As I’ve mentioned, working at home has its challenges. Having little direct interaction with people, other than back-to-back phone meetings, can get lonely. This is one of the reasons I occasionally visit the local coffee shop. I also go out for lunch a few times a month. I have to tell you about my recent jet-setting trip to Las Vegas that began with a simple lunch.
Several restaurant discounts are available in Sedona, especially during the off-season. A local restaurant group sends me a list of weekly specials. This special looked delicious, so I headed up to the airport for lunch at the Mesa Grill.
It is tough to top having a nice lunch for $9—drink included—while overlooking the Sedona red rocks, viewing private aircraft landing, and people watching!
But top it I did…
Having lunch at the Mesa Grill in Sedona
I saw a Learjet 60 land, taxi in, and park next to the restaurant. I carefully watched as the doors unfolded from the twin-engine jet and a couple in their early sixties exited the aircraft. They soon walked to the restaurant and sat at a table by the window, one table over from me. I was close enough to overhear their conversation.
Evidently, the jet’s passengers were in town for the day to attend a meeting about their sponsorship of the Sedona International Film Festival. The festival is quite the annual event in our town, celebrating its 22nd year in 2016.
We talked about Colorado
I was getting ready to leave with I noticed that the man from the airplane was wearing a golf shirt with a picture of the Royal Gorge Bridge. Having lived in southern Colorado for 30 years and being very familiar with that area, I was happy to say hello and chat about the Royal Gorge for a moment.
The couple introduced themselves as Joe and Shirley from Sacramento. They explained that they had taken a trip to Colorado Springs a few years ago, staying at the Broadmoor and went to the Royal Gorge as a side trip.
We instantly hit it off, and they invited me to sit down. I updated them on the newest Sedona restaurants and the best trails to hike, and how to avoid the crowds. I discovered we had a lot in common.
Time to return to the house and my remote job
I didn’t want to overstay my conversational welcome, and I felt sure that emails from my job were waiting for me. I told Joe and Shirley how much I enjoyed meeting them and then got up to leave. That is when I noticed Joe glancing at Shirley; she returned a look of understanding, and he proposed an idea.
“Bryan,” Joe said, “How about you come back to Las Vegas with us for a couple days to play some golf? We have some complimentary rooms at the Venetian to burn and we could put you up near our suite. We will have the pilot fly you back after a couple rounds of golf, while we stay on to complete some work in Las Vegas.”
I was shocked. “Joe, that sounds like an excellent offer and it’s very gracious of you,” I said. “Let me give my wife a call, and email my boss to see if I can adjust my work calendar.” A quick call to Dianne and a few emails cleared the next two days. “I’d love to!” I told Joe and Shirley.
“Sounds great,” said Joe, “Meet us at 5:30 and we will plan on taking off before 6. Plan on having dinner tonight at Table 10 , since it’s on the hotel property.”
Jet-setting from Sedona to Las Vegas
The trip to Las Vegas took less than forty minutes via Learjet. We landed before much conversation occurred, other than about the beautiful landscape around Sedona and the Grand Canyon as we flew over the south rim.
There was a driver from the Venetian waiting for us at the private aviation terminal and he whisked us away to the hotel resort. The room accommodations were outstanding and we had a great dinner at Table 10. I knew that after this exciting day, I had better get a good night’s sleep for the round of golf in the morning.
A conversation in the golf cart
I was in for quite a surprise the next morning when the Venetian town car took us to Shadow Creek for our golf game. The course’s rank is 17 of the top 100 to play in the U.S. This was going to be incredibly fun!
Joe was driving the golf cart out to the first tee box when we began to talk about his success. He and Shirley started their company twenty years ago in the corrugated box business after working at other companies over the prior decade. They saved every penny they had and borrowed the rest to buy state-of-the-art equipment and storage space as their business grew.
He told me they had not taken a vacation for nearly ten years as their business expanded—it had really accelerated when they landed some national accounts and bought two other small companies, growing their market to the entire West Coast.
I said, “That is an amazing story, Joe. Years ago, did you imagine this kind of jet-setting lifestyle for yourself? You know, a private jet, golfing at a top-notch course, and making new friends with someone from Sedona?”
“Bryan,” he said, “this is what I pictured as success in my life. I wanted to have the ability to enjoy some finer things, to experience life without having to comprise due to cost. Granted it took many years, and we can’t afford everything we want, but we are enjoying our life. Shirley and I set aggressive goals to expand our business and live the life we imagined.”
I asked, “Do you think you could go back to the same workload, seven days a week, with no vacation for years, if you had to?”
