Getting old

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Nah, totally enjoyed reading.

You mentioned about so many things today are different and just taken for granted. Think of all the choices in restaurants today. Even 25 years ago, in most parts of the country you would be hard pressed to find anything even closely resembling real asian or other ethnic food, or to even find ingredients to make non US food in the supermarket. I remember even a few years ago people started going gaga over avocados, like someone just invented them.

I would never argue that everything is great today. Modern culture has a lot of garbage elements. Mostly the obsessive "look at me" nonsense on social media. No, no one cares what you had for breakfast today. They really don't. And it's not important. But being around my kids and their friends doesn't fill me with despair like it apparently does for many older folks. I see a lot of great things in the current generation that give me great hope. And there is so much amazing art in so many areas. The only depressing thing is when I see some insane you artist and realize they weren't born yet when I was already from school and already years into my career.

It's funny about the food.
I live in a smallish city with a fairly large Asian population. There are tons of choices, to the point that it's a bit difficult to find an old fashioned non-chain non-trendy place that serves typical "american" food. If I want a nice normal burger, I'm mostly out of luck. If I want a burger made from cattle fed in some cattle shangri-la with goat cheese, free range organic bacon etc, I can get it. But it would pretty much blow the fun budget for the month.

I'm amazed at the stuff the kids have easy access to, and how well it's explained.
A few years ago my oldest was watching science videos. One night she asked
"Daddy.. tell me about... (as I'm thinking oh C___ here comes the question I'll try to dodge and defer to mom... )
Quantum Physics..

Wasn't expecting that.

So tonight I sent her a cartoon I saw on facebook. A vetrinarian coming into the waiting room saying "Mr Schroedinger I have good news and bad news about your cat"
And she totally got the joke.

At 10 the jokes I got were more likely to be three stooges, or something.

A different world for sure.

[tschock]

Great comments so far and a fun read!

I'm not sure I would define it as a rut as much as 'set in your ways'. And either way I wouldn't necessary give it a negative connotation. If you've always been constantly on the lookout for new things, then is that your "rut"? Parents who "still go on adventures", implying it is something they've done previously (and probably frequently), sounds like they are in a "rut" as well. Am I in a rut because I've always, and continue to, question more than I answer? Probably.

I think the real problematic rut is not questioning everything on what you think or believe. It doesn't mean you automatically give up what you believe, but at least critically question it. And on a regular basis. Because memory is a funny thing. We reminisce about the good old days because well, remembering the good makes us feel good. We look forward for the future, but only as it pertains to something positive. Which helps explain the popularity of the 'good old days' network as well as the 'what if / prognostication' network. Sans trauma, that's what we do.

New music does suck, but so does old music. It's just that we don't (subconsciously) remember all the crappy stuff we listened to. And who chooses to re-listen to the crap when there was good stuff to re-listen to? And old good stuff to still be discovered. Isn't that 'new' music to the discoverer?

That said:

• I love listening and being turned on to new music. Though auto-tuning will always suck.
  
• The home run derby baseball is for the instant gratification crowd. But there are few plays in baseball more exiting than the triple. Especially with men on base.
  
• Regarding instant gratification, the microwave still takes too long.
  
• I would watch Teen Titans Go! whether or not my grandson is there.
  
• As a small L libertarian, I don't get the negative connotation of 'get off my lawn' when used by other libertarians.
  
• As we get older, it's not as much a rut as 'I don't give an F what others think', evidenced by wearing black socks with sandals.
  
• Not everything is shit. But 90% of it is. Or at least it's crud. Would that include 90% of change as well?

[TedWill1939]

Great topic and thoughts!

I'm 45 and over the pandemic picked up skateboarding again with my son, after 20 yrs of not skating. He picked it up fast and fearless. I can't do what I once did but I'm having a great time. Wih that I'm getting back into music that I listened to years ago, but took a back burner. While its rehashing the past, it is getting out of the day to day mindset.

The small town that I live in is going through major gentrifictaion, kicked into overdrive by NYC people fleeing the city. Change is real hard for locals, myself included. Slow change is meaningful and lasting. Most people accept and adapt. Being steam rolled by quick progression can leave people bitter and angry. There are some institutions and "old ways" that are worth perserving and passing down that link us as a community. Throwing the baby out with the bath water creates division.

That said, I hope the younger generation reject the nonsense internet junk. It has done a lot of damage to people across generations. I think the children will be pissed that mommy and daddy shared there whole life on facebook.

[Seven]

Steve,

While I'm a few years younger, I did find some of what you said very relatable. While I'm only in my third decade of life, I do notice that it becomes a little bit harder to throw myself into a new band or musical artist, or start a new hobby. Even being a young man, I'm much more prone to stick to the hobbies or music I'm apart of rather than try something new.

Even with sports, my childhood was not too long ago, but I used to be able to faithfully keep up with every player, both on the teams I followed and around the leagues? Now I can barely keep track. I know some of the rookies sure, but as time goes on and more responsibilities come up it becomes harder.

I've talked to my parents about this along with a group of older gentleman who I have coffee with frequently. They speak a lot about finding joy in the things they already love, living through the younger members of their family's or rediscovering hobbies they may have dropped a long the way. I think it's very easy to get "stuck in our ways" for certain things, and sure it's difficult to keep things interesting, but if there's one thing the older generations tell me to do is never stop learning and enjoying life. I think I'm rambling a little bit though!

