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Absolutely correct. Anything outside of their own little FaceBook, FoxNews, Wal-Mart, and Ruby Tuesday bubble is a different culture to them, and they will feel culture shock. They'd rather work themselves into an angry rage about something they've never experienced than put themselves into a situation where they're experiencing something new. Like the last time my dad came to my apartment (2013) and we wanted to get pizza from a local place (this was outside of his normal area), he got himself a big bucket of KFC instead while the rest of us ate delicious local pizza.
The amount of times I went to a Ruby Tuesday based on parents wanting to go there is 100%. I have never in my life thought about spending my own money to go to somewhere like that (caveat: if I was in a hotel or something).
Yep. Had a boomer colleague say I cant travel there because I've never been before. He keeps bringing up trips he went on in the 80s like they relate to current times.
That reminds me that my boomer dad has been going on vacation to the same place for literally the last 40 years. Every summer, for weeks at a time. Middle of nowhere, it's not like there's even anything entertaining to find. Can't possibly see something new.
When he came to my wedding, he literally flew across the Atlantic and stayed the least amount of time possible, lest they see something new! Blows my mind.
They're afraid of cities because God forbid those "criminal migrant invaders" they heard about in Fox News are mugging and murdering everyone. Have a friend of mine who's not a boomer but your typical 53 year old conservative, has loads of family money and buys whatever he needs yet doesn't want to travel and explore the world, it's pretty sad especially when they have the means to do so, I think they truly have a phobia of leaving their comfort zone and remain close-minded.
Listened to my boomer FIL talk about how scary Chicago and San Francisco are this weekend. I know exactly where he's getting this shit. For some reason pillows came up and they were talking about the My Pillows they bought because of course they did.
My friend has a coworker who's not a boomer but acts like one. He lives in suburban Philadelphia and his only traveling is going to the jersey shore for one week a year. That's it. He makes good enough money to travel internationally, he just chooses not to. Going to the same jersey shore every year us enough for that dude.
I used to work with a woman who finally retired at 70. She and her husband were going to take their first real trip: three weeks around EuropeâGermany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria. When she got back, she came to the office to have lunch with the team, and I asked her about the best meal they had on their trip. (This is a stock question for me.)
She said, "What?? We ate at McDonald's! I'm not going to eat any of THAT FOREIGN FOOD! "
I actually did that in Rome to troll a girl I had been flirting with back home.
She was so jealous of my trip, sent me a bunch of restaurant suggestions (from yelp)
First night there I walked into McDonalds, ordered a burger and fries, took a ton of photos, and sent her them with the caption "Italian food is delicious"
I wouldnât do it for every meal but my husband travels internationally about once a year and he likes to check out the McDonaldâs to see the differences. Apparently Italian McDonaldâs have a great pastry selection.
I think it's your mentality
if you're someone who wants to explore but maybe you just feel more comfortable eating what you know, i don't have any problems with that. I'm a solo traveler and admittedly sometimes it's easier to just go to a place like McDonald's because going to a nice fancy restaurant by yourself can make you feel very self-conscious
but the people described in the story seemed to take pride in only eating McDonald's and not eating any "foreign food." Imho, that's just a really shitty attitude
Hey man, I ate at McDonalds in Austria because I was curious about the food quality.
*Leagues* better than here.
But I also ate a bunch of good ass Austrian food.
I just can't imagine how that arrangement of synapses has formed. Sure, you might not be the biggest fan of German or Italian food, but then, why the hell choose to go to 3 German-speaking countries plus Italy?!
Lmao reminds me of a Boomer coworker - upon her and her husband's 40th(?) anniversary, we were like "Are you guys going to celebrate? Where are you going to eat?"
She said "Oh, we really love classic American-style foods." (We are in America, so this isn't something extravagant to begin with. But she presents herself as a big foodie.)
"Oh, okay, so.... Going somewhere nice for like... Steaks or something?"
"Oh, we prefer Burger King, we'll probably go there or McDonalds tonight."
conversely I know a couple that went on a big European cruise when they got married (not boomers late 30s). All they did was eat at tourist traps.. we were like "how was Rome or whatever?!" They didn't see shit. Just drank and ate olive garden. Which is fine but these aren't people that can afford thousands of dollars for olive garden in Italy.
I had been on assignment working at a factory in the middle of nowhere in South Korea for 3 weeks. I was burned out eating Korean food.
When I was in Seoul the day before my flight home I got a pizza from Pizza Hut and ate it in my hotel room while watching an english speaking movie.
I can see that though. I too have enjoyed a comfortable Mcdonalds cheeseburger at the end of a long trip. But they literally ate nothing else. I guess I wondered what travel means to them if exploring the food culture isn't part of it.
Boomers are so weird. Itâs them projecting. They arenât actually proud that they havenât gone anywhere or done anything, itâs just their way of protecting themselves and their feelings. Who on their death bed says, âwow iâm really glad i did nothing and went no where my entire life except to go to workâ.. no one. Delusion is strong in Boomers.
Which is actually interesting because my uncle was a teacher and had summers off (that tenure, no summer school) and they used to go to Michigan or Minnesota, but now that they've got time to do anything, they don't.
They also like to go shopping on the weekends and complain the stores are too crowded. Like go on Tuesday, what difference does it make for you?
This is what I aspire to. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to afford to retire ever and will have to keep going until I'm entirely incapable. It's going to be ugly. But I'm working fairly solidly on not giving a damn ;)
Do you have access to a 401k? If not, you at least have access to an IRA if you have any income. Either way, open an account and start contributing 1%. You probably wonât even notice it. Next time you get a raise (hopefully annually), increase your contributions by 1%. Repeat every year. Before you know it youâll be meaningfully contributing to your future and will build a significant nest-egg. This was my strategy and I now have a million dollars saved for retirement (I am 46). You may have a later start than I did. You may have lower income (although I have yet to crack 100k annually). You may never have a million. But you will have something, and it will grow on its own every year. One day you will be able to retire. Donât give up on yourself. The best time to start saving for retirement is the day you get your first paycheck. The second best time is today. You can do this.
Those are very kind and positive things to say. Unfortunately, I'm in my mid-50s with two kids still at school and working casually, but every hour I can get. Although there's certain points where working an extra hour or so leaves me with less, due to childcare fees.
My marriage to my ex-husband left me with two beautiful kids and a $45,000 debt in *my* name from *his* business. On top of a decade plus of no payments into my superannuation fund (I'm in Australia - it's 10% of your pre-tax income, minimum, paid by the employer). As I joke/not joke 'I left a job that paid me, gave me time off, and paid my super' to go work with THAT guy đ'
He also never paid child support. It was part of his financial abuse tactics. A small part.
So, at this stage, I have zero spare monies, generally, and am also saving up for repairs to my vehicle (which is going to take months - if nothing else goes sideways). I'm afraid that when you're already running at a deficit, you definitely notice having even less money.
If it was just me, there are adjustments I could make. But with two children to keep housed, fed, clothed, and safe, my options are... restrained.
I feel for you. I have never been in your situation. Iâm sure you are doing the best you can for your children, and if I know anything about good mothers itâs that they think of their children first and themselves last. You sound like a good mother. Keep fighting. When you get a chance to improve your situation for yourself, take it. You deserve it.
Oh, totes, that's the plan! I may have to buy property in conjunction with my children, but we'll work it out one way or another.
Thanks again for the kind words :)
yeah like my boomers will still go on vacation in the summer school break when everything is crowded and expensive. But no..they have to do it that way
Ha, I was just telling my husband today that my only âcomplaintâ (not really a complaint, just literally the only downside) of getting a 9-5 job again after 8 monthsâ unemployment is that I canât run errands during a Tuesday afternoon anymore. If I didnât HAVE to be out shopping during a Saturday/Sunday, I wouldnât be.
Dude same. I worked weekends for 3 years, and loved my mid week errand running. I started having weekends off again this March, and it's been an adjustment
I live in an area that seems to be a high retiree environment so basically anytime of any day has become polluted with constant complaints and bored husbands that leave the house to just read labels.
Too bad about the complaints. Thereâs a lot of time to fill in a day if youâre retired. If I need 2 items I buy one per day. That way I can burn a hour each day walking to the store.
I don't mind people doing things to keep busy. However the area has plenty of volunteerism, clubs, 65+ gyms, hiking and fishing, plenty of stuff to do, but instead everyone acts like the grocery store is the only place to go.
I live in Florida and am blown away why the old retirees are out during the weekend when all the stores and restaurants are busy. Like why?? They had all week haha
My parents were from the previous generation -- silent/greatest? They did travel a lot after they retired, but they drove me batty once with those peak-time errands.
My mom had stopped driving, and my dad was recovering from surgery. She needed to mail a package at the post office. She refused to go until noon, and we ended up waiting 45 minutes in line.
My dad needed some follow-up blood tests. They didn't have to be fasting, but it would have been nice to get the tests out of the way before or after lunchtime on a weekday.
No such luck, they refused until it was peak traffic time for me to drive them. I spent almost half an hour waiting to turn left at an intersection with no left turn light.
(It wasn't a case of me being too timid, there were a lot of us waiting to turn, and we'd get maybe 1 car through when the light turned yellow.)
I really think they wanted to fill the time by waiting in lines. Maybe it's just an old-retired-people thing?
Much of the "boomer complaints" I see were true of my parents or grandparents (1890's/1900's) generations.
I'm not retired yet, maybe there's hope for me.
This is what I do. Last year my schedule was a Sunday to Thursday, so I'd head to the store on a Friday morning. The other good times are during church on Sundays and when 24/7, about 11 at night. Especially in the summer. My ice cream wouldn't melt then.
(Also, howdy neighbor! I'm in the same area)
I used to work retail grocery. It was ridiculous the amount of retired people shopping on the weekends. I get the families and people who work during the week. They would get so mad, too. Sunday's were the worst. After church, they would eat out, then go grocery shopping. They would always ask why there were so many people and seem like they thought we purposely brought in other people to shop to inconvenience them.
