things that are best in person.
More will follow, but for now, this is enough.
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