I have a sibling 5 years older than I am, and it's amazing, they're a Boomer and I'm an X'er. We're quite close, but there are fundamental differences in how we think and see the world, how we believe. Their experience has been Onward and Upward, because after all, as a Boomer with tons of influential Boomer friends, how could it be otherwise?

I am one who has been gathering the knowledge to be dropped anywhere in the USA and be able to survive at least a little while.  With just the clothes on my back.  Trisha could not due to medical issues.  

Teach your kids fun projects.  Growing and storing foods found in your yard and surrounding countryside and grown by you.  Teach them how to make fire without matches, All the basic old school boy scout things.  Teach them to repect the earth and the people that live on it, even if they don't always agree with their dieties or politics.  Teach them how to cook new foods and how to eat new foods.  Get out of your box and into the world around them.

I thank GOD that my dad taught me to love cooking, and to try foods even if I had not a clue waht were in them.  I am living with my parents dad 70, mom 76, and teaching them things I learned out there in the wilds of the world.

I have no childern of my own, neither does my brother, we are the last of my dad's line,  His older brother had 2 boys as well and they have 4 kids between them. A zero sum gain on my uncle's side and a negative gain on my dad's side.

Keep talking to your wife and keep having fun, its better to laugh than to cry, though crying is okay, but remember to get back to being positive, even if you feel the world is comeing down around your ears.  It's your Character that matters to your kids, and your wife and to others.

I had a money/banking econ theory class and I started asking questions and my econ professor rebuffed my attempts at understanding the concept.  He denied it at first and then admitted he saw a lot of benefits if oil hits $100 a barrel.  Now I couldn't ask the right questions at the time b/c I still didnt know enough to stand my ground.  So listened to my grair haired proff and proceeded to debunk everything he said.  I ran out of time, but I will probably be in another one of his classes next semester.

Things have changed.  I didnt take any summer courses and instead took a reality course and started learning everything I possibily could about PO, GW, and the dire financial position we've dug ourselves into.  I find it very hard now to discuss some issues without interjecting my firm objections to our current way of life.  

Last night I got into an "discussion" w/ my Biz writing instuctor over persuasive messages in advertising and of course I put it out there that we are easily influenced and it's pretty clear to see we will do whatever is necessary to consume!  Which included absorbing as much debt as possible to keep buying junk.  She didn't like that answer, but so what.  I can back up my position with facts and if you're too warped to step back and think for yourself I can help you little.

I've always been different, though I'm sure many feel the same.  People have told me that from very early and it's just who I am.  I'm proud to be different and frequently get into "discussions" over the simple concept of a "normal person" (i believe none exists).