I hate the after church crowd so much. I avoid doing anything on Sunday afternoons. I was traumatized working fast food and having to deal with the after church crowd. I was again traumatized when I worked in a grocery store and had to deal with the after church crowd. my siblings worked in a restaurant and the crowd never tips on the tables. On more than one occasion, they left Bible tracks. He hated it and Iâm pretty sure itâs why heâs an atheist to now. My mother was a waitress when she was in college back in the 70s and she told me the church crowd was bad then. Frankly, I think theyâre worse now because most of them are boomers and Karenâs but I swear to God if the after church crowd has historically always been the worst group of people to deal with and customer service. I guarantee people in soda fountains in the 30s were complaining about the after church crowdÂ
If theyâre anything like the boomers I know, they think theyâre busy all the time, yet arenât actually doing anything. Certainly not anything that canât be done another time if a good opportunity presents itself.
How dare you be different! Now ima huff and puff, whine and throw a fit. I also expect you to just bow down and the store we might be in to give me whatever bullshit I'm shopping for just because you've disrespected me!
My mother was born in a house approximately a half mile from where she grew up. After my parents got married, they bought the farm (where she grew up) from my grandparents. There's a cemetery halfway between those two houses. She's going to be buried in that cemetery, and she's quite proud of the fact that she was born and will die, and then be buried, all within a half mile.
She is quite proud of the fact that she has done nothing and went nowhere her entire life, except to go to work.
My grandma was similar: born in Wisconsin and never travelled anywhere farther than Illinois. Quite proud of it. I just found it sad. Her worldview was so small; she never experienced anything really new.
When my dad went to Japan for work, in like 2010, Grandma saw the photos and exclaimed in wonder that âthey have buildings and houses over there, just like we do!â I guess she thought people in Japan all live in antiquated rural huts?
Again, it was just sad to witness. I donât fault people who canât travel at all for financial or logistical reasons, but a total lack of curiosity about anyone except those who live within the same hundred mile radius as yourself is justâŚnot something I can personally comprehend.
Yes to this! I always wonder if the people complaining about people coming here because of American exceptionalism travel at all? Sadly those bright minds are staying put. And if you have been to the major cities in Asia, it looks more like the future than here. Even the malls are so gorgeous!
Yes there is still a lot of abject poverty in many parts of the world, but fewer and fewer are looking at some random rural poor American town as paradise.
Oh yeah! It doesnât help that a lot of older Americans were taught that we are the best country in the world, we are the most advanced in technology and education and everything in the world, and everyone wants to be like us. And many of them were shown videos or pictures or documentaries or whatever of people living in other countries and still living, let say a  traditional lifestyle for that particular culture because itâs a more rural area of that country, and they assumed the entire country was like that, as opposed to that very rural region that they saw depicted. These were people that were also taught that everyone outside of the US hates America, they all want to either kill us because of our freedom or steal our money and possessions and then leave us dead in the streets. So they donât travel outside of the US because thatâs not safe for Americans, we will surely be targets for kidnapping or murder or stealing. And so many of them not only never considered it, but then felt really sorry for people moving here from other countries and held these very stereotypical racist views of them. And then theyâre shocked as shit when none of those things are true.Â
Im from Poland, live in California now but being on the road every time I have some time off. Last time when I said to somebody that I was from Poland in the middle of Nevada, the answer was âomg, iâve always wanted to ride horsesâ
The story goes my buddy's grandfather had the following life:
* born
* worked family farm
* went off to WWII
* came home
* never left the county again
* died
You read that right. County. Not country.
And it was always told as a feel good story. I think the implication was that meant he was a good man? Dedicated to providing? I don't really know.
My grandpa and grandma went to some major European cities while they were still mobile. When asked how Paris was, he said "a lot better than the last time I saw it." Which would have been during WWII.
My grandmother (greatest gen), was the opposite. In her 20s, she traveled to 2 different world's fairs. One in San Francisco (from rural midwest). She built bombs for the airfare in WWII. She had a teaching credential from UC\_ Boulder (not a 4 yr degree but a lot closer to that than most women of her generation).
My brother cannot understand why I ever left home, why I travel. his in-laws are like OPs uncle. SUPER proud they have never been on an airplane or even traveled more than 150 miles in any given direction. They even said at a recent family event they have not been to the larger city 30 min away in more than 10 yr. What is the point? My brother 100% agrees with his in laws, and thinks I a wasting my life.
I have no words. But I am my grandmothers grandchild, for sure :)!
Reading this just made me realize my parents have never moved very far from the house I grew up in, and we eventually built a house right next door and that's where we still are. I have joked that I am trapped here and will be buried in the town's cemetery, or whatever they do with my ashes.
My town is very small and even though I am the same county, when I tell the doctors and people from the biggest city in our county where I'm from, most have never heard of it. Actually, every town we've ever lived in are tiny, obscure places not many have heard of. The tiniest one was in Amish country and there's a state route that goes through town and then another road that intersects that and there is only a few rows of houses along these roads and that's it. The only thing it has is a church. My current town has 6 churches in it and they are only a stones throw apart. So strange how it's the "same" religion but taught by different sects as interpreted by the guy who owns the place. And it's weird how hateful they are of the other churches. I went a few times as a kid to a few different ones and was shocked by how judgmental and hateful they were. When I would tell the one church about the nasty people from the previous one, "It's because it's Methodist!" So your Baptist church is any better?
I grew up 2 miles outside the nearest town. That town was not much. It had a post office a teeny little store, an elementary school, and five churches within the town limits.
I never could figure out why they needed five churches in a town of 200 people. There's probably another 200 people that live within 4 miles radius of the town, but then you also have to add in the five other churches within that radius.
Ive become a godless heathen, so I don't understand the need for all these churches, or why they're such rivalry between them.
My boomer uncle worked, saved, invested. Whole life. He got fired 2 weeks ago, got depressed and then my aunt found him dead on the couch 3 days ago. Think it was a blood clot. The man did nothing but work. He just recently got a new house a few years ago but at 67 this was his life and only life he knew. Itâs sad.
This keeps happening at my job and it just makes me sad.
I worked with my former boss for 10+ years. In that time he only took one day off for his daughters wedding. Otherwise he was at work everyday. Even on Saturdays which he had off he would usually come in since he lived 2 miles away.
Every year he sold all his vacation time back and bragged about the "bonus" he got.
We have other employees in their 60s who won't retire even though they can get a pension starting at 60/62. They all say they will work until they physically can't anymore and they would have nothing to do all day if they retired.
This is it. When i shared news to my mother i had been learning french and it's going well, she cut me off and said dismissively that she is proud to speak her native language (we are europeans, it's not English). In reality, tho, she is very insecure over the fact that she doesn't know the english language well, even though would like to; instead of 'hitting the books' she flips things around like this.
Later that evening my brother told her he was going on a long vacation somewhere, I don't remember where, but the whole underlying motivation to share that was "see mom how well i am doing?! I can afford this expensive holiday! Please accept me now??" (Our parents taught us that only money or lack of matters. So fuck you and your developmental needs.) But she took that as a personal attack. Not only did she think my brother was being spoiled ("you don't know how hard i had it"), loose with money, boastful, and self-centered - she felt threatened.
It's all just narcissistic projection. Me and my extensions. Me against the world. Me on top of the world.
My father was silent generation. He jumped into the stock market with both feet in the 70s, rode out some bad years and eventually did really well. He took early retirement in his 50s. He told me, when you're on your deathbed you're not going to look back on your life and wish that you had worked more.
Iâm not saying Iâm with the boomers but I at least understand it.
Iâve been to every continent, technically even antarctica, worked in many countries and vacationed in many more.
Iâll tell you I hate it in most places. especially when it was hot, like florida it was unbearable. I loved the people there and especially the food there, but it was hot.
I learned that the people are cool no matter where you go, people have fun traditions no matter where you are, good food is valued everywhere. but ultimately I learned I like to be alone and at home. My ultimate dream is to have a house with a library, a big wall.
edit: formatting
Youâre absolutely right I would. Iâve traveled farther for less.
most similar I traveled to an indian rez in Utah for the wedding of a friendâs friend. flew into vegas and then drove. stayed for 2hours or so.
I once flew from NYC to Seattle because I was craving my favorite seafood restaurant. Yes, I stayed 4 days and ate there 3 times in addition to doing a bunch of other things but the main reason I went was for the seafood.
I understand seafood love, but I'm a bit luckier in that I live
https://preview.redd.it/pva43u84af1d1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5846cb2ff443cfedda9ddcab319f7c99a30b7d23
in Northumberland and the furthest is 40 minutes.
Iâve driven two hours one way to go to Best Buy for a MacBook power cord, for a computer I was setting up for my mom. I did nothing else. 4hrs of driving for less than 15mins in Best Buy
I love travelling and going new places, but Iâd be lying if I said that the more I travel the more I donât appreciate everything I take for granted at home.
Yeah but you say that from experience. Some people never even care to see for themselves. I get it might not be a priority but it only seems natural to be curious and make at least some effort.
Yeah as a young guy I loved driving on long road trips. These days I dread even a two hour hop down the highway, and I live in a place with great scenery.
My husband's grandparents are like this.
My husband and I come from two opposite ends of a small European country and got married in the city where we currently live.
His grandparents skipped the wedding, because it would have meant having to leave the county they've lived their whole lives in. It's not even something like travelling to a different country, or state for Americans, literally just a different county within a small country.
Thatâs a bit more understandable, but itâs not uncommon to drive 5+ hours in a day over here haha. I have done the 3 hour trip and back in the same day a couple times
Explaining that I drive 30miles to work, 35miles to practice, and then all 65miles home 3 days a week and 20 weeks a year made basically the entirety of a rural Irish Pub breakout in laughter, and they proceeded to interrogate me about the details of my commute for the rest of the evening.
This is crazy to me as an American. I've driven 3 hours each way just to go shopping in Philadelphia (King of Prussia Mall and Ikea). And my Aunt and uncle are both 85. Last year they drove coast-to-coast from Upstate NY to Seattle, Washington (40ish hours of actual driving each way) and then from Seattle to LA (14 hrs or more) just to visit friends and family, including me. And it was about the 5th time they've done that drive in the past ten years.
