Posted on 09/22/2025 3:59:37 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
Now that I’m retired, with more time behind me than ahead, I find myself looking back a lot more than forward. I’ve been reflecting on the changes I’ve seen — not just in the world at large, but right here at home, in the way families like mine spend time together.
When I was young, family fun meant something simple. Back in the 1950s, when money was tight for most folks, we didn’t need expensive outings to enjoy ourselves. A picnic at the park, a day at the beach, just a walk around the block, or a Sunday drive in the country were enough to make a weekend special. Gas was cheap, and the family would pile into the car, not knowing what we’d find around the next curve. The kids would play outside until the streetlights came on, and those spontaneous moments often became the best memories.
Little league games weren’t big productions. The gear was basic, and everyone helped out. Families gathered on the sidelines, sharing hot dogs and cheering each other on. It was easy to be active, to be social, and to be together — all without breaking the bank.
But things have changed.
These days, much of the “fun” seems to happen indoors, in front of screens — streaming shows, gaming, or watching videos online. It’s convenient, sure, and I get why it’s popular. But sometimes I can’t help but miss the noise, the movement, and the faces of real people.
Going out these days isn’t as simple as it once was. Ticket prices, gas, food, and parking all seem to keep climbing. Even youth sports, which once brought communities together, have become costly commitments. Families now face expensive equipment, travel fees, club dues — things we never thought twice about back then.
I wonder, what have we lost along the way?
I don’t often see children playing outside in the neighborhood anymore. Back when I was young, the streets were full of kids on their way to and from school, and even more were out playing until dark. Now, it feels like those sounds have faded. Instead, I often see them heading inside, where they’re playing games on their phones or watching screens.
I don’t know if those days are gone for good. But I do wonder if we can find ways to bring that kind of fun back — affordable, simple, and together.
What family traditions or simple pleasures do you remember from your younger days? Do you think there’s room to revive those moments today, even with the changes we face?
Screens. Ticket prices. Scheduling. Organization.
In years past, I would say "what do I want to do?" Go to the park, to enjoy nature. Go to the mall, stroll, window-shop. Go to the library and look over the new-book rack. Go fishing at the local pond on a whim. See what pick-up games was available at the basketball courts. Chance encounters with your neighbors while walking the dog or weeding the garden.
Yes, there were events that required planning. Church services. Bible studies. Concerts. Restaurant meals.
The difference between now and half a century ago was the ratio of planned versus spur-of-the-moment activities. Yes, streaming is not tied to the clock, but it is tied to a transaction that is a significant part of doing the thing.
Here in PA we have caves, amusement parks, picnic grounds, places you can drive ugly vehicles through the mud. Plus a cool railroad museum and some old trains you can ride. Parks with waterfalls and trails. Civil war memorials with reenactors, and colonial villages. Drive-in movies!
All that without ever having to cross into Philadelphia.
Search youtube for great places to see in PA.
I respectfully disagree. For me, this is a serious issue. Kids today in their rooms online reading who knows what or playing games that take reality out of everything. When I was a kid way back in the 50’s and 60’s, my dad would go to a local deli and buy an assortment of cold cuts, rolls, pickles and different relishes, sodas and of course a 6 pack of Rheingold. We would take “trips to nowhere”, places he had heard about but had never been to. We would stop somewhere, spread a blanket and have our deli feast. The only issue would be my dad’s limburger. He said it was some very good limburger, which made the smell worse. But it was soon gone and we were on our way to nowhere. One day we ended up in the Pine Barrens of southern NJ picking blueberries. Another day were were at a rock quarry picking up quartz crystals. Later on we had a boat and had many trips deep sea fishing. We went on vacations to Maine, Minnesota, Florida, Ontario and had great times. My wife and I have done the same with our kids and my daughter and sil do the same. But there are so many who don’t even know what is lost in too many houses. Family time together.
You would’ve fit right in with us! The worst that happened was somebody stepping on a rusty nail, which meant a trip to the doctor for a tetanus shot and admonishments by Mom and Dad to be more careful in the future.
We live just across the river in Hunterdon County NJ. We’ve spent a lot of time in PA. We would like to go to the Gorge in western Pa, I think it’s called Pine Creek gorge, very pretty from pictures I’ve seen.
'Strange,' mused the Director, as they turned away, 'strange to think that even in Our Ford's day most games were played without more apparatus than a ball or two and a few sticks and perhaps a bit of netting. Imagine the folly of allowing people to play elaborate games which do nothing whatever to increase consumption. It's madness. Nowadays the Controllers won't approve of any new game unless it can be shown that it requires at least as much apparatus as the most complicated of existing games.'Now take your soma and stop worrying about this.Brave New World, 1932
Does anybody remember laughter?
When I was a kid, aviation experts said “Everyone will have flying cars by the year 2000.” Well, they do exist, but are expensive and not for everyone. But the Jetsons had them! - Another guy from NJ.
Here in small town Michigan, we try to have a family dinner every Sunday. Pot luck style and play cards or outside lawn games after wards depending on weather. Football games on in background now as baseball finishes.
Wife and I still make a point of going out. We take 3 day weekends and drive somewhere nice and we laugh, eat well and just have fun because we’re both keenly aware of the brevity of this life and the importance of happiness.
Liberalism.
1. Kids cab be taken by any number of lunatics the courts refuse to jail.
2. “Desegregation” has caused feral animals to live far too close to civilized humans and kids’ toys are stolen. Can’t leave so much as a ball outside anymore.
3. Soccer Moms/Helicopter Hens said playgrounds were too dangerous. Playgrounds have been all but removed. Also, see #1.
4. Kids expect to be driven someplace with mom/dad watching and praising. Gotta be “amazing”. Can’t just have fun at a playground or baseball diamond.
5. Video games. It’s like a drug, and kids can’t get enough. Games are designed to create dopamine reactions.
6. Kids are taught in schools by liberals to hate each other.
7. Poor diets. Fat, sluggish children.
8. Kids get anything and everything they want. Imagination was once fostered by having little and doing what you could to entertain.
9. Spoiled Brat Syndrome. Team sports are no fun and individual accomplishments, no matter how small, even in a mud puddle, are no longer rewarding.
10. Most kids have no daddy. No adventure. No outdoors. Nothing mechanical. Most daddies are nothing but little girls these days. Cucks.
11. Most kids spend more time in cars than they do on their feet.
12. Everything kids have to do is socialism in groups, little individual accomplishments to be proud of.
Simply put: Liberalism.
“Does anybody remember laughter?”
It was turned into nothing but left-wing political screeching by so-called “comedians”.
I used to love comedy clubs, but that went away 20 years ago.
“Women were openly discriminated against at universities and employment.”
Actually, they weren’t. That is a big feminist lie.
“I’m beginning to think that the core problem is that fun has become based on transactions.”
That is absolutely correct. Even relationships are now nothing but transactions.
Everything has to have a reward now. No selflessness, no individual satisfaction. Everything has to be something that has a return on the investment.
The Tooth-Gnasher Super Flash was a great car! Wish I had one!
Summer Camp Crafts
To
Tik-Tock.
https://reading-rainbow.fandom.com/wiki/Tooth-Gnasher_Superflash
LaVar Burton?
Now that’s an obscure cultural reference.
It was one of my kids’ favorite bedtime stories for a long time. Now my grandson loves to have it read to him.
Yes, LeVar Burton hosted that show. We did watch it sometimes.
Back when there were just three TV channels, the only time when there was programming of interest to kids was Saturday morning. Other than that, there was nothing on TV of interest to kids, so we spent our time outside riding bikes, playing baseball, football, and basketball. There were almost no overweight grade school kids.
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