Lately, I’ve been contemplating our family’s existence in Hawaii Kai. We are simple folk living in a bougie world. There was a time when bourgeoisie was defined non-critically as the “middle class.” The definition has morphed several times since then, from the Marxist disparaging use of the term as the upper capitalist class owning everything, to today’s “bougie,” which — for anyone watching My Lottery Dream House — can mean a sign of moving up, to, — when spoken by those who did not win the lottery — the same meaning Marx took up.
Recently, I sold some quail to a gentleman who is one of my favorite types: a lifelong-learner. I later learned he is the big-picture dreamer and has a personal assistant do all the detail work of raising the birds. At that moment, I vowed to myself to be reborn richer in the next life. How fun that would be. I’m the person who comes up with crazy ideas then somehow has to juggle them all (not always successfully) once they’re concocted.
Today, I placed a call to one of those companies that sells Wolf gas ovens and Bosch appliances. We have a broken Fisher and Paykel dish drawer that needs replacing. For those unfamiliar with Fisher and Paykel, good: you’re one my people. Fisher and Paykel is a high-end luxury brand.
Personally, I have no need for high-end showy items. I’m a practical type, one that balances utility and function over long-term time frames. However, putting in a normal dishwasher would cost us quite a bit. You see, the previous owners — both architects — put in ONE dish drawer and built everything else around it. Don’t get me started on this. My current honey-do list contains several items on the “why did they do that?” repair slate.
Anyhow, I really had a great conversation with the sales rep. Understandably, he thought this lady from Hawaii Kai was calling to replace her second or third dishwasher, as multiple dishwashers are customary among the Bougie tribe. Instead, he found that he was talking to a working-class person trying to figure out what the least expensive way to put a new dish drawer in is. Dish drawers are typically those second or third dishwashers cut to non-standard short size. Many upscale houses have two in so that it slides into a standard dishwasher dimension. Others have them as a 1 + 1/2 dishwasher option.
It was a great convo, and the sales rep was incredibly sympathetic to my predicament, vowing to find us the least expensive option available. Ultimately, we’ll manage. We’re probably, if there was an official income cut-off, bougie, but — shh — don’t tell anyone. It would break my image.