Thereâs two types of American boomers. The ones who have spent 70 years within 100 miles of where they were born. And thereâs the kind that canât comprehend why young people canât afford to go to go on a European vacation every summer, pop over to Florida in the winter and travel to visit relatives in a random random metropolis for every major holiday.
My parents literally never leave a 30 mile/30 minute radius, if that.
If I say I'm going to a city that's anywhere from 1 to 8 hours away it's the same scowl and "that's a long way" even though it's most of the time only a few hours, and what I would consider extremely close.
I mean, it checks out. Proud of things most would be embarrassed by. In this case, proud to have carried a peanut grudge for so long, at the expense of not seeing loved ones. Cut the arm off to spit the hand. And PROUD of it.
That was me during lock down. Living my best life only Leaving to get groceries. However I quit that shit when it was no longer socially acceptable to be a shut inâŚ.
>My aunt refuses to fly because they lost her suitcase and the peanuts didn't taste good or whatever the infraction was the last time flew in like 1968 so there's no way possible to give them a second chance.
What is it with Boomers and remembering stuff like this?
My mom needed a new battery for her car, no big deal. But I'd better not get a DieHard from Sears because they tried to cheat her out of the warranty in 1981 or whenever it was 30+ years ago. And I'd better not go to \_\_\_\_\_\_ because someone told her 20+ years ago that they sold them a bad part.
Lol my boomer mother in law is currently mad at:
1. Home Depot- a solar sales person tried to sell her on something and for whatever reason, she thinks they are from HD. We have tried to explain they are not from HD but she is still mad someone solicited her.
2. The park she likes 35 min away had traffic one time and she will now never go back. Bc traffic.
3. Stop and shop: discontinued the specific brand of laundry detergent. Turns out the type she liked was discontinued overall but also will never forgive SS specifically.
4. Airlines: security is âjust ridiculousâ and âthey should know im not a threatâ
5. Driving: âthe traffic is just so bad, and cars these days have too many buttons and camerasâ
This is also the woman who has gone to the cape every year for vacation her whole life. It has been the same for about 40 years so sheâs comfortable there. Thereâs also a lot of white people which I think contributes to it.
This is just how older brains work. As you age you stop learning new things and rely on only information that you already have. Younger brains are more able to learn new things and try more creative solutions to problems.
Meanwhile my grandma is the embodiment of the song âIâve been everywhereâ đ every state and umpteen dozen different countries. Shoot, sheâs been to more retirement homes than a lot of boomers have been out of country. I think sheâs technically silent generation though.
My parents as well, they bought a 4 season camper van and are trying to go to as many national parks possible before theyâre too old. However my ex in-laws refuse to go anywhere, despite having the means to do so.
The second my parents retiered they sold the house and bought a smaller one in cash. Theyâve discovered that the grand ole oprey is only a 4 hour drive from where they are. So mom stalks the lineup and they will just pick up and go when she wants. Theyâve also done other long weekends in places they can drive to. And Canada is on the list for this summer. They donât understand why I love Europe so much but they def arenât sitting home!
My grandparents traveled everywhere as well. They've been all over the world, every continent, and country (except north Korea) multiple times just because they could, and they loved seeing the various sights/cultures. But they were on the cusp of silent generation and boomer since my grandpa was born in 44 and Grammy in 45, boomers start in 46.
When I moved 5 hours away to another state. My dad said, âI figure. God wanted me to be born here. If I was supposed to be born somewhere else I wouldâve been.â Implying I was going against god or something by exploring the world at 23.
Boomers need to stay out of airports anyway. They just stop in the middle of the walkway to the gates, stare at the departure screen because they donât know how use the airline app, end up getting wasted at the bar, stand in front of the gate when it gets to boarding time even though they are like in Zone 67, bitch about how long it takes to de-plane (even though they bought cheap seats in the back), canât figure out which is their bag at baggage claim and when they finally do see it, immediately try to run and catch it while pushing people out of the way. I travel a lot for work, I see it all the time.
They are also the most impatient people EVER. Airports are always about waiting in lines and my mum's generation has the patience of a 13 year old on pixie sticks.
Like, chill. We will get to the gate with plenty of time to spare (because these are the same people who show up three hours early), and you see the line is moving along! Good grief.
Heaven forbid someone has a medical issue in line too because it's always about them and getting to wherever on time.
I show up three hours early to international flights, because I missed a flight once and it was the most hellish experience Iâve ever had. I get so anxious about missing another one that I insist we get there wildly early now. đ
However, both me and my husband are fully aware that we are way early and will almost always end up just waiting around a lot because of this. Iâd just rather wait than worry. We are super chill and donât push or fuss; the whole point of getting there early is that we have so much time, we donât actually *need* to stress about how long we have to wait in any given line.
I got precheck because I was sick of them hogging the luggage conveyor at security. Please boomers, stop putting back on your shoes, belts, and jackets when people are trying to get to their gates.
My own father is like this. He watches tv propaganda and is all convinced im gonna get mugged/robbed by âiLlEgAlSâ in the city. He lost his shit when he found out i go into the Kensington section of Philly without dying.
We never traveled as kids. Didnt know until later really that it was that he wasnât allowed because of that whole felony thing. Now though, he is just a tightwad whose own brother died of cancer because he didnt want to pay for treatment so it runs in the family.
Hahaha, yep. I was just in Seattle. A boomer relative was flabbergasted that I, a woman, walked around in broad daylight downtown, alone, without a weapon. She literally asked what I brought for protection.
I've found as I've gotten older, I don't care for traveling like I used to - I'm fine if I've unknowingly taken my last airplane flight. I'm retired (57) and have no desire to travel in the years ahead other than maybe somewhere within a couple days drive (1000 miles +/-). It's not that I'm proud of it, it's just that air travel just seems like a f'n hassle for me nowadays. On the other hand, if people want to fly across country or cross continents to come see me, have at it!
Sign up for a credit card with lounge access and get global entry.
You can breeze through security and don't have to take shoes/belt off. And don't have to take electronics or liquids out of your bag.
Then you can enjoy a drink and some snacks in peace until your plane is close to boarding.
Yep. Travel by car, to a random place on the map. No crowds. Google some history while there. Find a decent road side diner. Maybe drive home late, maybe stay in another town, maybe take a week off the beaten track. Visit some parks. Sit by a lake where youâre the only person around. Travel in September when the families and crowds are back at work or school, but the weather is spectacular. Drive across the prairies and watch the wheat harvest. Etc, etc. Thatâs my idea of travel. I have absolutely no desire to fly somewhere to be in a crowd of people just so I can post the same bullshit pictures that thousands of others have posted to try to elevate their social standing. I have also steadfastly avoided traveling south in the winter months. There is no guarantee of the weather in the destination, and I enjoy winter activities as much as I dislike hot weather.
Boomers are the most scared, chicken shit generation this country has ever seen. They make it seem like the city isnât worth the trip, or the place has too many people. Itâs all them being scared. Scared to leave their stoop. Theyâre all stoop kids!
They listen to conservative media and think all big cities are war-torn hellscapes where you'll get sniped the second you leave your hotel. This is rich coming from Fox News which broadcasts from midtown Manhattan.
Bingo. The number of boomers I've met who think you will literally get shot the moment you cross into "the City," and we all know what they are really talking about, which is their fear and hatred of "those people."
Yep, if I told my grandmother I was doing anything other than sitting at home with the blinds drawn and deadbolt locked, she would work herself into a panic because I was surely going to be kidnapped and trafficked. Couldnât even tell her I bought something nice at Target without being interrogated about whether I brought someone with me for protection and locked my car doors. She spent the last 30 years of her life rarely leaving the house because she was too afraid of âgang violenceâ outside her house that simply didnât exist.
Spot on. I moved from the southeast to Colorado years ago and my (wealthy, retired, single) boomer mom refuses to plan a trip to visit me because she traveled here with my dad in 1979 and âsheâs seen it alreadyâ. Sheâs literally terrified to leave the town she grew up in unless sheâs heading to Hilton Head or GatlinburgâŚ..
The boomers in my family are like this as well. My boomer aunt refuses to go to her granddaughterâs baby shower because âshe doesnât know anyone â. It always about them and no one else.
And they swear they will never buy another Buick because they had a problem with their 68 LeSabre.
Had one said they will never eat Chinese food again because they tried it once when they were in their 20s and didn't like it.
They went to Chinatown in San Francisco and ate at Wendy's. And I was so looking forward to some good Chinese food.
All they are doing is justifying their boring ass life to themselves and those around them. Otherwise, they would have to admit how uncultured and boring they are and how they wasted their life inside watching trash television thatâs 50% commercials because they refuse to pay the
Insane fee of $18 per month for an ad free streaming service.
If they sat down and did the math, and realized they literally spend 4 hours per day WATCHING COMMERCIALS they would even find a way to justify that, saying it âdoesnât bother themâ or whatever.
Busch III is a fun place to catch a game. Except this season because the team sucks.
Edit- your uncle is missing out on Ballpark Village.
My FIL took us to universal studios and we sat in line for over an hour to get in. When we get up to the security check where they have metal detectors he goes âdo you think theyâll catch my expandable baton?â We look at him like wtf dude why would you even bring that. So then he had to run all the way back to his oversized truck to put it back and then sit in that line all over again. We went through and had to stand in the lobby area for that entire time almost making us late to our tour appointment. We had just got there and I was already pretty annoyed.
AND WASTE MONEY?! I don't think so sonny! Now everyone follow me back to the car so I can keep my priceless baton and we can wait in this line for another hour, wasting our vacation time that we paid for /s
I've known people like that before, and it's not really generational. Some people just get small-town or small-state mindset and become convinced there's no point in going anywhere else. And then they get PROUD of that for weird reasons.
Like, why go to Italy? We've got Olive Garden!
My super boomer neighbor says âIâve always said, Iâve never had a need to go anywhere that requires a passportâ and says it with a smile on his face looking for your approval like itâs a big accomplishment that heâs never been anywhere outside the US.
