or other high-end brands.

When you consider residual values in secondary markets, Tiffany diamonds and designs come out way ahead.

Even if they cost more initially, it's all about making a choice when you have available choices.

I used to think it was absurd for those folks in Ft Lauderdale or Monaco to have 200+-foot yachts costing tens to hundreds of millions that they rarely use, but I finally came to the understanding that it's all about having the ability to choose, then making the choices that make you feel good, and good about yourself, regardless of what others think. Just ignore those "Monday morning quarterbacks" who secretly envy your lot in life instead of concentrating on their own lot, and enjoy the proverbial "bowl of cherries".

"Gaudeamus igitur, juvenes dum sumus ... nos habebit humus."

~*~*~

Thank everyone for your valuable and thoughtful contributions to the discussion. Mondo.