Retreating to the Seventies

[miradoblackwarrior]

As time goes on, and I make cuts and save money towards retirement, I find myself longing for the Seventies. During that decade, I can't say it was easier: there were gas lines, our old car was literally tied together with rope (and a quart of oil per week!), and we walked everywhere. We owned the house outright (good thing, because my father had passed and there were no jobs to be had). Times were tough, but we were creative. We had little money, but we also were closer as a family, finding frugal ways to enjoy each others company, and manage to pay the bills. We didn't scrape, so much, as we were careful--very careful. That quart of oil for the car was because we had no money for repairs. The car didn't mind the cheapest stuff we could find (they don't make cars like that old Plymouth anymore!) We had a dog, who we all enjoyed playing with her and napping with her and just having her around for companionship. But we also walked the mile to the library, or took in a cheap high school sporting event, or read, or played board games--whatever. Sure, I was young, and maybe this is all about longing for my youth.

However, today I find I am living that kind of life, but I lack the perks of the joy I once had. Now life is hard and strict. I don't have a car--even one with an insatiable oil hunger. I don't have a dog--would love one!

But I still have the house. It's back home, in upstate New York. Beautiful, rural area, with good people who are not afraid of struggle, and know how to get along getting along. Right now, I am facing retirement in a few more years, having moved to Boston, where everything is more expensive, and there is little beauty that isn't man-made.

As I grow more and more frugal, I find myself revisiting the Seventies. As I draw closer to retirement age, I think back more and more to that time, and the pleasures I had in those days. I'm thinking of going back home, even if it isn't as sophisticated as the Big City. Somehow, I don't care so much.

So, how about you all? Anyone else out there thinking of the good old days? Why?

Susan

[frugalone]

Yes, indeed.
I grew up during the '70s and '80s. I remember fondly the days when kids weren't bent over cell phones all the time. When stores were closed on Sundays. When you learned about your favorite rock band's concert by calling a "concert line" at the local FM radio station, because there were no Web sites. Everything just seems so...insane these days. I'm sure, politically, there are bad situations (the Iran Contra scandal, for one), but blissfully, as a kid, I knew nothing about it. Hell, I didn't even know we were in the Vietnam War for the first few years of my grammar school career--until I was adult!

[catherine]

I was brought up in the 50s and came of age in the 60s. I tend not to be that nostalgic--maybe because I'm Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. DH, on the other hand, pines regularly for the "good ole' days" when mom wore the apron and dad brought home the bacon, and life was a lot simpler in a lot of ways.

That's not to say that I didn't love a good part of the 60s--I loved it. I was very happy at high school, very fulfilled in a lot of hobbies and clubs. I loved the idea of the "Age of Aquarius" and peace and love and all that. I was mad about the Beatles, and they had so many uplifting songs--All You Need is Love, Imagine, Let it Be, etc.

Occasionally I kind of miss my home town--my brother still lives there, and on Facebook I get to keep contact with a few old high school friends. I always liked being a "Connecticut Yankee"--now I'm a Jersey Girl. My family roots in CT go way, way back hundreds of years, so sometimes I am drawn to that.

But I'm happy in my life now--so happy. "There is a time for everything under the sun," as the guy in Ecclesiastes says. I appreciate what was, but I don't think about going back.

[puglogic]

I am happy in my life too, but I think you hit on something, miradoblackwarrior.

I don't long for who I was in the 70's, but I am identifying aspects of my life, character, resilience that I think are part of who I want to be, and I want back.

I don't want to GO back, but I want to build a life that gets that feeling back. I felt tougher, more creative, more resilient then. On the other side, I allowed myself to be optimistic, forward-thinking, and positive. I do not want to live in a city any longer - I find them stimulating but dangerous, especially as I grow more old and frail and as our economic situation goes further and further downhill. I want back the simple life I had then, as much of it as I can get. And I'm going to do it.

Maybe you should start making a plan to align your life with the values you want back too?

[razz]

I am about to turn 70 so grew up in the 50's and 60's. The 70's were a blur but nothing specially memorable Lack of money was a recurring theme but I lacked nothing essential. I had babies which was important to DH and me and optimism that we could do anything to improve our life but our goals were so modest,as I think about it. Pay the mortgage, harvest a large garden and visit family for vacation.
I love the present with wide choice in technology, entertainment, travel, but still have simple goals - a garden, walking with friends, sewing projects, knitting, etc.
Maybe I never really moved completely away from life in the 70's.