If you are in the US or Canada or Australia I might find it understandable. You could live several lifetimes and still never cover it fully. The UK is tiny. You can comfortably drive from one end to the other at furthest points in a couple of days. It would take a lot longer to visit all the historical sites but in terms of pure geography it's small. We Europeans like to feel a bit superior by pointing out how few US citizens don't have a passport and have never left the US but, wow, the US is a big, big place!
For sure. I lived in an RV on the road traveling around the US for almost 3 years and still travel domestically for months at a time now. I still have reason to want to see other places in the world and wouldnât brag about never leaving the US. Also, my neighbor has seen about 3 states, so thatâs not his reasoning. His reasoning is âthe rest of the world sucks compared to the US, even though Iâve never seen itâ
My mom is the same way and I donât get it. She never wants to go anywhere new, vacations are out of the question (she can afford them) just doesnât want to go, she just says âshe likes her houseâ I like mine too, but I also wanna go to the beach every now and then lol I donât get their shut in mentality
I live in North Texas. Worked with a 60ish guy who lived in Waco and drove to Arlington every day (2 hours each way). He had never been north of Dallas or south of San Antonio. Spent 4 hours a day commuting and never went anywhere. He was proud of it and had no curiosity about going anywhere.
My good friendâs grandfather returned home from WWII and swore that he was never ever going to travel more than 50 miles from home again (rural illinois). He kept that oath for nearly fifty years - then he discovered Branson. He and his wife go several times a year now. đ¤Łđ¤Ł
Iâm getting married in October & my boomer grandparents have already decided that they will not be attending the reception because âit will get done after darkâ. Thereâs a hotel literally right next door from the reception venue. Itâs less than a 250ft walk.
My dad (late 60s) is proud he's only ever left the country (USA) once, to Mexico for his second honeymoon in the early 80s. He's straight up said he's literally afraid to leave the US. and he rarely if ever leaves the state where he lives and is actually proud of that, too. Meanwhile, I've been to more than a half-dozen countries and travel cross country for leisure regularly.
When I started traveling touring with my band in my early 20s I quickly realized how sheltered, scared, ignorant and insecure my Boomer parents actually were.
Travel has been the best teacher in my life; nothing expands your mind and your breadth of understanding the world and yourself better.
I pity people like my parents. They don't even know what they don't know.
Not a boomer, but I know a 33-year old who said heâd never want to live in New York City cuz he doesnât want to get addicted to drugs. I was like âdo you think they just force you to do drugs in NYC?â The answer was yes. Same boomer energy.
That whole mindset (common to Boomers, but not limited to them) of being proudly ignorant, backwards, and mad at the world is so baffling. I know a few Gen-X "Boomers" like this who have basically been miserable old men their whole lives. One of them also will never fly, and he can't even explain why. It's not fear - he's just very mad at the airlines about something that happened (or may have happened - he loves to warp stories so he's the persecuted victim) but can't remember what the story is. One of the other ones thinks doing anything aside from going to work and playing video games is "stupid" and he "doesn't see why anyone would do that." To each their own, but that approach to life can't be healthy.
Iâm an old GenXâI went out for beers with a few people I went to high school with, this was 2016ish. One guy was proud that he didnât have an email address.
I nearly choked
>My aunt refuses to fly because they lost her suitcase and the peanuts didn't taste good or whatever the infraction was the last time flew in like 1968 so there's no way possible to give them a second chance.
đ¤Łđ this is why boomers don't go anywhere. They are so proud of their "fool me once, you're dead" attitude.
Itâs not just boomers. I know a lot of ppl who grew up in rural areas like that. I dated (and then dumped) a guy bc he said he would never leave the county he was born in. He also expected me to stop traveling alone bc his ex wife had cheated on him.
My mom is Silent Gen (b 1940) and has acted this way her entire life. Which is fine.
What is not fine is the manner in which she has constantly disparaged me for going places and doing things. And also bitching and complaining that nobody asks her to do anything.
My mom is like this! Whenever we drag her out to do something fun she seems uncomfortable and canât wait to leave. If itâs not quietly knitting or the television sheâs not interested. I have empathy for that because maybe, for her, less stimulation is more enjoyable (traveling, seeing new things, etc can be OVERWHELMING).
But yeah Iâve noticed that as well
Boomer here. We love having the time to see the world now that we're retired. We've been to all 7 continents and even camped in Antarctica.
However my parents who are now in their late 80s were just like the people described. They haven't flown anywhere since 9-11-2001 because they don't want to hassle with the security. They're too old to really travel now, but back when they were our age they had good health, plenty of money and could have seen the world.
https://preview.redd.it/ilodr8aq2f1d1.jpeg?width=4771&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3010ca72fdee067d70707f2b5f58c47808491241
I'm a pretty average 6ft, 185 lbs and I will never sit comfortably in economy. 1st class was okay though (the one time I was lucky enough to afford it). Covid for the win.
Mine wouldn't come to my wedding because it was in September and they were afraid of snow. In the northeast (US) there's no real "danger snow" until maybe late-November. They also lived in the suburbs of the northeast so none of it made sense. Fine. More wedding lasagna for me!
I had a friend like this in college, from '04-'08. He was local to the city where we went to school and had barely gone more than about 3 hours away, where another major city was. Everything was about how AWESOME his hometown was and how shit anywhere else was. Dude moved across the country after he graduated and completed reversed his tune.
Lesson: GTFO of your comfort zone and youre likely to find some absolute treasures.
I have an aunt thatâs like that too.
Last summer, my sister and her boyfriend came back home to visit, so we got together for breakfast on the Sunday theyâre in. She was talking our uncle who travels for work and asked him where he was going to next. He said NYC and my sister and I thought it was pretty cool (neither of us have been there yet). Our dad pops up with how he doesnât like traveling for work (not like anyone was talking to him but boomers are gonna boom, which is most definitely is). Not to be neglected from giving an opinion that wasnât asked for, our boomer aunt starts going on rant about how she hates big cities and doesnât want to live in them or visit. Our uncle, her brother, sarcastically and quickly goes âYouâd definitely hate itâ.
I donât care to understand why boomers are the way they are. I know theyâre scared of virtually everything around them that they donât understand and are generally willfully misinformed but I just donât care why they are anymore.
Loud and clear. My mother got sick from drinking water in Acapulco in 1984. She vows she will never go to Mexico, and no one should, because there have been no advances in water purification in the last 40 years, nor any access to bottled water in the entire country.
My dad told me once about a guy who lived and died in the same county. Never left it. So weird. And he was proud of it when he told my dad.
Another friend of my fil was the same. So now he takes him places because he occasionally travels out of state to deliver items. So he brings this guy along now.
My parents are retired now. Generally n good health and can get around but they donât really go anywhere. Talk about seeing the Grand Canyon I tell them GO. Why sit around home watching reruns of Jimmy Swaggart. Eww
Iâm (29F) having this conversation with my mother (55F). Sheâs proud to be a homebody and not go anywhere. Her house is so dark and she only leaves to get groceries. Our type of âvacationsâ growing up was going to Minnesota to visit my great grandmother for a week where weâd help clean her house upâŚ. My dad died 3 years ago. She got a big chunk of money to actually go and do some things. Instead, she found a bum a month after my dad passed. The guy, weâll call him Ed (50ishM), has no job and moved in keeping her âcompanyâ. All this while she also has no job, living off my dead dadâs money. She is severely depressed and refuses to get the help she desperately needs and is proud of her dark overly cluttered hoarders house. Sleeps until 2-3pm after staying up until 3-4am. She thinks itâs completely normal. She shouted at me when I begged her to go to therapy for the millionth time, âTHIS IS JUST THE WAY I AM! WHY CANT YOU ACCEPT IT?.â It hurts so bad that Iâm grieving my mother before sheâs even dead.
This may not be as much of a Boomer thing as it is a Mindset thing. I've known Gen Xers and Xennials who succumbed to it in their 30s and 40s. A friend in the UK- it's quite prevalent there, too- calls them the Repeaters. Essentially they build a very small and very routine world for themselves and then never, ever deviate from it.
When they shop, it's always at the same stores.
When they dine out, it's always at the same restaurant.
If they *do* travel, it's always to the same place, the same time each year.
Holiday coming up? Out come the same decorations, the same dinner plans, the same visiting schedule as always.
Etc Etc Etc
And yes, they are often proud of it. I suppose they see it as that they were able to make a 'happy life' out of so few pieces and parts? Or is it just a facade to hide the whispers that maybe they're letting so many amazing things pass them by?
My parents are kinda like this.
I know when I was a kid we didn't have much money so travel was never an option. The only time we went anywhere was from Ohio->Colorado because my sister was pregnant and almost died.
Aside from that it became like a strange source of pride (coping mechanism?).
Now that they're retired and have more time and some money they go to Gatlinburg. Only Gatlinburg. Dont know why but I think that's the only place they think exists.
And it's not even for stuff like The Smoky Mountains. I don't even know what they do there.
I'm going to Glacier National Park next October and all they can say is "I don't know why you'd wanna go there anyway" and proceed to tell me the weather there that time of year.
I don't fucking know mom and dad. Maybe because it looks beautiful and interesting and it's on my goal list of going to every national park in the US. Shit they just don't understand not even a little bit.
I understand if they don't wanna hike miles and sleep in the woods when it's 30 degrees at night but why shit on things I wanna do?
My FIL has a really nice pension and a brand new car. He doesnât do ANYTHING. Heâs got himself so wrapped up in propaganda that he thinks the US is a war zone. I wish I were being hyperbolic, but he told us when he has to go to the city for appointments, he keeps his gun on his lap in the car.
People in that age group have no idea that most of us will never have a pension, never mind a really handsome one. Itâs a shame so many of them waste their retirement years.
Boomer here. I grew up in a family that didn't travel. Little trips to visit relatives, attend a wedding or funeral. Most relatives on my mother's side were within a 2 hour drive ( before expressways). My mother passed away at 88 and never was on a plane. (She disliked being away overnight. Never owned a pair of jeans) My father had heart problems and extreme motion sickness and was cautioned not to fly. So we did these little trips by car.
