Unemployed Romney to quadruple-size his $12mill La Jolla home; may add Bin Laden style retaining wall.

Tentative plans would thankfully retain the existing lap pool and spa.

In addition to the California house and a townhouse outside of Boston, which is their official primary residence, the Romneys own a $10 million vacation home on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H.

The reason for the expansion, according to the official, is family: “They want to enlarge their two bedroom home because with five married sons and 16 grandchildren it is inadequate for their needs.”

There’s not really any explanation here that doesn’t underscore the fact of Romney’s enormous wealth estimated to be as much as $264 million, according to disclosure documents filed with the Federal Election Commission this month. Romney’s campaign said “a more accurate range” of his estimated wealth is merely between $190 million and $250 million.

It’s not quite on the level of not knowing how many homes you own, but both Democrats and anti-Romney Republicans could make the comparison to John McCain’s famously out-of-touch 2008 moment. Whether that’s a turnoff for voters is another question.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s current unemployment rate stands at 11.8%. Perhaps the Romney renovation will create a few much-needed jobs.