Great Topic for Discussion, dougiezerts!
My reality is a wee bit different from most folks though, when it comes to dining out. I worked for years in fine dining and rarely had the time to eat at other places. When I did it was usually under work-related justification (checkin' out the competition!) so I rarely if ever had to pay for it myself- employer always picked up the tab.
Today? Now that I'm out of the industry- after so many years playing with fussy gourmet groceries? My tastes in my personal life run less than ultra-high-end. I much prefer a simple burger over anything fancy. In fact, I can't recall the last time I bought a restaurant meal that cost me over 20 bucks! And when I date or do special things for loved ones- I tend to prefer to cook myself rather than go out.
Don't get me wrong- I certainly enjoy and appreciate fantastic food... But it's kinda like that whole "bus-man's holiday" thing. A man who drives a bus for a living rarely will climb aboard a Greyhound for a cross country trip during his off time, when it comes time for his own vacation.
Similarly, I also worked in hotels and resorts for a long time. One of the fantastic benefits was $10 and $25 room rates for we staffers. I stayed in some beautiful rooms for little or nothing... Today? If anyone thinks I'm gonna EVER be willing to fork over $300.00 for a hotel room- they're NUTS! Ha! I honestly get little or no joy outta staying in hotels. I'd much rather stay in a BandB, or camp.
BUT- I'm glad dining out and staying at hotels are luxuries that many DO enjoy, 'cause for years it was my bread n' butter!
My reality is a wee bit different from most folks though, when it comes to dining out. I worked for years in fine dining and rarely had the time to eat at other places. When I did it was usually under work-related justification (checkin' out the competition!) so I rarely if ever had to pay for it myself- employer always picked up the tab.
Today? Now that I'm out of the industry- after so many years playing with fussy gourmet groceries? My tastes in my personal life run less than ultra-high-end. I much prefer a simple burger over anything fancy. In fact, I can't recall the last time I bought a restaurant meal that cost me over 20 bucks! And when I date or do special things for loved ones- I tend to prefer to cook myself rather than go out.
Don't get me wrong- I certainly enjoy and appreciate fantastic food... But it's kinda like that whole "bus-man's holiday" thing. A man who drives a bus for a living rarely will climb aboard a Greyhound for a cross country trip during his off time, when it comes time for his own vacation.
Similarly, I also worked in hotels and resorts for a long time. One of the fantastic benefits was $10 and $25 room rates for we staffers. I stayed in some beautiful rooms for little or nothing... Today? If anyone thinks I'm gonna EVER be willing to fork over $300.00 for a hotel room- they're NUTS! Ha! I honestly get little or no joy outta staying in hotels. I'd much rather stay in a BandB, or camp.
BUT- I'm glad dining out and staying at hotels are luxuries that many DO enjoy, 'cause for years it was my bread n' butter!