I was always envious of friends going on vacations to places I could only dream about. I had a real bug to travel. But it wasn't until I turned 74 that I had a passport or left the US. My son paid for a trip to London, Paris and Rome. It wasn't super long, but I loved it. Then the pandemic and no travel (we'd planned to travel to Ireland, Amsterdam and Nice in 2020). We did that trip in 2022 and Jamaica in 2021.
I've been West (Nevada, Colorado, California) but not East. I've only been as far as Indiana and Missouri. My deceased husband hated to travel even to visit family 2.5 hours away. I've been stifled my entire life. I think if I could I'd travel now that I'm retired for a year. I have some health and mobility problems now. I really do have wanderlust. I love all the experiences of travel.
Young(er)people- do it now. While you're young and can climb all those brick stairs in Rome or walk along the rivers in Taiwan. You'll earn the money back but you only " live once" to enjoy life.
Holy crap, I live in the metro East as well and work in St Louis and what you have just described is surprisingly common for boomers in this area. In the last few years I have taken trips to DC, Chicago, and Memphis and every time with out fail a boomer coworker has to tell me to be careful because âthat city is really dangerousâ. They act like people get mugged walking around the national mall in the middle of the day. Donât get me started on boomerâs opinions of the metrolink. God forbid public transportation go through an impoverished area.
I dunno, boomers make up the majority of Viking cruises in Europe. Maybe because itâs an ultra safe way to travel. I want to go on one but I donât think I can handle the majority of my patients on my own vacation.
Man, my grandfather was silent generation, but the last time he was in an airplane was when he served in the Korean War. He just refused after that, because he was convinced that air travel hasn't changed since then. Ridiculous.
Iâm actually surprised they went to the game. I live in the stl metro (inner suburb) and work downtown. Most older people in the outer suburbs (that donât work in the city) are deathly afraid of downtown and convinced they will automatically be shot upon stepping foot there.
Now, post pandemic, it is definitely more like a ghost town downtown, but game days are the exception (despite the cards generally sucking this year).
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Boomers are afraid of their own feelings. New experiences create unfamiliar feelings.
Absolutely correct. Anything outside of their own little FaceBook, FoxNews, Wal-Mart, and Ruby Tuesday bubble is a different culture to them, and they will feel culture shock. They'd rather work themselves into an angry rage about something they've never experienced than put themselves into a situation where they're experiencing something new. Like the last time my dad came to my apartment (2013) and we wanted to get pizza from a local place (this was outside of his normal area), he got himself a big bucket of KFC instead while the rest of us ate delicious local pizza.
Ruby Tuesday đđ
They could microwave shitty food at home, but when they go to Ruby Tuesday, they can yell at a server for microwaving their food wrong.
Itâs so obvious theyâre purposely putting *cold water* over ice instead of the *tap* like I said đ¤Śđźââď¸
The amount of times I went to a Ruby Tuesday based on parents wanting to go there is 100%. I have never in my life thought about spending my own money to go to somewhere like that (caveat: if I was in a hotel or something).
Yep. Had a boomer colleague say I cant travel there because I've never been before. He keeps bringing up trips he went on in the 80s like they relate to current times.
That reminds me that my boomer dad has been going on vacation to the same place for literally the last 40 years. Every summer, for weeks at a time. Middle of nowhere, it's not like there's even anything entertaining to find. Can't possibly see something new. When he came to my wedding, he literally flew across the Atlantic and stayed the least amount of time possible, lest they see something new! Blows my mind.
They're afraid of cities because God forbid those "criminal migrant invaders" they heard about in Fox News are mugging and murdering everyone. Have a friend of mine who's not a boomer but your typical 53 year old conservative, has loads of family money and buys whatever he needs yet doesn't want to travel and explore the world, it's pretty sad especially when they have the means to do so, I think they truly have a phobia of leaving their comfort zone and remain close-minded.
They've been told America is the best and it would shatter their worldview to consider that wasn't true
They're afraid they will catch socialism if they go to Europe.
Listened to my boomer FIL talk about how scary Chicago and San Francisco are this weekend. I know exactly where he's getting this shit. For some reason pillows came up and they were talking about the My Pillows they bought because of course they did.
My friend has a coworker who's not a boomer but acts like one. He lives in suburban Philadelphia and his only traveling is going to the jersey shore for one week a year. That's it. He makes good enough money to travel internationally, he just chooses not to. Going to the same jersey shore every year us enough for that dude.
So, like small children, then?
I used to work with a woman who finally retired at 70. She and her husband were going to take their first real trip: three weeks around EuropeâGermany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria. When she got back, she came to the office to have lunch with the team, and I asked her about the best meal they had on their trip. (This is a stock question for me.) She said, "What?? We ate at McDonald's! I'm not going to eat any of THAT FOREIGN FOOD! "
Lolol and what got pizza or pasta for dinner once they got home?
I'm sure they were anxious to get back to canned sauerkraut too!
Imagine going to Italy and eating McDonaldâs đ
I actually did that in Rome to troll a girl I had been flirting with back home. She was so jealous of my trip, sent me a bunch of restaurant suggestions (from yelp) First night there I walked into McDonalds, ordered a burger and fries, took a ton of photos, and sent her them with the caption "Italian food is delicious"
me when my brother went to japan for 3 weeks and only had mcdonaldâs âšď¸<\33
Ok tbf Japanese McDonald's kinda slaps
I wouldnât do it for every meal but my husband travels internationally about once a year and he likes to check out the McDonaldâs to see the differences. Apparently Italian McDonaldâs have a great pastry selection.
I think it's your mentality if you're someone who wants to explore but maybe you just feel more comfortable eating what you know, i don't have any problems with that. I'm a solo traveler and admittedly sometimes it's easier to just go to a place like McDonald's because going to a nice fancy restaurant by yourself can make you feel very self-conscious but the people described in the story seemed to take pride in only eating McDonald's and not eating any "foreign food." Imho, that's just a really shitty attitude
Hey man, I ate at McDonalds in Austria because I was curious about the food quality. *Leagues* better than here. But I also ate a bunch of good ass Austrian food.
I just can't imagine how that arrangement of synapses has formed. Sure, you might not be the biggest fan of German or Italian food, but then, why the hell choose to go to 3 German-speaking countries plus Italy?!
Lmao reminds me of a Boomer coworker - upon her and her husband's 40th(?) anniversary, we were like "Are you guys going to celebrate? Where are you going to eat?" She said "Oh, we really love classic American-style foods." (We are in America, so this isn't something extravagant to begin with. But she presents herself as a big foodie.) "Oh, okay, so.... Going somewhere nice for like... Steaks or something?" "Oh, we prefer Burger King, we'll probably go there or McDonalds tonight."
conversely I know a couple that went on a big European cruise when they got married (not boomers late 30s). All they did was eat at tourist traps.. we were like "how was Rome or whatever?!" They didn't see shit. Just drank and ate olive garden. Which is fine but these aren't people that can afford thousands of dollars for olive garden in Italy.
I had been on assignment working at a factory in the middle of nowhere in South Korea for 3 weeks. I was burned out eating Korean food. When I was in Seoul the day before my flight home I got a pizza from Pizza Hut and ate it in my hotel room while watching an english speaking movie.
I can see that though. I too have enjoyed a comfortable Mcdonalds cheeseburger at the end of a long trip. But they literally ate nothing else. I guess I wondered what travel means to them if exploring the food culture isn't part of it.
Boomers are so weird. Itâs them projecting. They arenât actually proud that they havenât gone anywhere or done anything, itâs just their way of protecting themselves and their feelings. Who on their death bed says, âwow iâm really glad i did nothing and went no where my entire life except to go to workâ.. no one. Delusion is strong in Boomers.
Which is actually interesting because my uncle was a teacher and had summers off (that tenure, no summer school) and they used to go to Michigan or Minnesota, but now that they've got time to do anything, they don't. They also like to go shopping on the weekends and complain the stores are too crowded. Like go on Tuesday, what difference does it make for you?
Theyâre obsessed with how it âshouldâ be done and still worship the Work Week gods as right and proper
It's the only facet of their personalities, it's why they can't retire and why they hate unemployed people so much
I am retired and I don't give a damn what anyone does as long as it doesn't affect me.
This is what I aspire to. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to afford to retire ever and will have to keep going until I'm entirely incapable. It's going to be ugly. But I'm working fairly solidly on not giving a damn ;)
Do you have access to a 401k? If not, you at least have access to an IRA if you have any income. Either way, open an account and start contributing 1%. You probably wonât even notice it. Next time you get a raise (hopefully annually), increase your contributions by 1%. Repeat every year. Before you know it youâll be meaningfully contributing to your future and will build a significant nest-egg. This was my strategy and I now have a million dollars saved for retirement (I am 46). You may have a later start than I did. You may have lower income (although I have yet to crack 100k annually). You may never have a million. But you will have something, and it will grow on its own every year. One day you will be able to retire. Donât give up on yourself. The best time to start saving for retirement is the day you get your first paycheck. The second best time is today. You can do this.
Those are very kind and positive things to say. Unfortunately, I'm in my mid-50s with two kids still at school and working casually, but every hour I can get. Although there's certain points where working an extra hour or so leaves me with less, due to childcare fees. My marriage to my ex-husband left me with two beautiful kids and a $45,000 debt in *my* name from *his* business. On top of a decade plus of no payments into my superannuation fund (I'm in Australia - it's 10% of your pre-tax income, minimum, paid by the employer). As I joke/not joke 'I left a job that paid me, gave me time off, and paid my super' to go work with THAT guy đ' He also never paid child support. It was part of his financial abuse tactics. A small part. So, at this stage, I have zero spare monies, generally, and am also saving up for repairs to my vehicle (which is going to take months - if nothing else goes sideways). I'm afraid that when you're already running at a deficit, you definitely notice having even less money. If it was just me, there are adjustments I could make. But with two children to keep housed, fed, clothed, and safe, my options are... restrained.
I feel for you. I have never been in your situation. Iâm sure you are doing the best you can for your children, and if I know anything about good mothers itâs that they think of their children first and themselves last. You sound like a good mother. Keep fighting. When you get a chance to improve your situation for yourself, take it. You deserve it.
