Can the super rich fit in Park City?

As most mature people do, it’s easy to lament on how times have changed and how good we had it 30, 40 or even 60 years ago. Park City is no exception, and with very good reasons.

Since we came in 1985, the town has changed an awful lot. Not only there’s more people and traffic, finer restaurants, better entertainment, improved skiing and much, much more, but also because there’s been a major shift in the people who live in town.

First there were just the ski bums like us – glorified or not, then the Delta pilots and their families and today the multi-millionaires that are ex-CEOs, Wall Street or Hollywood execs and even Silicone Valley instant-rich. So there’s a lot of good and quite a bit of bad too!

These rich people must have a terrible time blending in with their humongous houses, Ferraris, Maseratis or expensive Porsches, but at least they can pretend having a good time among the dwindling number of almost “natives” like us, that took roots in town when humans were judged by their intrinsic qualities rather than by the size of their house or the depth of their wealth.

Once they get used to their new environment, they have to put up with those of us who have chosen to stay and can’t understand why they cannot order us around like they used to, with the people that were under their thumb. I’ll guess they’ll have to accept that new reality or if they can’t, move to a place where the last remnant of ski bum life has been successfully eradicated, because I can guarantee you that we’re here to stay!