# Ballast Key **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026 "2014-03-06T17:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/1 "2014-03-06T17:28:49Z")
What is the appeal of living n Ballast Key? If I had $16 million, I would not spend it to live here. If I needed a plumber, how would he get to my house? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/2 "2014-03-06T17:32:11Z")
[Ballast Key is for sale.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballast_Key) ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/3 "2014-03-06T17:36:23Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > What is the appeal of living n Ballast Key? If I had $16 million, I would not spend it to live here. If I needed a plumber, how would he get to my house? Are you seriously asking why someone with money would want a 28 acre private island in the Florida Keys with a 5 bedroom villa plus guesthouse, or is this a whoosh? The plumber would use a boat, or if money is available, a helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/4 "2014-03-06T17:38:46Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > What is the appeal of living n Ballast Key? If I had $16 million, I would not spend it to live here. If I needed a plumber, how would he get to my house? by boat or plane? Privacy, luxury, security are the driving motivators I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/5 "2014-03-06T17:38:46Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Are you seriously asking why someone with money would want a 28 acre private island in the Florida Keys with a 5 bedroom villa plus guesthouse, or is this a whoosh? > The plumber would use a boat, or if money is available, a helicopter. seven bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. [take a look.](http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Ballast-Key-Unkn-Key-West-FL-33040/2114605132_zpid/) ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/6 "2014-03-06T17:43:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > seven bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. [take a look.](http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Ballast-Key-Unkn-Key-West-FL-33040/2114605132_zpid/) I’m reading that as 5 main plus 3 guest: \*The main house features a master suite with both sunrise and sunset views and four more bedrooms. Three bedroom guesthouse overlooks a palm-tree lined beach. \* But either way, I’ll take it! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/7 "2014-03-06T17:52:36Z")
1. Win Powerball or MegaBucks jackpot. 2. Buy a house, a boat, [and two or three yurts.](http://rainieryurts.reachlocal.com/?scid=521913&kw=1461686). 3. Dopefest Southeast! ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/8 "2014-03-06T17:53:11Z")
I’m pretty sure I could suffer through living there. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/9 "2014-03-06T18:25:33Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > I’m pretty sure I could suffer through living there. Meh, it would depend on the internet speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/10 "2014-03-06T19:15:33Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > If I needed a plumber, how would he get to my house? Teleportation. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/11 "2014-03-06T19:25:27Z")
Owning your own private island is right up there near the top of the [conspicuous consumption](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspicuous_consumption) pyramid. (Actually owning a Cheops-class pyramid is the top, of course.) You don’t need it. It’s not practical. But others will notice. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/12 "2014-03-06T23:05:22Z")
I never “got” the private island thing. Wouldn’t it be kind of boring after a while? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/13 "2014-03-07T00:50:46Z")
The fifteen million dollar island would just be a quaint place to keep my [ornamental hermit](http://www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2013/december/ornamental-hermits-an-18th-century-must-have). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/14 "2014-03-07T00:52:50Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I never “got” the private island thing. Wouldn’t it be kind of boring after a while? Set me up, give me 20 years or so, and I’ll give you an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/15 "2014-03-07T01:02:38Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I never “got” the private island thing. Wouldn’t it be kind of boring after a while? Good lord yes. Give me a nice place in the city any day. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/16 "2014-03-07T14:34:31Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I never “got” the private island thing. Wouldn’t it be kind of boring after a while? Most people who own places like that don’t own one house, they own several so they can stay in whichever place suits their mood at the time or when they wanted to see a show or go to a restaurant they could fly out and do it. Or fly the chef in to cook for them and their friends. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/17 "2014-03-07T17:21:25Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Most people who own places like that don’t own one house, they own several so they can stay in whichever place suits their mood at the time or when they wanted to see a show or go to a restaurant they could fly out and do it. > > Or fly the chef in to cook for them and their friends. Of course. But it still seems like a pretty dull investment to me. If I need a secluded beach vacation, if rather rent at an exclusive resort, so I can sample the world’a great beaches over the years and not have to worry about maintaining a bunch of land I rarely use. Have I mentioned I hate commitment? And seclusion? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballast-key/683026/18 "2014-03-07T17:38:05Z")
That’s okay the prices are high enough as it is. Imagine if everyone wanted one how high they would be.