People often have asked us, since we moved to Las Vegas, if we gamble every day. I think they are looking at their daily activities when they visit Las Vegas for a few days and then think if a person moved to Las Vegas permanently their life would be like that 365 days a year.
Not!!!! No matter how young and healthy a person is their body could not stand such a perpetual daily whirlwind! Let’s look at Brad’s and my activities for the last month.
Visiting with family. Locally with my sister and her family on Christmas Day. Three days of sightseeing, eating, and visiting with all six of the GA family who flew in between Christmas and New Year’s.
Home in bed with upper respiratory infections for two weeks – both of us. Numerous doctor visits for that and for my neck problems that have demanded a pain management specialist who is going to try radiofrequency therapy since 6 weeks of physical therapy visits didn’t work.
A short trip to Harrah’s Southern California Resort to celebrate Brad’s 84th birthday and help him get over the trauma of spending a day at the DMV to renew his driver’s license.
Working on updates to both the Frugal 1+2 books, which will come out late summer. A huge job; so much has changed in the casino world.
So yes, we did play a little video poker, collected some free play, and ate some casino meals using comps. But “life” takes up a bigger percentage of our time than does gambling.
How do you use comps (rooms) for relatives? Do you book the room in your name, or will the casino allow you to use the room for some one else? I am planning a vacation this summer for Daughter and family, son and family, myself and other son. My other son and I have comps in our names.
Jean,
Whats your take on MGM’s plan, to start charging for parking on “The Strip”?
Sorry to hear your month has been up and down.
Family, weather, food and gaming always seems like the up side. (Vegas seemed a bit cool this December when I visited. Weather can sure mess with the respiratory system).
I had a forerunner of frequency therapy as a trial person many years ago (15+) and still am pain free as long as I do the stretching exercises that were given to me at the time.
Thanks for the “reality” check, I think that after we visit Vegas, we forget there so many opportunities to have a full and great life to enjoy everyday activities.
We did visit Whole Foods when we were there and it surprised me how large the Vegas one is. It is about three times the one here in MA.
MO
I think the reason that most people have that misconception is that the obvious question suggests itself: if you’re not going to gamble, why live there in the first place? It’s a legitimate question: the weather is pretty horrid, there is no scenery/greenery/water (lakes, rivers, etc.), and worst of all, the town has more smokers, drinkers, lowlife hustlers, etc. than any place else its size; traffic and smog are reaching L.A.-esque levels…and the cops are judge, jury, and executioner in an appallingly corrupt system. All too often, you see the very, very worst of humanity expressed (and encouraged) there. Moreover, the aspects of life that are attendant to a “normal” community are afterthoughts–for instance, the frighteningly bad school system and a single “university” that basically teaches people how to get casino jobs. The casino “industry” (I put this in quotation marks because industries usually actually produce something) runs everything, as it has for decades. All this may or may not bother you: it’s a company town through and through, cheerfully corrupt and built on the premise that when you live there/visit there, you can misbehave without repercussions. Unless, of course, you hit too many royals.
But if you know how to work the system, even now, you can eat and be entertained almost for free (particularly if you’re over 50), and the cost of living is still relatively low. You MUST gamble/frequent the casinos to some extent to get the goodies. If you have the wherewithal to escape during the (six-month) summer, then Vegas can be a pretty decent home base. Do the people who live there gamble every day? Of course not. Many take Sunday off.
Even bob dancer doesn’t play video poker every day
Sorry to here about your neck pain. I too see a pain doctor but mine is for my back. After two surgeries and many weeks of physical therapy (useless) I now get steroid injections every other month. I would urge you to consider another option, acupuncture.
Before the surgeries etc, I use to see an MD for weekly acupuncture treatments. The relief was immediate but only lasted 3-4 days and was not covered by insurance. Just something to consider and best of luck.
I had really bad neck and shoulder pain from nerve damage.Two neuro surgeons could not help me.My chiropractor told me to massage with castor oil every day.Before that I could not drive 5 miles without extreme pain.For Christmas I drove from Houston to Las Vegas again.Try it.It really works.Thanks for your collum.Owen.
Evidently there are people that do not believe those who live in Vegas do anything but gamble their lives away.
Love those visits with Family ❤️ Sister
I appreciate you writing this. I have a house in Vegas now and will be retiring in Vegas in a couple years. People seem to think that I will be playing every day. The truth is that it just doen;t work that way.