I agree with everything you said, but think there is 1 more variable we don't correctly acknowledge.

We have greatly increased our lifestyle expectations. My grandfather was a plumber. My grandmother was a stay at home mom. Didn't even have a driver's license! They had 8 children and owned their own home.

Sure times were different back then. But so were lifestyle expectations. Vacations were road trips to visit family. Lots of hand-me-down clothes. One dependable but used car. All meals cooked at home from bulk ingredients. A large garden to provide their vegetables. No frills like cable TV or multiple phone lines. Air conditioning was only used on the hottest days of summer.

Not saying people should or should have to live like that. But they were happy. And I do think part of the problem today, is we expect too much. I think current expectations would have been considered quite extravagant "back in the day".

I agree with everything you said, but think there is 1 more variable we don't correctly acknowledge.

We have greatly increased our lifestyle expectations. My grandfather was a plumber. My grandmother was a stay at home mom. Didn't even have a driver's license! They had 8 children and owned their own home.

Sure times were different back then. But so were lifestyle expectations. Vacations were road trips to visit family. Lots of hand-me-down clothes. One dependable but used car. All meals cooked at home from bulk ingredients. A large garden to provide their vegetables. No frills like cable TV or multiple phone lines. Air conditioning was only used on the hottest days of summer.

Not saying people should or should have to live like that. But they were happy. And I do think part of the problem today, is we expect too much. It would have been considered quite extravagant "back in the day".