Funny you should mention the lawns. I have a theory about that grass: That at some point, under the influence of the great psychological screw that was WWII, a HUGE number of people promised themselves that if they came out the other side more or less in one piece they'd take it easy, smell the roses, FOR REAL! Imagine going from cataclysm over 4 long years to Peace and Quiet in an afternoon?
The Boomers they sired would, in terms of Moral outrage, rake them over the coals for the seemingly small things that contented them. But the boomers had only known the peaceful world their parents had bought with blood and terror and could never comprehend the Joy of small things that their parents knew.
A HELL of a lot of effort went into those lawns and, I think, a HELL of a lot of peace was found upon them (well, at least until the damn kids became teenagers).
As a boomer, I know we had it pretty easy the first 45 years. I do not think our old age is going to be a picnic. I think it is going to be filled with death panels, limited and lousy health care, bankruptcy and a government gone wild. Perhaps it’s better to have a rough start in life and a softer end like my parents did.