Manhattan Beach, CA- It’s been a great weekend: sun, surf, good food, good friends…and the Timbers beat the L.A. Galaxy 5-2. We’re still trying to figure that one out, but no complaints. Getting a sunburn in late October certainly isn’t a bad thing…and it’s something you’d rarely have to worry about in Oregon.
One of the truly fascinating aspects of being in a SoCal beach town is the almost incomprehensible amount of disposable income on display. Judging by the cars, the shops, the fashions, and the accessories, few Manhattan Beach residents seem to be worried about where their next Filet Mignon is coming from. The above picture is the beach side of a house on the strand in Manhattan Beach. Our relatively humble apartment is behind this house, just across Ocean Ave. The house in the picture is little different than what you’ll see for miles up and down the Strand. In this case, we’re talking about a property worth $13.4 MILLION dollars. A closer look reveals that this property’s value is not at all out of step with the rest of the immediate area. Walk north or south and you’ll encounter much the same thing. It’s easy to feel as if I’m part of the unwashed masses…because I most certainly am.
What struck me about this property (besides the fact that it blocks our view of the beach) is that it doesn’t seem to be a primary residence. No one’s been home during our four days here, and its layout speaks to a domicile used as a beach getaway…which seems to be true for many of the properties along the Strand. Even renting the house, assuming that was even possible, is estimated to run about $49,500/month…and no, that’s not a typo.
Yes, it’s southern California. Yes, it’s a beach town. Yes, it’s warm and sunny and beautiful (save for the refineries visible a short distance north and south up the coast). In the end, though, it’s SoCal, superficial and an inch deep- a nice place to visit, but living here? Yeah, not so much. ‘Course, there are far worse things than have a permanent suntan and a seemingly inexhaustible disposable income.
That said, I’m looking forward to going home. Be it ever so humble….
