MFR I'm only 52. When I was younger & growing up, we lived in a fairly large rural city. Everybody had jobs, a car, and most people owned their own house. Most people had landlines, but not everyone in those days. It was exciting getting a written letter in the mail, and having your friends come knocking on the door asking if you were home. I rarely saw a fat kid, cos we were always out riding our bikes and we walked everywhere. It was easy to move in those days and get work - even as a teen or young adult, everyone was either studying and/or working at Coles, Woolies etc. I had more employment even up until 10 years ago than I do now. In my profession, which is health care, we have to have so many mandatory competencies and more are getting added on, that I just honestly have got to the point where I can't be bothered anymore. I can't even do ear syringing now or many other medical procedures without a certificate of competency, and those courses aren't cheap. The whole thing has gotten ridiculous in health care; there are so many things I learned working in the wards and in Emergency that we are not allowed to do now, due to some stupid, ridiculous government regulation.
Life was harder in the 'old days' no doubt about it, but I think we face different types of hard times in our day now.
Everything is so over-regulated now it's insane. And what with Xmas & NYE coming up, just doing shopping yesterday was a nightmare with crowds pushing each other around, & rudeness in general.
Thank God I don't celebrate Xmas much - won't be doing much this year. Hate those crowds & the greed of people nowadays.