Joe thought about that for a second and then said, “I think we could, but we shouldn’t need to. We have no debt, an excellent management team, and a cash flow stream through other investments that will support us for the rest of our lives. Our plans should never require us to downsize our lifestyle due to money.”
A trip home by myself
The conversation went on like this for the next day as we had dinner and golfed at another course. We finally said our goodbyes, shook hands, and the Venetian driver gave me a ride back to McCarron private aviation terminal. As we arrived, I noticed that, parked on the other side of the fence, was the sleek Learjet 60 waiting for me, its only passenger, for a quick flight back to Sedona. What a couple of days!
On the return flight, my mind reflected on the business Joe and Shirley had built and the lifestyle it afforded them. I too, since my early teenage years, have had the dream to create such wealth. I believed I would become a millionaire by thirty. I didn’t make it by thirty, but I did by forty. The problem is it takes a lot of money to live like Joe. One needs to be deca-millionaire to afford owning a private jet.
The personal finance community tends to lean toward the early retirement track, which often requires frugal living. Nowhere in that equation does it involve owning a Learjet! However, there are a few that suggest we should focus more energy on generating income by building a business, a brand, a product, or a service. I tend to agree that, when it comes to having your own jet and pilot, it will be difficult to save up for this kind of wealth on an average household income.
My jet-setting lifestyle, deconstructed
I have reached a point in my life at which I am realizing the private jet might not be in the cards. I am not giving up hope. For me, I do on occasion enjoy some of the finer things in life. I know I can do this financially if I continue to live within my means and watch our investments. I tell you, I yearn to have some of these nice shiny objects…
Epilogue
Thanks for going along with me on this fictional story.
The facts are: I know Joe and Shirley; they are quite wealthy and own a business in Sacramento. I have golfed at many top courses around the country (at my employer’s expense). I visit the Mesa Grill about once a month for lunch, watch the aircraft land and take off. And I’ve stayed at the Venetian, for work.
I know that, if we continue to practice our savings habits–as outlined in The Seven Steps–we’ll get to our perfect retirement, with or without a Learjet. 🙂
Young says
I sensed that you were yearning for the fine things in life from the beginning a lot more than most of us frugal. Once you get there, do not buy small private jet, so many rich people died of small plane crash that don’t envy of them at all, only buy commercial size of air plane that billionaires have. I think that you are at the cross-roads, retire early and living frugally or working longer for high life. No pain no gain, rich couple you mentioned above didn’t take a vacation for 10 years. I wouldn’t be happy retiring early and living frugally, If I had desires for high life, which I don’t, thank goodness!
Bryan says
What can I say – I have an appreciation for the finer things in life. 🙂 Although that doesn’t mean I go buy or lease those things. That is not necessary for me to prove my self-worth or demonstrate that I am successful.
We could have retired years ago if we OK with living a very frugal lifestyle. With additional saving and investing, my wife and I have now found a level of entertainment, travel, and hobbies that are right for our lives and within our ability to afford. For us, it will probably be the middle of the road lifestyle without a private jet, but at least we will not be eating beans and rice for every meal.
Thanks for sharing Young!
DC @ Young Adult Money says
What a trick!!!!!!!! You totally had me fooled. I couldn’t wait to post a “THIS IS AWESOME!” comment. Well, real or not, it’s a great story. I would totally be okay grinding it out for 10 years if it meant living the lifestyle you described. Granted…there’s no guarantees.
I played poker at the Venetian when I was in Vegas in July. Great poker room, great tournaments. If I have to pay for a hotel, though, you’ll find me at Harrahs for 1/6 the cost 😉
Bryan says
DC,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Welcome! 🙂
You got it! It was a trick, my imagination running wild on what the lifestyle of the $10 million plus net worth crowd might be to experience. My YOLO article is written from that same perspective. I am one of those people that is quite frugal in many areas, yet not bashful about spending on things or experiences that are important to us. For example, we will spend more each year on RV’ing and travel than MMM and Dividend Mantra will spend on their entire budget. I know JD Roth and many others have the same opinion as me.
My thinking does lean more toward the FIRE and frugal crowd. I have a difficult time not letting the hedonistic treadmill catch me and our expenses bloat. This will probably be a lifetime challenge for me.
Take care,
Bryan
Luke Fitzgerald @ FinanciallyFitz says
Hook, line and sinker! Regardless, that was an amazing story! I was captivated! 🙂
Although a fictional story, there were many nonfictional points for us to consider. I hope you get some of those nice shiny objects.
Bryan says
I am glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I admit that I have these “flights of fancy” (pun intended) from time to time. The good news is I keep the spending in check for the most part, which has enabled us to get to the financial position we are today.