So I stumbled upon this article on Yahoo! about a $75 million home that is being sold ‘as-is’. The home has no carpet, tiles or interior walls.

It has everything else you could possibly imagine a home having though. Actually, it has everything most 5-star hotels have and then some.

As I read on, two things came to mind.

One, couldn’t you just finish the damn house? Seems a bit lazy to me, really.

And two, how much shit does any one person really need? I’m not anti-success but what human being has any need for 23 bathrooms? Or an indoor roller rink?

Is this the American dream? Making so much money that you can build a self-contained compound with every imaginable amenity so you never have to leave and interact with another person ever again?

Really?

It makes me wonder what we’re all working for, beyond the basics of food, shelter and the occasional glass of really good wine.

What is the end game?

It seems that many people are chasing the ever-elusive good life, but never quite getting there. Make a little more money, spend a little more. Aspire to something, attain it, and then want more.

So what’s the answer?

I’m not sure. I know it’s easy to get caught up. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in work and other obligations that the distraction of some nearly attainable utopia can be quite appealing.

But perhaps we need to take a break from the mayhem once in a while and just enjoy what we have.

Unless, of course, a home with a 20-car garage is critical to your happiness. In which case, I say, get back to work.

And if you’re ever looking for someone to actually drive one of those 20 garage-kept cars while you’re slaving away at the office, give me a call.

I’ll be happy to take a few of them out for a spin. For a small fee.

- TJ Bennett