Chicago Suburbs - Old Money vs new (Naperville, Skokie: how much, new house)

[Anthera]

Every suburb from Naperville to Lake Forest has older established residents, and newcomers. How do they differ in your neighborhood?

For my part of the NS:

Old Money:
Rehabs a vintage home(or just doesn't care)
Treats household help like a member of the family
Drives English cars or a beat up Ford (sometimes a BMW)
Belongs to Indian Hill, Exmoor, Skokie or Bob-o-link
Never ever ever mentions how much something cost
Belongs to the "Casino"
Has a house in Nantucket, but doesn't talk about it.
Sends their daughter to Clearwater

New:
Buys new construction
Yells at the nanny in public.
Drives a Hummer, Escalade or some gaudy sportscar.
Joins a club where you don't need a sponsor
Always makes a point of telling you how much something cost
Thinks "The Casino" is a place where people gamble.
Went to Nantucket once and has "AWK" stickers all over their car.
Drank Everclear & Koolaid in college.

[Steve-o]

(^)

Pretty much the same here in the western burbs, and probably the same story around the rest of the country (where it applies).

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

(^)

Pretty much the same here in the western burbs, and probably the same story around the rest of the country (where it applies).

But what are the specific quirks of your area? Thats what I think would be interesting

[Nysee53]

I know that many of the clients my partner and I build homes for are people who have lived on the North Shore for quite sometime or tend to be second or third generation residents. It is fairly unusual for us to have a new money client. Does anyone in your neighborhood belong to Westmoreland. Many people in our neighborhood, as well as one of my sons friends from Kenilworth's father belong to Westmoreland. I think Westmoreland is actually more half-and-half. North Shore residents are less likely to care wether you just became rich or are from a long blood-line, just as long as you don't break traditions like, the new money family on Sheridan Road near New Trier :-). I have not lived on the NS all of my life, but my family was relatively well-off. We used to have two farms in Alabama and Ashtabula, Ohio. I live in a new house, so that is something that is obviously different about your specific neighborhood Anthera.

[Anthera]

Westmoreland is not in the same category as the other clubs I mentioned, although it is a very lovely club. Most of its members are the first in their family to join.

[cdc3217]

So I suppose if I have to ask I don't belong, but what is the "Casino"?

[aragx6]

^^LOL I was thinking the same thing!

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by cdc3217

So I suppose if I have to ask I don't belong, but what is the "Casino"?

Its a dining club in Chicago located just east of the Hancock. Very inexpensive to belong, very hard to join.

[Nysee53]

Anthera, so you have any ideas on what the dues are for Westmoreland, Indian Hill, Lake Shore, etc? I have heard that they vary and some are cheap but hard to join and some are expensive and easy.

[Lookout Kid]

The poorer you were before you made money, the more likely you are to want to distinguish yourself from the poor in very visible ways. And of course, many "new money" types retain their preferences and lack of taste after they come into money. This is the explanation for gaudy new-construction homes and tacky automobile choices.