What people talk about is consuming a lot. Having an expensive yacht, for instance.

If you save up like a squirrel, you don't get the benefits of being wealthy, even if you are. And how rich are you really if a bit of consumption would significantly reduce your future consumption capacity?

I would argue you're not really rich if you can't just spunk money on whatever you feel like. And no, changing your desires to desire less might be just as satisfying (in fact I try to do that too), but it's not being rich, in the sense people ordinarily mean.