I was talking to my grandma yesterday morning. She grew up in Kentucky and she told me they first got electricity in the house in 1949. Just lights, they still had no indoor plumbing and had to use an outhouse. She had one pair of shoes and was only allowed to wear them to school and church. The rest of the time she was barefoot (as long as there wasn't snow).

There was a sweet spot to have lived during or better yet grown-up in. I'd argue it was roughly 1970 to 2005. Maybe you could even drop it down to 1960. I picked 1970 because Airconditioning was commonplace by then. I'm talking about cushy happy lives with little chance of a violent death. After 2005 social media became common place and rates of depression and mental illness have skyrocketed, especially among young people. What says the OT? When was the best time to be alive?

Ouch

I was a teenager in the 70s, it was great as I remember

That looks like a PITA

I may have started in the 60s on this. Only real downside was Vietnam. Best music ever with the evolution of modern rock. I grew up in the 60s and never had to worry about being assaulted or snatched off the streets. Fights between people involved fists, not guns.

I believe as we pick and choose what the “best” time was, we should acknowledge the gift of simply BEING alive-
There are good things and bad things about anytime in the past and will be in the future-

I have lived since 1959, and lived in some great times-
Yes, many wonderful memories of the past-
But living NOW in these times I have benefited from modern medicine and prosthetics-
I am alive today because I am living now in these modern times-

Because I live in modern times I will be able to spend more time with those that I love and are able to help guide the young ones when they listen-
I have had the blessing to able to say things I almost didn’t get to say-

I have been given a second chance to live because I live with in these modern times-

So to sum things up, for me, I’m grateful that I lived in these modern times-

It’s like modern society is trying to relive the “good ole” days with all the rear end poking going on.

I would also include ‘69.

great post Steve

Standard of living is at an all time high. The impoverished in the US have access to health care, air conditioning, and internet as well as food. All you have to do is stay off drugs and not be a felon and you can live a basic life for free courtesy the US taxpayer.

Thank you sir-

Enough said! Great post Steve. Puts things into perspective.

Thank you my friend-
I know most of us have grandkids, and these modern times will be their “good old days”-

It's not clear to me that's true. I hear what you are saying, certainly modern medicine is a marvel. That said, for a lot of people, mental illness, depression, and economic hardship are at an all-time high.

I agree