I have thought about this and realised it is not really a counterpoint. At the very top, there is the illusion of community and camaraderie. Thing is, it is im

I have thought about this and realised it is not really a counterpoint. At the very top, there is the illusion of community and camaraderie. Thing is, it is impossible to say whether your connections will actually turn up and help you. When you are not wealthy, you are forced to depend on other people, so you know early on who actually puts their money where their mouth is. If you are a wealthy person, chances are you'll never be in this position. You can pay your way out of any situation. Going from one gala to another does not really amount to community IMHO. Note that the definition of "wealthy" here is quite loose. Even the average HN SWE would comfortably qualify as wealthy. We may have our friend circles but it is not easy to say if we can count on someone to be there by our bedside if we end up with a terminal illness that leaves us bedridden. For a long time, family was the bedrock that could be relied on no matter what. Now, nobody knows.