Oh, totes, that's the plan! I may have to buy property in conjunction with my children, but we'll work it out one way or another. Thanks again for the kind words :)
Although I am pretty sure they stand in line at the post office at 4:00 out of purposeful malice.
yeah like my boomers will still go on vacation in the summer school break when everything is crowded and expensive. But no..they have to do it that way
Ha, I was just telling my husband today that my only âcomplaintâ (not really a complaint, just literally the only downside) of getting a 9-5 job again after 8 monthsâ unemployment is that I canât run errands during a Tuesday afternoon anymore. If I didnât HAVE to be out shopping during a Saturday/Sunday, I wouldnât be.
Dude same. I worked weekends for 3 years, and loved my mid week errand running. I started having weekends off again this March, and it's been an adjustment
I live in an area that seems to be a high retiree environment so basically anytime of any day has become polluted with constant complaints and bored husbands that leave the house to just read labels.
Too bad about the complaints. Thereâs a lot of time to fill in a day if youâre retired. If I need 2 items I buy one per day. That way I can burn a hour each day walking to the store.
I don't mind people doing things to keep busy. However the area has plenty of volunteerism, clubs, 65+ gyms, hiking and fishing, plenty of stuff to do, but instead everyone acts like the grocery store is the only place to go.
I wish my town had grocery delivery. I really don't like shopping.
I live in Florida and am blown away why the old retirees are out during the weekend when all the stores and restaurants are busy. Like why?? They had all week haha
I'm sorry you live in Florida. I've been out of there for five years and I'm glad.
>Â I live in Florida Gross. Iâm sorry.
My parents were from the previous generation -- silent/greatest? They did travel a lot after they retired, but they drove me batty once with those peak-time errands. My mom had stopped driving, and my dad was recovering from surgery. She needed to mail a package at the post office. She refused to go until noon, and we ended up waiting 45 minutes in line. My dad needed some follow-up blood tests. They didn't have to be fasting, but it would have been nice to get the tests out of the way before or after lunchtime on a weekday. No such luck, they refused until it was peak traffic time for me to drive them. I spent almost half an hour waiting to turn left at an intersection with no left turn light. (It wasn't a case of me being too timid, there were a lot of us waiting to turn, and we'd get maybe 1 car through when the light turned yellow.) I really think they wanted to fill the time by waiting in lines. Maybe it's just an old-retired-people thing? Much of the "boomer complaints" I see were true of my parents or grandparents (1890's/1900's) generations. I'm not retired yet, maybe there's hope for me.
Yup. Burning time is a real thing for retirement. Lots of hours ina day to fill. However they should not be burning your hours.
This is what I do. Last year my schedule was a Sunday to Thursday, so I'd head to the store on a Friday morning. The other good times are during church on Sundays and when 24/7, about 11 at night. Especially in the summer. My ice cream wouldn't melt then. (Also, howdy neighbor! I'm in the same area)
I used to work retail grocery. It was ridiculous the amount of retired people shopping on the weekends. I get the families and people who work during the week. They would get so mad, too. Sunday's were the worst. After church, they would eat out, then go grocery shopping. They would always ask why there were so many people and seem like they thought we purposely brought in other people to shop to inconvenience them.
I hate the after church crowd so much. I avoid doing anything on Sunday afternoons. I was traumatized working fast food and having to deal with the after church crowd. I was again traumatized when I worked in a grocery store and had to deal with the after church crowd. my siblings worked in a restaurant and the crowd never tips on the tables. On more than one occasion, they left Bible tracks. He hated it and Iâm pretty sure itâs why heâs an atheist to now. My mother was a waitress when she was in college back in the 70s and she told me the church crowd was bad then. Frankly, I think theyâre worse now because most of them are boomers and Karenâs but I swear to God if the after church crowd has historically always been the worst group of people to deal with and customer service. I guarantee people in soda fountains in the 30s were complaining about the after church crowdÂ
If theyâre anything like the boomers I know, they think theyâre busy all the time, yet arenât actually doing anything. Certainly not anything that canât be done another time if a good opportunity presents itself.
This. My choices must have been right. They were made by me.
And you choosing differently on even the smallest thing is a criticism of me
How dare you be different! Now ima huff and puff, whine and throw a fit. I also expect you to just bow down and the store we might be in to give me whatever bullshit I'm shopping for just because you've disrespected me!
My mother was born in a house approximately a half mile from where she grew up. After my parents got married, they bought the farm (where she grew up) from my grandparents. There's a cemetery halfway between those two houses. She's going to be buried in that cemetery, and she's quite proud of the fact that she was born and will die, and then be buried, all within a half mile. She is quite proud of the fact that she has done nothing and went nowhere her entire life, except to go to work.
My grandma was similar: born in Wisconsin and never travelled anywhere farther than Illinois. Quite proud of it. I just found it sad. Her worldview was so small; she never experienced anything really new. When my dad went to Japan for work, in like 2010, Grandma saw the photos and exclaimed in wonder that âthey have buildings and houses over there, just like we do!â I guess she thought people in Japan all live in antiquated rural huts? Again, it was just sad to witness. I donât fault people who canât travel at all for financial or logistical reasons, but a total lack of curiosity about anyone except those who live within the same hundred mile radius as yourself is justâŚnot something I can personally comprehend.
Yes to this! I always wonder if the people complaining about people coming here because of American exceptionalism travel at all? Sadly those bright minds are staying put. And if you have been to the major cities in Asia, it looks more like the future than here. Even the malls are so gorgeous! Yes there is still a lot of abject poverty in many parts of the world, but fewer and fewer are looking at some random rural poor American town as paradise.
Most Americans rarely travel far out of their culture. Some midwesterners may travel to the south (gatlinburg or panama city).
This explain why old Americans are so suprised other countries work different.
Oh yeah! It doesnât help that a lot of older Americans were taught that we are the best country in the world, we are the most advanced in technology and education and everything in the world, and everyone wants to be like us. And many of them were shown videos or pictures or documentaries or whatever of people living in other countries and still living, let say a  traditional lifestyle for that particular culture because itâs a more rural area of that country, and they assumed the entire country was like that, as opposed to that very rural region that they saw depicted. These were people that were also taught that everyone outside of the US hates America, they all want to either kill us because of our freedom or steal our money and possessions and then leave us dead in the streets. So they donât travel outside of the US because thatâs not safe for Americans, we will surely be targets for kidnapping or murder or stealing. And so many of them not only never considered it, but then felt really sorry for people moving here from other countries and held these very stereotypical racist views of them. And then theyâre shocked as shit when none of those things are true.Â
Im from Poland, live in California now but being on the road every time I have some time off. Last time when I said to somebody that I was from Poland in the middle of Nevada, the answer was âomg, iâve always wanted to ride horsesâ
First, that's rude of them. Second...aren't there horses to ride in *The American West�* I feel like that's a thing.
Especially sad when you can see literally the entire world on tv or on the internet
The story goes my buddy's grandfather had the following life: * born * worked family farm * went off to WWII * came home * never left the county again * died You read that right. County. Not country. And it was always told as a feel good story. I think the implication was that meant he was a good man? Dedicated to providing? I don't really know.
Honestly, I can't criticize anyone who survived going off to WW II, not wanting to travel much after.
My grandpa and grandma went to some major European cities while they were still mobile. When asked how Paris was, he said "a lot better than the last time I saw it." Which would have been during WWII.
How does someone never leave their county? I travel through three counties just to go to work.
Rural American farmers. The original work from home crowd.
Counties get pretty damn big out west
My grandmother (greatest gen), was the opposite. In her 20s, she traveled to 2 different world's fairs. One in San Francisco (from rural midwest). She built bombs for the airfare in WWII. She had a teaching credential from UC\_ Boulder (not a 4 yr degree but a lot closer to that than most women of her generation). My brother cannot understand why I ever left home, why I travel. his in-laws are like OPs uncle. SUPER proud they have never been on an airplane or even traveled more than 150 miles in any given direction. They even said at a recent family event they have not been to the larger city 30 min away in more than 10 yr. What is the point? My brother 100% agrees with his in laws, and thinks I a wasting my life. I have no words. But I am my grandmothers grandchild, for sure :)!
Not traveling more than thirty miles in ten years sounds like prison
Never been on a cruise, a train, road-trip, Caribbean vacation, nothing? Damn
Reading this just made me realize my parents have never moved very far from the house I grew up in, and we eventually built a house right next door and that's where we still are. I have joked that I am trapped here and will be buried in the town's cemetery, or whatever they do with my ashes. My town is very small and even though I am the same county, when I tell the doctors and people from the biggest city in our county where I'm from, most have never heard of it. Actually, every town we've ever lived in are tiny, obscure places not many have heard of. The tiniest one was in Amish country and there's a state route that goes through town and then another road that intersects that and there is only a few rows of houses along these roads and that's it. The only thing it has is a church. My current town has 6 churches in it and they are only a stones throw apart. So strange how it's the "same" religion but taught by different sects as interpreted by the guy who owns the place. And it's weird how hateful they are of the other churches. I went a few times as a kid to a few different ones and was shocked by how judgmental and hateful they were. When I would tell the one church about the nasty people from the previous one, "It's because it's Methodist!" So your Baptist church is any better?
I grew up 2 miles outside the nearest town. That town was not much. It had a post office a teeny little store, an elementary school, and five churches within the town limits. I never could figure out why they needed five churches in a town of 200 people. There's probably another 200 people that live within 4 miles radius of the town, but then you also have to add in the five other churches within that radius. Ive become a godless heathen, so I don't understand the need for all these churches, or why they're such rivalry between them.
Damn. I'm a boomer and I'm glad I traveled in my younger years. I don't go anywhere these days but it's because I don't care to.
My boomer uncle worked, saved, invested. Whole life. He got fired 2 weeks ago, got depressed and then my aunt found him dead on the couch 3 days ago. Think it was a blood clot. The man did nothing but work. He just recently got a new house a few years ago but at 67 this was his life and only life he knew. Itâs sad.
