How much money does one need to have to be considered rich? It is all relative and it depends on where one lives. It is not always easy to determine if someone is rich or not. Now one might argue that being rich has nothing to do with money but that is a subject for another time. Having money or wealth is not a bad thing. It certainly facilitates our current way of life and allows for several conveniences.
Different cultures and individuals show their wealth in different ways. Some flaunt it - some do not. As a young professional living and working in Manhattan – I was surrounded by a lot of people who worked hard and played hard. At one of the parties, I met Amelia. She had a fun and cheerful personality and was pleasant to be around. I had seen her at social gatherings but she was not my friend. However, at this party we hung out and had a great time.
City life
Soon thereafter we began doing more together. Like most New Yorkers, Amelia worked long hours but she never spoke about it nor complained. One day I asked her what she did exactly and she only responded by saying that she worked in IT. She was the only person I knew in IT at the time. In our circle of friends, we often talked about stocks, long and short term investments and our dreams for the future. It was at that time that I bought my first stock. Having, making and spending money was such an important part of the culture that it seemed only natural to start investing.
One day we spoke about the huge disparity between the rich and the poor in the world and more specifically in the US. There are many charities but lots of them have employees with large salaries. We decided however that it was better to have these charities than none at all. Amelia always had good ideas and suggested a few fundraisers she volunteered at. She explained that the funds were used to truly help the poor to better themselves. I attended a few events and was happy that many young professionals were involved and sought ways in which to help others in a sustainable way.
Summer plans
One summer, a few of my friends decided to vacate in the Bahamas. I was really sad that I could not join them because I'd never been there before. On the other hand, I was happy that I was meeting my immediate family in Jamaica for a reunion. Amelia was happy to hear that, as we often spoke about the importance of family. She told me that coincidentally she would also be on the island during my trip and that we should get together while I was there. We had a plan.
The invitation
After 1 ½ weeks with my family, it was time to meet Amelia. She invited me to the resort where she was staying - it was called Round Hill in Montego Bay. Whilst there I realized that this was not an ordinary resort but that it was somewhat private, exclusive and extremely expensive. We had fun together with her friends. She then invited me to join her at a party in a few days in the hills of the capital, Kingston. It sounded ideal as I was going to be in Kingston. However, I lamented that it wouldn't be possible because the day after the party I had a flight back to New York. I needed to return to Montego Bay. She told me not to worry that she also needed to be in Montego Bay the following day. She had a helicopter arranged to take her to the party and back so I could join her on the return trip. I said yes without asking further questions.
Thereafter I thought more about it. Taking a helicopter from one side of the island to another, just for a party, is very luxurious and somewhat decadent. I visited a local friend, Tamara, in Kingston and I told her that she could attend the party with me. She informed me that the location of the party is a well known area for the very rich.
I thought, "That is lovely – I will get to enjoy it for a night."
The party
I was very impressed when Tamara and I drove up to the hills of Kingston. The view from the hills was gorgeous and it was cool and pleasant being in that locality. I cannot say much about the homes because most were not visible from the street. Upon arrival at the party – we gave our names to the security at the large iron gate and was allowed to enter. The estate was very impressive and I soon learnt that it was owned by Amelia’s family. I spent a bit of time with Amelia but not much; she was one of the hostesses. I met her parents and brother for the first time. At the party, a few local artists were entertaining. Every thing was thought of - the enertainment was top-notch. If you even wanted to jump in the pool - that was also possible. I was not prepared for that. 😄 Needless to say, the party was a blast. I had a great time.
The helicopter ride
The following day I met Amelia at the airport and we walked to the helicopter together. At that time, I had never been in a helicopter before. I was excited and I must admit - somewhat nervous. The helicopter was noisy and not that big. Amelia assured me that all would be fine and it was. I must admit that the experience was simply amazing. The noise level lessened when we were airborne and the view was spectacular. One can look all around to enjoy a more panoramic view. It is nothing like being in an airplane. It was not as easy to communicate although we had headsets on. However, words were not needed as I was awestruck by the beauty of the island. The center of Jamaica has dense forestry and it looked even more verdant, lush and untouched from above. The flight was not very long and soon we were in Montego Bay. I thanked Amelia for the wonderful experience and left.
The unspoken
Upon returning to New York, Amelia and I spoke about our time together in Jamaica. She asked me to be discrete about sharing about her family. Talking about the nice things we did together was ok but nothing was ever to be said about her family’s wealth. That was easily done as I certainly was happy that I could share that experience with her.
The end?
After a while, Amelia moved to California. We kept in touch at first but then lost contact. None of my friends are in touch with her either. I will always remember her and the fun we had together in New York and Jamaica. Who knows if it is meant to be - our paths will cross again.
This is my response to the HiveLearners contest - #hl-w68e2
The photo is my own