[SteveinMN]

Personally, zero interest. None. Are there aspects of life in the 70s that I admired or enjoyed? Sure, some.

But living back then would have meant no Internet and the connection that enables among people. Then, I never would have been able to attend a beautiful gay wedding for two men who have been together since the 80s but who only recently were able to make the same public commitment to each other and gain the same protections that us straight people get as many times as we want. I miss the plurality of urban living today -- and I grew up near New York City; if I lived here in Minnesota then, "eye-talian" food would have been considered exotic and populations of Hmong and eastern African peoples and their cultures was unimaginable.

And, honestly, the only thing I miss about being 17 is my metabolism. The teenage years were not great for me. I have no wish to relive them. I live much better today.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I'd go back. The adults handled all the important stuff (not that they were very good at doing so but ... we had the basics), yes I had cares, but not adult cares. Camping vacations, and endless time to watch mom hang the laundry (well actually that may have been the early 80s by then). The music from then takes me back with longing.

[Tiam]

I know what you mean. Your thread title reminds me of folks who are time warp people, who go to extremes to live as if they are in the past. I'm not saying you are doing that, but I think there must be a similarity in the longing for simpler times.

[redfox]

I miss places, not times in my past. I love who I am now, and all the life experience that has brought me to this very moment.

[catherine]

Maybe you should start making a plan to align your life with the values you want back too?

Such a great point. One of the times in my life I really, really miss was when I stayed every summer at my greataunt's beach cottage. It started out as kind of my "summer camp" but wound up, as I got older, as a "job" of sorts, serving as a companion for my aging aunt, who died one summer when she was 92 (I was 21 and she died the day after I brought her home from our final summer together).

She/Madison was everything I want my life to be--simple, slow, routine times to eat and play, caring for each other, time for creative pursuits, laughter, breakfast of blueberries and cream on the porch. She exemplified cheer, dignity, love. My friends in high school got jobs so they could by new clothes. She gave me her portable Singer and taught me how to sew, so I could make my own clothes. My friends hung out at movies for entertainment. My entertainment was knitting, reading, hanging out on the beach with my summer friends, sketching down at the dock on the water, and enjoying cards with my aunt and grandmother. My friends got a weekly paycheck. I got a tip of $50 at the end of the summer for being with her, but my income came in the form of a home that smelled of salt and timber, and meals that were simple and good. I needed nothing else, and wanted nothing else.

When I've started getting nostalgic over those days, I think exactly of what you're saying, puglogic--why not create Madison in my own life? Now that I have a grandson coming, I have a sense of urgency to try to be the role model for him that my greataunt was for me.

[reader99]

Any nostalgia I have for the past is for having not been the one who had to take care of everything. The adults in my life had varying competencies, but they were adults and I didn't have anything like the burden of responsibility that I do now. Since my husband died I don't even have someone to bounce ideas off of and all decisions and their consequences fall on me.

[Glo]

I agree with Catherine. I'm 66 and this is the best time of my life. Money struggles are over, no more hassel due to work, kids grown up, etc. we moved back to my home town 5-1/2 years ago, I've reconnected with high school friends, reconnected with cousins, and other friends. I couldn't be happier!

[iris lilies]

While I like certain things that bring on a little nostalgia, I think "forwards" not "backwards." But I had fun in the 70's (some of that dope inspired!) but had even more fun in the 80's. Then the 90's--lots of fun.

[iris lilies]

... I do not want to live in a city any longer - I find them stimulating but dangerous, especially as I grow more old and frail and as our economic situation goes further and further downhill. I want back the simple life I had then, as much of it as I can get. And I'm going to do it.



For the first time in two decades, I am having doubts about staying here in Murder City. At the moment I feel fine, but I suspect that I will tire of having to walk out on the street in a "take no Prisoners" attitude every day. But I am entertaining the notion of a smaller, more gentle place to live and yes, less stimulation which I don't like.

[redfox]

Any nostalgia I have for the past is for having not been the one who had to take care of everything. The adults in my life had varying competencies, but they were adults and I didn't have anything like the burden of responsibility that I do now. Since my husband died I don't even have someone to bounce ideas off of and all decisions and their consequences fall on me.

Oh my dear, what a poignant posting. It's hard being without partner support. Blessings.

[JaneV2.0]

I try to bring the lessons of the seventies with me. I miss my youth, that's for sure, but most of the rest of it is portable.

Like Puglogic, I miss my courage and sense of adventure that seemed to evaporate with age. I can see why Iris Lily is contemplating a less edgy environment.