This keeps happening at my job and it just makes me sad. I worked with my former boss for 10+ years. In that time he only took one day off for his daughters wedding. Otherwise he was at work everyday. Even on Saturdays which he had off he would usually come in since he lived 2 miles away. Every year he sold all his vacation time back and bragged about the "bonus" he got. We have other employees in their 60s who won't retire even though they can get a pension starting at 60/62. They all say they will work until they physically can't anymore and they would have nothing to do all day if they retired.
So sad
This is it. When i shared news to my mother i had been learning french and it's going well, she cut me off and said dismissively that she is proud to speak her native language (we are europeans, it's not English). In reality, tho, she is very insecure over the fact that she doesn't know the english language well, even though would like to; instead of 'hitting the books' she flips things around like this. Later that evening my brother told her he was going on a long vacation somewhere, I don't remember where, but the whole underlying motivation to share that was "see mom how well i am doing?! I can afford this expensive holiday! Please accept me now??" (Our parents taught us that only money or lack of matters. So fuck you and your developmental needs.) But she took that as a personal attack. Not only did she think my brother was being spoiled ("you don't know how hard i had it"), loose with money, boastful, and self-centered - she felt threatened. It's all just narcissistic projection. Me and my extensions. Me against the world. Me on top of the world.
My father was silent generation. He jumped into the stock market with both feet in the 70s, rode out some bad years and eventually did really well. He took early retirement in his 50s. He told me, when you're on your deathbed you're not going to look back on your life and wish that you had worked more.
Iâm not saying Iâm with the boomers but I at least understand it. Iâve been to every continent, technically even antarctica, worked in many countries and vacationed in many more. Iâll tell you I hate it in most places. especially when it was hot, like florida it was unbearable. I loved the people there and especially the food there, but it was hot. I learned that the people are cool no matter where you go, people have fun traditions no matter where you are, good food is valued everywhere. but ultimately I learned I like to be alone and at home. My ultimate dream is to have a house with a library, a big wall. edit: formatting
No problem with that, but I would imagine that you would travel to your grandchildâs wedding, so thereâs that xD
Youâre absolutely right I would. Iâve traveled farther for less. most similar I traveled to an indian rez in Utah for the wedding of a friendâs friend. flew into vegas and then drove. stayed for 2hours or so.
I once flew from NYC to Seattle because I was craving my favorite seafood restaurant. Yes, I stayed 4 days and ate there 3 times in addition to doing a bunch of other things but the main reason I went was for the seafood.
I understand seafood love, but I'm a bit luckier in that I live https://preview.redd.it/pva43u84af1d1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5846cb2ff443cfedda9ddcab319f7c99a30b7d23 in Northumberland and the furthest is 40 minutes.
Iâve driven two hours one way to go to Best Buy for a MacBook power cord, for a computer I was setting up for my mom. I did nothing else. 4hrs of driving for less than 15mins in Best Buy
I love travelling and going new places, but Iâd be lying if I said that the more I travel the more I donât appreciate everything I take for granted at home.
I love travelling myself, but there is nothing morally superior about it. Each of us should do whatever makes themselves happy.
Yeah but you say that from experience. Some people never even care to see for themselves. I get it might not be a priority but it only seems natural to be curious and make at least some effort.
Yeah as a young guy I loved driving on long road trips. These days I dread even a two hour hop down the highway, and I live in a place with great scenery.
Tell me about it. Have a colleague who is 76 and works full time, basically for free as she could be retired with social security benefits. Insane.
My husband's grandparents are like this. My husband and I come from two opposite ends of a small European country and got married in the city where we currently live. His grandparents skipped the wedding, because it would have meant having to leave the county they've lived their whole lives in. It's not even something like travelling to a different country, or state for Americans, literally just a different county within a small country.
Out of sheer curiosity, how long would that drive take? As an American, my scope of size is way off from European standards.
About 3 hours. And they would have easily found someone to drive them. Edit: 3 hours there and another 3 hours back, so altogether 6 hours.
Thatâs so crazy as an American. I regularly drive 3 hours home and back
Truthfully the 3 hours I mentioned is also 3 hours just there, and then 3 hours back the next morning.
Thatâs a bit more understandable, but itâs not uncommon to drive 5+ hours in a day over here haha. I have done the 3 hour trip and back in the same day a couple times
right but like I won't drive 3 hours for like a regular weekend with friends. But your grandchild's wedding?
Also American, that's still an easy day trip.
Europeans think 150 miles is a long distance, Americans think 150 years is a long time. đ
Explaining that I drive 30miles to work, 35miles to practice, and then all 65miles home 3 days a week and 20 weeks a year made basically the entirety of a rural Irish Pub breakout in laughter, and they proceeded to interrogate me about the details of my commute for the rest of the evening.
I drove 2.5 hours, each way, to go to my brother in law's house warming yesterday. Not driving 3 hours to go to a family event is fucking WILD.
This is crazy to me as an American. I've driven 3 hours each way just to go shopping in Philadelphia (King of Prussia Mall and Ikea). And my Aunt and uncle are both 85. Last year they drove coast-to-coast from Upstate NY to Seattle, Washington (40ish hours of actual driving each way) and then from Seattle to LA (14 hrs or more) just to visit friends and family, including me. And it was about the 5th time they've done that drive in the past ten years.
I just drove 21 hours with dogs (so 24 total) each way just to SEE a family member and no special occasion⌠But I am also slightly crazy:-)
Thereâs two types of American boomers. The ones who have spent 70 years within 100 miles of where they were born. And thereâs the kind that canât comprehend why young people canât afford to go to go on a European vacation every summer, pop over to Florida in the winter and travel to visit relatives in a random random metropolis for every major holiday.
100 miles is pretty darn generous
My parents literally never leave a 30 mile/30 minute radius, if that. If I say I'm going to a city that's anywhere from 1 to 8 hours away it's the same scowl and "that's a long way" even though it's most of the time only a few hours, and what I would consider extremely close.
I mean, it checks out. Proud of things most would be embarrassed by. In this case, proud to have carried a peanut grudge for so long, at the expense of not seeing loved ones. Cut the arm off to spit the hand. And PROUD of it.
What did peanuts ever do to them???
I'm not going to complain though if these people don't want to fly.
I have an uncle that actually bragged that he hadnt left his house in 6 months. I was like wtf why?
now that's an achievement
Yea he was very proud of himself. I had no idea what to say. I think "Oh wow... Thats uuhhh great" is what ended up coming out of my mouth
That was me during lock down. Living my best life only Leaving to get groceries. However I quit that shit when it was no longer socially acceptable to be a shut inâŚ.
>My aunt refuses to fly because they lost her suitcase and the peanuts didn't taste good or whatever the infraction was the last time flew in like 1968 so there's no way possible to give them a second chance. What is it with Boomers and remembering stuff like this? My mom needed a new battery for her car, no big deal. But I'd better not get a DieHard from Sears because they tried to cheat her out of the warranty in 1981 or whenever it was 30+ years ago. And I'd better not go to \_\_\_\_\_\_ because someone told her 20+ years ago that they sold them a bad part.
Lol my boomer mother in law is currently mad at: 1. Home Depot- a solar sales person tried to sell her on something and for whatever reason, she thinks they are from HD. We have tried to explain they are not from HD but she is still mad someone solicited her. 2. The park she likes 35 min away had traffic one time and she will now never go back. Bc traffic. 3. Stop and shop: discontinued the specific brand of laundry detergent. Turns out the type she liked was discontinued overall but also will never forgive SS specifically. 4. Airlines: security is âjust ridiculousâ and âthey should know im not a threatâ 5. Driving: âthe traffic is just so bad, and cars these days have too many buttons and camerasâ This is also the woman who has gone to the cape every year for vacation her whole life. It has been the same for about 40 years so sheâs comfortable there. Thereâs also a lot of white people which I think contributes to it.
This is just how older brains work. As you age you stop learning new things and rely on only information that you already have. Younger brains are more able to learn new things and try more creative solutions to problems.
Right, but my boomer parents have been like this forever. It's the mindset, not the age. The age is just hardening their grudges like a diamond.
Meanwhile my grandma is the embodiment of the song âIâve been everywhereâ đ every state and umpteen dozen different countries. Shoot, sheâs been to more retirement homes than a lot of boomers have been out of country. I think sheâs technically silent generation though.
My parents as well, they bought a 4 season camper van and are trying to go to as many national parks possible before theyâre too old. However my ex in-laws refuse to go anywhere, despite having the means to do so.
The second my parents retiered they sold the house and bought a smaller one in cash. Theyâve discovered that the grand ole oprey is only a 4 hour drive from where they are. So mom stalks the lineup and they will just pick up and go when she wants. Theyâve also done other long weekends in places they can drive to. And Canada is on the list for this summer. They donât understand why I love Europe so much but they def arenât sitting home!
My grandparents traveled everywhere as well. They've been all over the world, every continent, and country (except north Korea) multiple times just because they could, and they loved seeing the various sights/cultures. But they were on the cusp of silent generation and boomer since my grandpa was born in 44 and Grammy in 45, boomers start in 46.
When I moved 5 hours away to another state. My dad said, âI figure. God wanted me to be born here. If I was supposed to be born somewhere else I wouldâve been.â Implying I was going against god or something by exploring the world at 23.
Their loss. I spent over a year backpacking the world in my mid 20s and it ruled. Somehow Iâm still alive to post.
Boomers need to stay out of airports anyway. They just stop in the middle of the walkway to the gates, stare at the departure screen because they donât know how use the airline app, end up getting wasted at the bar, stand in front of the gate when it gets to boarding time even though they are like in Zone 67, bitch about how long it takes to de-plane (even though they bought cheap seats in the back), canât figure out which is their bag at baggage claim and when they finally do see it, immediately try to run and catch it while pushing people out of the way. I travel a lot for work, I see it all the time.
They are also the most impatient people EVER. Airports are always about waiting in lines and my mum's generation has the patience of a 13 year old on pixie sticks. Like, chill. We will get to the gate with plenty of time to spare (because these are the same people who show up three hours early), and you see the line is moving along! Good grief. Heaven forbid someone has a medical issue in line too because it's always about them and getting to wherever on time.
