"...there were always other teams of premies working on some other projects, probably at least at the same cost/value. Plus, the cook, the maid, a guy to work on all those cars, the landscapers, security guards, the resident House Managers, irrigation and electrical experts, the Office Staff; all would have cost a fortune, if in fact they were paid a fair wage. But they either worked for free or were paid next to nothing."
In the several years I was around their Malibu residence I know that the people hired onto household and personal Staff or whatever were paid well and got health insurance and retirement contribution, but worked very hard, often overworked, but pretty much willingly until they might find themselves burned out and took their leave, and they basically had no other life during their working years for the most part, and for sure nothing like overtime pay. That's regarding the full time employed staff at least and maybe others like long term temporary skilled people come there during the years of the new residence construction, some who I know got salaries though likely were willing to accept less than they might have gotten paid elsewhere. Probably very many or most of the specifically skilled who came from around the world during the construction of the residence worked without pay, other than those who's skills were rare enough and critical enough to be offered salary. Volunteers of course were volunteers. That was years ago now, although maybe things are still run similarly.
"...there wasn't a lot of friendly interaction going on. Many of us were secretly terrified of making a mistake and getting the family upset, but of course no-one would admit that or even talk about it."
Among the people regularly around the residence in Malibu, the locals like me, I had lots of good friendships develop through those years in times of shared experience, trials and tribulations, likemindedness, and interaction in all the hours and hours and long days together, maybe more like workplace relationships than deep personal ones for myself...and especially the staff were of a different social class one might say in a sort of hierarchy of status ranging somewhere between all the volunteers and the family...but there were lots of romances that sprouted among and across the "classes" and even some marriage (unfortunately not for me, or fortunately). One certainly had to learn to behave well and appropriately in the unique, changing, and often uncertain environment, avoid mistakes and to know very well how to avoid disturbing or annoying the family and how to respond to them well.,.while some kinds of acquaintanceship friendships or familiarity of a sorts grew for some regulars with some of the family over time. While one was always aware one was a servant, subservient, and could be banished or fired for mistakes or inappropriate doings, the family was always gracious with everyone respecting their lives being supported by everyone's generously efforts for them maintaining their household, a unique and even awkward relationship for americans and for children being brought up with intention they be reared and treated "normally". There was no need to talk amongst ourselves about the whole unique and unusual ambiance of it all that one became acclimatized to if one managed to flexible, malleable, and stick around, no need to be secretive about that, just always to be alert to catch the clues and understand the relationships that helped one continue to be asked back or keep whatever regular role one had.
"...The exact opposite of peace and bliss."
Well, actually I'm afraid I have to say I had some wonderful times, sometimes a day with passages of some kind of bliss going on for me, and times personally very peaceful up there in that magnificent view above the Pacific. But I'd gotten pretty well accepted over time despite some awful mistakes and apparently got to fit in pretty comfortably, accepted and making myself useful in all sorts of ways...until...I was... well that's another story.
... but this all is just about one chap's experience there. Left it all behind but for some fond memory...