Back to the point at hand, many of them still go to concerts or games. Sure it's different but I think that's the point. It's fun to reminisce and think about how things once were, and sure there are things that we would love if they never changed, but change is a part of life. An important part that will always happen. While difficult you can find the joy and love in the things you once did or still do even if they become a little different. Gradual change is a little bit easier to handle than rapid one, that's the one thing that I think is troubling about certain things today. In the internet age, everything changes so quickly. One day something is happening and then the next we are onto something new.

However I do think all of us will have our moments where we are the "old man yells at cloud"

[Snapolit1]

I guess do what makes you happy, and don't care if someone else thinks you are too old to do it.

I remember a few years ago my wife wanted to see Bruno Mars for her birthday. Sure I knew who he was. I figured we'd be the oldest people there and it would suck. Instead there were people there from 80 to 8, and he was tremendous. Was a great experience and I'm glad we went and I didn't think "oh jeez, I'm too old for that."

[steve B]

Ramble away James. You'll find no complaints from me

I like some "new" bands, or at least new music from sort of new bands.
The last concerts I went to were Experience Hendrix - lots of great guitar players plus Billy Cox, who was doing autographs in the lobby before and after.
And Halestorm before that.

My source of info about new rock groups is gone... WAAF got bought and somewhat suddenly changed into a christian contemporary station during it's 50th anniversary year.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by steve B

Ramble away James. You'll find no complaints from me

I like some "new" bands, or at least new music from sort of new bands.
The last concerts I went to were Experience Hendrix - lots of great guitar players plus Billy Cox, who was doing autographs in the lobby before and after.
And Halestorm before that.

My source of info about new rock groups is gone... WAAF got bought and somewhat suddenly changed into a christian contemporary station during it's 50th anniversary year.

AAF is gone? Damn I haven't been back to Mass. in 12 years. BCN & AAF were the real deal when I was comin' up. Silly Question.....IS BCN still there and still the same?

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

AAF is gone? Damn I haven't been back to Mass. in 12 years. BCN & AAF were the real deal when I was comin' up. Silly Question.....IS BCN still there and still the same?

BCN went off 104.1 back in 2009, staggered along in some digital HD format maybe? And totally closed in Nov 2017.

WAAF, WCOZ, WBCN.... all gone. Along with WHCN in Hartford, WCCC Also in Hartford went to christian music in 2014.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by steve B

Ramble away James. You'll find no complaints from me

I like some "new" bands, or at least new music from sort of new bands.
The last concerts I went to were Experience Hendrix - lots of great guitar players plus Billy Cox, who was doing autographs in the lobby before and after.
And Halestorm before that.

My source of info about new rock groups is gone... WAAF got bought and somewhat suddenly changed into a christian contemporary station during it's 50th anniversary year.

Steve,

I heard about that a while back, If I remember correctly didn't they end their broadcast with a few songs centered around Satan and Hell, to commemorate them being taken over by the Christian station? Pretty funny if you ask me.

Here in NY we have a solid station for Classic rock, Q 104.3. Mostly stuff from the 60's to the early 90's. Which makes me shudder that now the 90's are considered classic rock! I always thought of groups like Boston, Styx, Chicago, Queen, etc as classic rock. When I turn on the radio and suddenly hear Pearl Jam or Green Day, off the station I always do a double take.

Once in a while they'll occasionally mix in or promote newer stuff but it's mostly the era of bands I outlined above. When it comes to newer stuff, I'll go to some of my friends who are still deeply entrenched in the music scene for recommendations. Would be nice if Record/Cassette/CD Stores became a thing again, just a place to gather, socialize and talk about new and old music.

[butchie_t]

I am in my 60’s now and I have not done everything that I want to do yet. We are working on that now as a matter of fact. My wife is scoping out homes in a senior community for us to retire to.

I plan on working a couple more years……less if things fall into place and heading for the next chapter in our lives. I will say that I don’t like the new music cause for me, it sucks. I live the Bob Seger phrase “I like that old time rock and roll, that kind of music that soothes the soul.”

But to say I may be in a rut? No, I don’t feel that way at all. I simply know what I like and at this point in my life I am comfortable with me and my wife. We have no kids so it is just us.

We plan on traveling the states visiting many national parks and civil war battle sites. These are things that interest us and we are gonna have a blast. All the while rocking out to music we like and just enjoying things more now than we could living to get to this point in our lives.

It is great to be able to choose what we want to do, if that sounds rutty, so be it. We’re having a good time and that is all that matters to us.

Enjoy!

[steve B]

Yes, the last song was Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath, it had also been the first song 50 years ago.

The HD radio thing is weird, apparently AAF is still on in some way (I have no idea about HD radio, and multiple "stations" on the same frequency. ) Oddly, Entercom had plans to run AAF on BCNs old frequency 104.1 HD2 Sort of pointless to me, as I don't think any of my radios get that stuff.

Originally Posted by Seven

Steve,

I heard about that a while back, If I remember correctly didn't they end their broadcast with a few songs centered around Satan and Hell, to commemorate them being taken over by the Christian station? Pretty funny if you ask me.

Here in NY we have a solid station for Classic rock, Q 104.3. Mostly stuff from the 60's to the early 90's. Which makes me shudder that now the 90's are considered classic rock! I always thought of groups like Boston, Styx, Chicago, Queen, etc as classic rock. When I turn on the radio and suddenly hear Pearl Jam or Green Day, off the station I always do a double take.

Once in a while they'll occasionally mix in or promote newer stuff but it's mostly the era of bands I outlined above. When it comes to newer stuff, I'll go to some of my friends who are still deeply entrenched in the music scene for recommendations. Would be nice if Record/Cassette/CD Stores became a thing again, just a place to gather, socialize and talk about new and old music.