I caught on TV a show on log cabins and I had to laugh a bit. Cabin to me is a basic building, some bunks, kitchen type area, stove to heat. One couple was whining on the "hardships" of dealing with a "tiny" 1500 sq ft cabin... So they went out and dropped about $24,000,000 on a 15,000 sq ft "cabin". What didn't make sense is it was for 2 people. 3 bedrooms 4.5 bathrooms. I have no idea why two people would even want a place so huge? Another one had a big fireplace... Cost 780,000$ for the stone work and copper. Two sets of stairs in the "foyer".... $800,000. Most of these "cabins" where out in the mtns. The whole time I'm thinking they must have a hell of a heating system. Well one lady mentioned their McMansion "cabin" cost around $4500 a month in propane to heat! I had to laugh because they were complaining. Hmm... WTH did you expect?!
I like watching shows like that. Rich people trying to outdo each other with huge houses. I like seeing those huge homes and the workmanship that goes into them. I have no desire to live in one though, gimme a small cabin and a lot of land.
If I had a crapload of money I'd like to enjoy it and probably would have a nicer place but I truly don't understand the "why" with some of the things. How can 2 people even use 15,000 sq ft, much less "need" that. It just seems really wasteful to me. One place had a dining table to seat 28, but the house took up almost the whole 50x100ft lot. It had a driveway big enough to fit maybe 3 cars. I guess people have to car pool? Haha! I think there is very much a line between nice/enjoying life and completely frivolous and wasteful. I ended up turning it off as it was truly pizzing me off. One of the "cabins" the wife wanted a better view from the laundry room. There was already an awesome view with a stream but he spent $250k to build a waterfall near the window. I'm thinking... Why is she even doing laundry? They spend 25 million on a "cabin" but don't have a maid? I don't think we all need to wear rags and live in Shacks but I think some if that money could have been much better spent. Help a hospital, church, people who need a hand up, elderly, scholarships, etc. I guess I have first hand experience... My aunt and uncle bought my grandparents farm house some years back and turned it into a McMansion. They aren't rich exactly but my uncle retired as an E9 and is working a good job. Its very much a "look at me"... They invite people over JUST to brag/show off. Problem is its a small town and they have pretty much pizzed off everyone with that attitude. They even kicked my grandmother out and sent her to live at the retirement home. Not because she needed more care, but because basically she was taking up room in "their" house. From what I understand she left some clothes and belongings in her room since the nursing home room was small and they threatened to haul it to the dump.
I agree with you Nate. I'm still working Stinnsters cabin in my head, that's a true cabin. Rustic, simple features and a place to get away.
Nate, I feel the same sometimes. When folks spend obscene amounts of money on silly things. But I always come back to, as long as they aren't made to spend it by a gov, and do it freely with their own money, I'm fine with it all. They create lots of jobs with their wasteful ways and that, is a very good thing. I've gotten to where that's always my reaction to the "stupid disease"... well hey, a bunch of guys have got good jobs. My best bud works for a big Maine yacht company. Talk about obscene amounts of money! But, the boat building industry got a good taste of what happens when those folks stop buying and servicing their million dollar hobbies... 2008 money crunch set the industry on it's azz for a while. Now, things are picking back up and, it's all good. Hehehe... maybe you ought to walk out in the Alaskan paradise more often when you feel like from watching that rich n famous stuff on the TV. Why, it'll make any real person lose their minds. ... ahhhhhhhhhh...
There are cabins and there are mansions. Same goes for cottages. Some aren't satisfied with a small cottage on lake so build mansions instead. Sadly they are used very little so one has to wonder about cost. More money then brains for sure.
Yeah, there's a home improvement show that does segments on their work spiffin' up what they call the stone cottage... the place has to be at least 4 times what a home would be built conventionally. When they got to the computer op running all lighting, heating, cooling in the place, and showed the utility room for that (looked like the space shuttle)... I was done.
There is a property down the beach from us that was for sale for years, apparently because there was a fuel tank and some remediation involved. Someone bought it and the lot next door, did the clean up, and built some huge log home, complete with attached garage and matching storage building. It would probably be a beautiful place somewhere else, but it is in the middle of a bunch of simple, yet very nice vacation properties, and most of those places have some kind of nautcal styling to them, as it is Lake Huron. This monster log home looks ridiculous and out of place, and pizzes me off just walking by. And in the last year and a half, I have never seen anyone there, or at least they have never been outside.
Lots of the McMansion style properties in NW lower Michigan. On some Friday afternoons in the summer, it seems that Illionis plates outnumber Michigan plates the further north you go, especially around the Traverse City/Boyne/Petoskey areas. Unfortunately that drives the cost of living for the locals up and makes it harder on some of the locals to make ends meet. The only saving grace is that the mosquitoes and biting flies keep the tourists out of the more remote and undisturbed areas of the state. Give me a shack in the middle of the woods and I'll be happy.
We have exactly that for a camp. Lots of land surrounded on three sides by National Forest. On one of the adjoining privately owned lots to the 4th side sit two unsold spec houses, both listed for over a million. They have been sitting vacant for over 10 years.
