Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Whatever Happened to Just Going Out for Family Fun?
vanity | September 22, 2025 | CIB-173RDABN

Posted on 09/22/2025 3:59:37 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN

Whatever Happened to Just Going Out for Family Fun?

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?


TOPICS: History; Miscellaneous; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: anotherstupidvanity; entertainment; getajob; pleasestop; toomanyvanities
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-73 next last
To: CIB-173RDABN

“and reflecting on what has replaced it.”

I guess the point of it all really went over your head?

It’s an observation on the loss of “3rd Spaces”.

Well noted on this and other forums over the past past few decades.


41 posted on 09/22/2025 5:58:10 AM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equaviator

I love my Go Pro 13.


42 posted on 09/22/2025 6:09:29 AM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

I was there. We had businesses that refused a raise to women in the company (iIwas told this by them) because they didn’t “need” the money the way men did.
One of my friends was refused entry to veterinary schools (despite being one of the top SAT scorers as a math major) . She threatened to sue and one of the schools suddenly changed her admittance status. One university vice president walked into freshman orientation and said the women were there to find
husbands ( I was in attendence).
This was in the 1960’s. By the 70’s it was gone.


43 posted on 09/22/2025 6:27:00 AM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: one guy in new jersey
Wow... that’s so cool... you’ve got one of those things?

You mean you haven’t seen the great documentary about the development of the flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

44 posted on 09/22/2025 6:45:38 AM PDT by noiseman (I The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

Each family member is buried into his own private internet world.


45 posted on 09/22/2025 6:46:01 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Varda

“SAT scorers as a math major”

SAT are not used for any medical school.


46 posted on 09/22/2025 7:06:03 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Navy Patriot

Too real. When I visited someone in Richmond, they had to tell me places to avoid in case AntiFa broke out. They would also block streets with bicycles.


47 posted on 09/22/2025 7:10:14 AM PDT by AppyPappy (They don't call you a Nazi because they think you are one. They do it to justify violence. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

No more stay-at-home moms.


48 posted on 09/22/2025 7:11:47 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

Growing up in Orlando without air conditioning in the 50s and 60s before Disney, my mother had a range of cheap summertime strategies for keeping four kids happy: going to the public library; to a local mall; swimming at a friend’s house on a lake; visiting an odd hotel that had a garden with a small zoo; riding on a narrow gauge local railroad; and best of all, lunch at McDonald’s or Icees at the 7-11 “if we were good” while she carried out essential errands.


49 posted on 09/22/2025 7:24:29 AM PDT by Rockingham
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

Whatever Happened to Just Going Out for Family Fun?

Once the left got it’s way with making weed legal it went doun hill fron there.

The stoner tribe (crazy cloud) grew and it got harder to find safe places for fun.


50 posted on 09/22/2025 7:35:26 AM PDT by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN
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.

These para-autistic kids will one day rule the world.

Sobering thought.

51 posted on 09/22/2025 7:57:29 AM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

You’re right . It’s a bad habit of mine. I used SAT for College Board because they administered the graduate school test that she used. At that time the tests were geared to pure performance without any bias toward demographic groups. Women math majors were relatively rare and extreme high scorers (97 percentile and above) were rare. Vet schools at that time were competing for the higher scoring students. This particular vet was a friend who was telling me her tale because she knew I had contacts at the College Board.


52 posted on 09/22/2025 8:23:35 AM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN
What family traditions or simple pleasures do you remember from your younger days?

My wife and I, both in our 80s and married 63+ years still have a "picnic cookout" every month when the weather is good at a lake side pavilion.

I also cookout at home several time a week, but the 90 mile drive for our "picnic" gives it special meaning.

We are amazed at the small number of fellow "picnic'ers" at the lake we drive to visit.

A beautiful lake in the mountains, peaceful, quiet and with fishermen {using only electric motors or oars}, you could not find a more serene setting for a "picnic".

This is a family tradition from when we went in my dad's 1950 Ford pickup to the same place and cooked hot dogs on a stick over an open wood fire.

Can not get any better.

53 posted on 09/22/2025 9:03:00 AM PDT by USS Alaska (NUKE THE MOOSELIMB TERRORIST SAVAGES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Varda

I don’t remember women ever being treated that way and I am 64. Feminists made “claims” that this was the case but it was lies then as well as now.

The only ones denigrating stay-at-home moms are the feminists. They were the ones claiming a woman couldn’t be free or important unless she went to work as got a career.

Now both parents work and pay 2/3 of one of their salaries to strangers to raise their kids till they go to school, and then they treat school as a free babysitter instead of a place to educate their kids.


54 posted on 09/22/2025 9:05:09 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: asinclair

Everything costs so much more for what you get. Concerts are $100 and then you pay another $50 to park.

Movies are $20, food at the theater is another $30 and then someone is playing with their phone or talking during the movie.

Bowling is over $10.00 a game. Feral blacks killed the malls, and going to the park can get you killed, and just try to get a pickup game of basketball without being elbowed in the face.


55 posted on 09/22/2025 9:10:23 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Varda

Women who scored well as men always got in just the same. The last period of time women were actually denied entry was the turn of the century 1900 England. In my early college lifetime, 1970’s, women were in college every much as any man. The ones that complained they didn’t get in had low SAT/GRE scores.

I knew one of the first computer science graduates from 1957 who was one of the first women in NASA. She said it was easier because she was a woman with great credentials. Other women did worse but wanted an easy pass and didn’t get it so they cried about sexism. That has been my experience my entire career.


56 posted on 09/22/2025 9:11:51 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Omnivore-Dan

I remember when being grounded to have to stay home was punishment. Now kids have to be forced to leave their rooms.


57 posted on 09/22/2025 9:12:20 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: packrat35


"In my day we didn't need moving pictures. There was just one show in town, and it was called STARE AT THE SUN! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun until your eyeballs burst into flames! Soon your head was on fire, and people were roasting chickens over it! And that's the way is was and WE LIKED IT!"
58 posted on 09/22/2025 9:13:08 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio

We played football in the front yard as kids. The driveways were the end zones. Only needed a football.

Basketball, one family had a goal over their garage. Several kids could play with only one ball.

Baseball in the back yards till we outgrew by hitting it over the fence and then went to the local park. You didn’t have to have 9 for each team. We played with what we had. One bat, one ball and 4-5 gloves which were shared by the other team.


59 posted on 09/22/2025 9:17:08 AM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: packrat35

I’m older than you and yes people used to downplay the importance of homemakers. It wasn’t usually overt but it was there. “Just a housewife” was one of the most common phrases of the time. As I said IMO this laid the groundwork for the power of the feminist movement. Something that I think will destroy the nation.
As you said people think that they have to have wives work and somebody else raise their kids. Parents teach their daughters to get a career before thinking of getting married.


60 posted on 09/22/2025 9:23:16 AM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-73 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson