I don't spend much time fantasizing about the high life—I'm way too busy with real life—although I do have some go-to basics: a fancy home, my own chef, cruising down a highway in a convertible (while my hair still manages to look good).
Despite my minivan lifestyle, I was able to get a taste of them all at Nissan's Murano CrossCabriolet event, where they put us up in the beautiful Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach and didn't kick me out for not using words like "265 horsepower" in conversation.
This is how a boutique hotel room looks before your children get to it.
This is how I look in a convertible. Like I was born in one, right? RIGHT?! There's just one hitch to my thing for convertibles: I'm actually wary of them because I worry about flipping over. I mean, it's not as if I were running with the bulls before I had kids or anything, but parenthood has a way of putting a damper on things.
The CrossCabriolet feels solid, though, and handles easily. It's an all-wheel drive, convertible SUV with steel roll bars that pop up in the rear in case of a flip over. It's posh, too: There's a keyless ignition/entry, a heated steering wheel and seats (leather), a Bose audio system, a navigation system and plenty of room in the front, back and trunk. The top comes down with a push of a button (in 25 seconds) and it's easy to get into the back seat, not awkward. One feature it lacks is babysitting.
I rode with Elizabeth from Busy Mom, who is very chill in person. We drove by breathtaking mansions, put on Radio Margaritaville and for a couple of hours, I was living the good life. People shot us admiring looks and asked what kind of car it was. Nobody ever gawks when I'm in the minivan, except for the time I started riding out of the supermarket parking lot with the trunk still open.
This is the part where Max informed Dave he wanted to keep the car. Only problem was, we weren't sure how we'd get it through security.
Later, superstar chef Michelle Bernstein, who's appeared on America's Top Chef, did a cooking demo as we dined on white gazpacho, roasted chicken and untraditional lime pie with dark chocolate; I had to force myself not to plant my face into it.
I would have liked to take Michelle home with us, as getting her through security wouldn't have been an issue, but I suspect she'd soon tire of my requests for tuna melts.
So, when you have time to think about a fantasy lifestyle, what springs to mind?
