The Good Old Days

Being a young adult these days is tough, especially financially. I get it. But. Back in my day it wasn’t exactly a bowl of cherries. 

Yes, houses were cheaper - but we weren’t earning much. When I finally landed a real job in 1985 my starting salary was $15000 - $1250 per month. Instead of traveling and buying a new car, I saved for a down payment for a house. I was single. Went on retreats with the youth and singles at my church. I was a frequent visitor to the numerous dollar theaters around town. 

Ate 19 cent macaroni and cheese, sometimes with a can of Kroger tuna fish mixed in. Canned chili or peanut butter with saltine crackers. Canned BBQ. Frozen pizzas. When I ate out, it was the fast food dollar menu, the Pizza Inn buffet, or the Western Sizzlin potato bar. But at least 4 days a week I’d take my lunch to work - usually keeping a pack of hot dogs and buns in the fridge at work. I don't see many young people doing this.

Didn’t play golf. When I finally took up the game, I cobbled together used clubs from my in laws and played at the cheapest course in town - which I still do to this day. General admission tickets to Braves games. 

This was before thrift stores became more prevalent. Not sure how I looked, but I rarely shopped for clothes. What I got for Christmas and my birthday usually got me by. For a couple of years my only jacket was the free windbreaker I received for coaching Mighty Mites. I wore that sucker out. 

When we got married we spent a lot of time renovating the 40 year old house we’d bought, doing a good bit of the work ourselves. We rarely took vacations, thankful for the annual beach trip paid for by my in laws. 

These days I see so many younger people not scrimping and saving, but going out to eat lunch 4-5 days a week, spending sometimes $15-20 a day. Arriving at work with a cup of expensive coffee. Going on lavish vacations. I’d hear about everything they’d spend money on, then them complain because they can’t afford a house. Some don’t seem interested in getting married, and even fewer are interested in having children. For sure it’s a different world.

Not talking about any one person in particular. Not just coworkers, but relatives, and some of the kids of friends and acquaintances. 

Thankful and blessed that so far two of my three kids have gotten married, bought houses, and have children.

Monday evening and this morning I was sore from the Kennesaw Mountain hike. This morning C dressed for the gym but said she didn't want to take her usual class because her hip was hurting. I suggested we left weights together, since she had recently mentioned that she wanted me to show her how to use the machines. So we did. She had 30 minutes, and after she left I did some stretching, sat in the sauna, and cooled off on the treadmill. 

Listening to the Vince Flynn novel Oath of Loyalty, number 17 in the Mitch Rapp series. Very good, but lots of shooting and stuff. Not sure I've read all 17, but I've read several.

Ceil cooked lasagna tonight. Very good. Also grilled squash with onions, and a tossed salad.