The Oil Drum

I grew up in the 1970s. We started out middle class but my parents screwed up. We had a phone, rotary dial, sometimes - when we could pay the bill. We had one light bulb per room. Washing was at the laundromat, and at times when quarters were scarce, done on ye olde washboard. We lived in (rented) houses that were built in the 1930s. Welfare and food stamps were the order of the day - the local markets were not allowed to give cash change for food stamps, so they came up with various scrip systems. Each store had its own, from plastic coins of various colors and denominations to just scribbles on the reciept.

The whole mode of life had a very 1930s feel to it. You wanted to go somewhere, you walked or took the bus. On school mornings your teachers would be there with you - they paid a quarter as adults, we kids paid a dime.

I often fished and foraged for food.

The whole mode of life was 1930s-ish, and this was in the 1970s, a time when the US was doing well.

My young adult years, 1980-1986 were likewise more 1930s-ish than not, more bus riding, living in a rooming house, had a bicycle I went all over on for a while. No real job prospects past the most basic work. Work for me meant getting dirty and smelling bad and the first thing was to wash up and clean up after work.

Entertainment was the library, ridin' around on the bike, no museums because they cost, and I often, riding home from work very hungry, got the vegetarian chili at the health food cafe because the kind with meat in it cost a buck more. (In all fairness, the veggie stuff had TVP in it and plenty of lentils, it was probably better.)

This was life when the US was doing well, we're in for a rough ride folks.