Having been in Vegas for almost 18 months now, I have become pretty acclimated to my surroundings.  Maybe acclimated is the wrong word, I have begun to see more of how Vegas really is.

In the past couple of weeks I have seen and heard things which have been utterly depressing.  Generally speaking, I am not someone who carries a tremendous amount of empathy for the general public.  I’d like to think that I do, but it just isn’t the case.  I leave they heavy social emotions to my wife, she’s much better at it than I am.  That being said, I tend to be pretty observant and occasionally things strike me.

Ever since my first few days here I have been struck by the massive socioeconomic differences in the Las Vegas Valley.  The entire place is divided squarely into the “haves” and “have nots.”  There seems to be an enormous disparity and not a great deal of crossing over.

I recently had a conversation with the young man who owns the mobile car detailing service we use and he wondered what I did for work.  After telling him, his response was to ask me if I had to go to study to be able to do that.  He was impressed that I had been to college.  That broke my heart.  This young man is one of the hardest working people I have met here, and he aspires to “study” more, but he is unaware of the means to make it happen.  He is completely capable, and motivated, which means he will be successful.  However, the recognition of people not even being presented with opportunities is sad, and I think more of the norm than the exception in most of the Valley.

Raising kids in the third worst school system in the country is a challenge.  We made certain that the house we bought put our kids in the best schools possible.  Fact is, the schools they will attend now are better rated academically than the private schools we looked into, and better than the schools we left in Pennsylvania.  The schools they attend alone will afford them the same opportunities we had as children, and that is what is important.

Living and working in Vegas is interesting, but my wife and I have to make sure that our kids remain grounded an appreciate everything they have.  Just being aware of opportunity in this town is something to celebrate, and we will continue to do that everyday.