I like to tinker, know how things work, and even devise new things in my head, even if I don’t follow through or actually need them.
The bike thing growing up was enjoyable, and I know what you mean about others that don’t have those sorts of skills.
I do think this generation misses out on a lot. For one thing, they don’t get those early jobs we used to, in many instances because there are adults who will work for kid’s wages, then bitch about them.
It an interesting new world we’ve allowed to be created around us.
That’s a great point about why young people today can’t find work (the “early jobs”); in my area newspapers are now delivered via van by Hispanics gunning them out both sides - not actually putting them in a mailbox. Landscaping “summer jobs” are also done by Hispanic adults, and even the gas pump jockeys (popular with high school kids in my day) are now replaced by Indians (mainly students, probably off the books due to student visas) who are all working for their “uncle”...
FWIW, I think the bike thing also kept us in better shape; I still occasionally see a pack of kids on BMX bikes, and it brings back great memories. Living on the edge of the NJ Meadowlands, we’d ride for miles and miles when we weren’t in school (then skate on the swamp when winter would freeze it).