by Marcus Brooks

Created on: September 03, 2007

What do residents in Aspen, Park City and Branson, Missouri have in common? They all live on popular, ski resorts. When people think of Branson, they don't think of ski resort. However, the Ozark Mountains are a favorite among tourists. When "new snow" hits the slopes, its reflects beautifully beneath a winter sun.

Living on a ski resort is unlike living in a regular city. A resort is packed full of pop-culture themed pleasure. You have strip malls, boutiques and specialty stores. Country Western clothing stores such as Stagecoach are magnets for travelers. If you want Melrose Avenue, check out Coach, Abecrombie and Fitch or Forever 21. For the kids, there are playgrounds, skate parks, regular parks and some mall arcades.

Another quality about resort living is meeting different people worldwide. You're never around the same folks. No matter where you're at, you won't see the same people twice. The possibility of mass networking and having more friends is perfect on a resort. Athletes, entertainers, moguls and "in-crowd" regulars circulate the Park Cities, the Aspens, the Lake Tahoes and the Big Surs.

Working in the hospitality business on a resort can be highly profitable. A concierge (in-room bartender) at a posh hotel can do well over $60,000 a year. Bartenders and waiters can make between $40,000-50,000. Discounted housing is one of the perks for resort employees, especially hospitality, travel and security. A general manager at Tankara (Branson) Marriott is making at least $100,000 a year.

If you're living on a resort now, most of America is hating you.

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