http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/05/...s-billionaire/

If money were no object, would you live like this?

I think there are some FTers who travel and stay in hotels 365 days a year. That isn't appealing to me as I'd like to have a base of operations but I do like the idea of scaling back possessions that become burdensome and living a free life. As Tyler Durden said, "the things you own end up owning you"

For some people it makes sense not to have a "home", especially those who are non-US citizens.

In a lot of countries, the concept of "tax residency" determines whether sombody gets taxed on their worldwide income by the government of the country they are "resident" of.

However, the US is an anomoly where it taxes all of its citzens on their worldwide income no matter where they are located.

Apart from the billionaire part, I'm exactly the same as Mr. Berggruen. I live in hotels and serviced apartments almost all the time. Today I'm in Macau. Next week I'll be in Hong Kong, the week after Taipei, the week after that I go to Japan for two months, and so on. One day I might settle down, but it won't be in the next few years.

Everything I need to live indefinitely fits in a large roller suitcase and a small laptop backpack. Over time, I've developed a strong dislike of owning "stuff", and the thought of having to worry about a house, car, etc, is not a pleasant one.

I know there are few other people here on FT who are the same...

I don't get it. If you truly want to live without possessions, why not live in a tent? Or just sleep outdoors? Why not backpack? Why not live like a yogi? Join a nomadic group somewhere, sleep all together in the yurt/tent with the livestock.

How is living in luxury hotels better than owning a home as far as keeping it simple? Why not own or rent one modest home? A one room apartment? A mobile home in a rundown trailer park without gardens?

Why not just sleep on the street?

I'm not opposed to his lifestyle, whatever works for him, I just don't see how it's supposed to be an example of simplicity.

For the first part, because hotels are comfortable and provide facilities to run a business from.

For the second part, because you can live in a different place every day/week/month (as preferred) and explore the world. Moreover, when something needs fixed or replaced, or there are taxes to be paid, or staff to hire, the hotel takes care of it all for you.

Makes perfect sense to me - it probably saves him money in the long term as he doesn't need to pay for maintenance, insurance or replacements.

I did that for 8 months. I had no official residence. I was at a client side M-Th. Then on weekends I'd, either stay in the same city. In that case the client paid for the hotel in lieu of paying for my flight. Or I went somewhere else for the weekend and stayed at a hotel or with friends/family.

This was soon after I was out of college so I didn't have much "stuff" to begin with. The few things I did have, TV, bed, couch, I put in a U-Haul storage unit for $50 a month. And that was the extent of my living expenses. No rent, no utilities, no car expenses, etc.

For tax purposes, I listed my "address" as my parents address which was conveniently located in a state with no income tax

It was a fun way to live, for a while. I saved a ton of money as well. But towards the end I was yearning for a "home" to call my own. I can't imagine living like a nomad long term.

Sometimes, ownership is greener (ecologically better) living. With hotels, people often waste water and toilet paper. The maid comes in daily. Some people driving rental cars harder than personal cars. A well kept personal car can last years but not a rental car.

The thing is, the truly homeless have to spend a lot more energy taking care of their basic needs than an average person who isn't homeless. "Simple" living is not so simple.

His way of life depends on having everything done for him. Someone cleans his clothes, for example. He doesn't stand every evening in his room and scrub his underwear in a sink.

Either you have to take care of stuff, or someone else has to. Having lots of servants is hardly leading a life of simplicity.

Again, whatever works, but it's not an example of simplicity.

Travelling has its advantages.. no house keeping.. food is served.. focus on work when needed, but enjoying life at its fullest with no worries.

I'm sure he has a permanent address where mail is being sent to. I couldn't imagine a millionaire let alone a billionaire not having a physical mailing address.

Might just be a PO Box number.

Isn't that a permanent address?

Would I live completely homeless? You bet I would! We're in hotels 250+ nights a year as it is and coming home is a PITA.
Our friends always say the same thing... you need a base of operations. Why? I can have the little bit of mail we get forwarded anywhere I need it. I live out of a suitcase anyway so the "stuff" I leave behind means nothing to me anymore. Every time we go home I take a bunch of stuff to donate and hope one day to be free from all of it. I tried to get a friend to do an estate sale for us and just send us a check - he wouldn't believe I was serious.

The base doesn't have to be just a place to store mounds of useless stuff.

Some things people enjoy doing (hobbies?) require a place of your own:
- some people enjoy cooking
- playing golf (need your own clubs, a place to put em, and a way to get to/from the course)
- any hobby or sport that requires "equipment"
- gardening
- working on cars
- practicing your musical instrument

Without that place of your own, what do you "do" for fun when you're not working, on days when you don't feel like going out on the town?