by Martin Field

How the rich live
A long while back, we had a big New Year’s Eve party at the beach shack. It was one of those turns where everyone mucked in and shared.

One very wealthy couple (luxury holiday house at Portsea Back Beach etc.) brought along two bottles of beer and a can of four-bean mix. ‘Just put the beans in a bowl with some dressing,’ they said graciously. Later we learned that they’d borrowed the two bottles of beer from another guest on the way in. ‘Just so it looks like we’re bringing something.’

We drank the beer and kept the can of beans for years as a conversation piece.