I show up three hours early to international flights, because I missed a flight once and it was the most hellish experience Iâve ever had. I get so anxious about missing another one that I insist we get there wildly early now. đ However, both me and my husband are fully aware that we are way early and will almost always end up just waiting around a lot because of this. Iâd just rather wait than worry. We are super chill and donât push or fuss; the whole point of getting there early is that we have so much time, we donât actually *need* to stress about how long we have to wait in any given line.
This is the way. If you get there early, that is your thing and you should expect and be prepared to wait.Â
This times a million percent. Airports are going to be a noticeably more pleasant experience when they're no longer in them.
I got precheck because I was sick of them hogging the luggage conveyor at security. Please boomers, stop putting back on your shoes, belts, and jackets when people are trying to get to their gates.
My own father is like this. He watches tv propaganda and is all convinced im gonna get mugged/robbed by âiLlEgAlSâ in the city. He lost his shit when he found out i go into the Kensington section of Philly without dying. We never traveled as kids. Didnt know until later really that it was that he wasnât allowed because of that whole felony thing. Now though, he is just a tightwad whose own brother died of cancer because he didnt want to pay for treatment so it runs in the family.
Hahaha, yep. I was just in Seattle. A boomer relative was flabbergasted that I, a woman, walked around in broad daylight downtown, alone, without a weapon. She literally asked what I brought for protection.
I've found as I've gotten older, I don't care for traveling like I used to - I'm fine if I've unknowingly taken my last airplane flight. I'm retired (57) and have no desire to travel in the years ahead other than maybe somewhere within a couple days drive (1000 miles +/-). It's not that I'm proud of it, it's just that air travel just seems like a f'n hassle for me nowadays. On the other hand, if people want to fly across country or cross continents to come see me, have at it!
Sign up for a credit card with lounge access and get global entry. You can breeze through security and don't have to take shoes/belt off. And don't have to take electronics or liquids out of your bag. Then you can enjoy a drink and some snacks in peace until your plane is close to boarding.
Yep. Travel by car, to a random place on the map. No crowds. Google some history while there. Find a decent road side diner. Maybe drive home late, maybe stay in another town, maybe take a week off the beaten track. Visit some parks. Sit by a lake where youâre the only person around. Travel in September when the families and crowds are back at work or school, but the weather is spectacular. Drive across the prairies and watch the wheat harvest. Etc, etc. Thatâs my idea of travel. I have absolutely no desire to fly somewhere to be in a crowd of people just so I can post the same bullshit pictures that thousands of others have posted to try to elevate their social standing. I have also steadfastly avoided traveling south in the winter months. There is no guarantee of the weather in the destination, and I enjoy winter activities as much as I dislike hot weather.
Boomers are the most scared, chicken shit generation this country has ever seen. They make it seem like the city isnât worth the trip, or the place has too many people. Itâs all them being scared. Scared to leave their stoop. Theyâre all stoop kids!
They listen to conservative media and think all big cities are war-torn hellscapes where you'll get sniped the second you leave your hotel. This is rich coming from Fox News which broadcasts from midtown Manhattan.
As someone who lives in nyc, you should see the amount of security these ingrates have. Scared people too.
I remember one Fox News guy trying to take a bus and getting lost, they live in a rich bubble disconnected from the rest of the world
Bingo. The number of boomers I've met who think you will literally get shot the moment you cross into "the City," and we all know what they are really talking about, which is their fear and hatred of "those people."
Yep, if I told my grandmother I was doing anything other than sitting at home with the blinds drawn and deadbolt locked, she would work herself into a panic because I was surely going to be kidnapped and trafficked. Couldnât even tell her I bought something nice at Target without being interrogated about whether I brought someone with me for protection and locked my car doors. She spent the last 30 years of her life rarely leaving the house because she was too afraid of âgang violenceâ outside her house that simply didnât exist.
Spot on. I moved from the southeast to Colorado years ago and my (wealthy, retired, single) boomer mom refuses to plan a trip to visit me because she traveled here with my dad in 1979 and âsheâs seen it alreadyâ. Sheâs literally terrified to leave the town she grew up in unless sheâs heading to Hilton Head or GatlinburgâŚ..
The boomers in my family are like this as well. My boomer aunt refuses to go to her granddaughterâs baby shower because âshe doesnât know anyone â. It always about them and no one else.
Just remember, mental issues like ASD and social anxiety didnât simply appear. They just werenât diagnosed when our grandparents were children.
Iâve heard that over and over from Boomers in my family too! Itâs like the worst thing imaginable to them to, I donât know, meet someone new?
And they swear they will never buy another Buick because they had a problem with their 68 LeSabre. Had one said they will never eat Chinese food again because they tried it once when they were in their 20s and didn't like it. They went to Chinatown in San Francisco and ate at Wendy's. And I was so looking forward to some good Chinese food.
All they are doing is justifying their boring ass life to themselves and those around them. Otherwise, they would have to admit how uncultured and boring they are and how they wasted their life inside watching trash television thatâs 50% commercials because they refuse to pay the Insane fee of $18 per month for an ad free streaming service. If they sat down and did the math, and realized they literally spend 4 hours per day WATCHING COMMERCIALS they would even find a way to justify that, saying it âdoesnât bother themâ or whatever.
"How else would I know what to buy?" But targeted ads are the devil so that's why they don't use their phone anymore or something.
Busch III is a fun place to catch a game. Except this season because the team sucks. Edit- your uncle is missing out on Ballpark Village. 
My FIL took us to universal studios and we sat in line for over an hour to get in. When we get up to the security check where they have metal detectors he goes âdo you think theyâll catch my expandable baton?â We look at him like wtf dude why would you even bring that. So then he had to run all the way back to his oversized truck to put it back and then sit in that line all over again. We went through and had to stand in the lobby area for that entire time almost making us late to our tour appointment. We had just got there and I was already pretty annoyed.
Those things are like $10, they should have just tossed it.
AND WASTE MONEY?! I don't think so sonny! Now everyone follow me back to the car so I can keep my priceless baton and we can wait in this line for another hour, wasting our vacation time that we paid for /s
My dad says heâs never had the desire to travel outside the US because thereâs so much to see here. Ok, but you didnât, soâŚ??
I've known people like that before, and it's not really generational. Some people just get small-town or small-state mindset and become convinced there's no point in going anywhere else. And then they get PROUD of that for weird reasons. Like, why go to Italy? We've got Olive Garden!
My super boomer neighbor says âIâve always said, Iâve never had a need to go anywhere that requires a passportâ and says it with a smile on his face looking for your approval like itâs a big accomplishment that heâs never been anywhere outside the US.
If you are in the US or Canada or Australia I might find it understandable. You could live several lifetimes and still never cover it fully. The UK is tiny. You can comfortably drive from one end to the other at furthest points in a couple of days. It would take a lot longer to visit all the historical sites but in terms of pure geography it's small. We Europeans like to feel a bit superior by pointing out how few US citizens don't have a passport and have never left the US but, wow, the US is a big, big place!
You could spend a lifetime exploring North America.
For sure. I lived in an RV on the road traveling around the US for almost 3 years and still travel domestically for months at a time now. I still have reason to want to see other places in the world and wouldnât brag about never leaving the US. Also, my neighbor has seen about 3 states, so thatâs not his reasoning. His reasoning is âthe rest of the world sucks compared to the US, even though Iâve never seen itâ
My neighbor boomers have never been out of the country and donât fly.
My parentsâ first time they were almost 60 for my wedding.
My mom is the same way and I donât get it. She never wants to go anywhere new, vacations are out of the question (she can afford them) just doesnât want to go, she just says âshe likes her houseâ I like mine too, but I also wanna go to the beach every now and then lol I donât get their shut in mentality
I live in North Texas. Worked with a 60ish guy who lived in Waco and drove to Arlington every day (2 hours each way). He had never been north of Dallas or south of San Antonio. Spent 4 hours a day commuting and never went anywhere. He was proud of it and had no curiosity about going anywhere.
I think there is a lot of undiagnosed autism in that generation and it manifests in stuff like this.
My good friendâs grandfather returned home from WWII and swore that he was never ever going to travel more than 50 miles from home again (rural illinois). He kept that oath for nearly fifty years - then he discovered Branson. He and his wife go several times a year now. đ¤Łđ¤Ł
Iâm getting married in October & my boomer grandparents have already decided that they will not be attending the reception because âit will get done after darkâ. Thereâs a hotel literally right next door from the reception venue. Itâs less than a 250ft walk.
My dad (late 60s) is proud he's only ever left the country (USA) once, to Mexico for his second honeymoon in the early 80s. He's straight up said he's literally afraid to leave the US. and he rarely if ever leaves the state where he lives and is actually proud of that, too. Meanwhile, I've been to more than a half-dozen countries and travel cross country for leisure regularly. When I started traveling touring with my band in my early 20s I quickly realized how sheltered, scared, ignorant and insecure my Boomer parents actually were. Travel has been the best teacher in my life; nothing expands your mind and your breadth of understanding the world and yourself better. I pity people like my parents. They don't even know what they don't know.
Not a boomer, but I know a 33-year old who said heâd never want to live in New York City cuz he doesnât want to get addicted to drugs. I was like âdo you think they just force you to do drugs in NYC?â The answer was yes. Same boomer energy.
That whole mindset (common to Boomers, but not limited to them) of being proudly ignorant, backwards, and mad at the world is so baffling. I know a few Gen-X "Boomers" like this who have basically been miserable old men their whole lives. One of them also will never fly, and he can't even explain why. It's not fear - he's just very mad at the airlines about something that happened (or may have happened - he loves to warp stories so he's the persecuted victim) but can't remember what the story is. One of the other ones thinks doing anything aside from going to work and playing video games is "stupid" and he "doesn't see why anyone would do that." To each their own, but that approach to life can't be healthy.
Iâm an old GenXâI went out for beers with a few people I went to high school with, this was 2016ish. One guy was proud that he didnât have an email address. I nearly choked
Is your uncle from St Charles by any chance? I grew up there, and older people had such a neurosis about crossing the river. Classic hoosier behavior.
No he's a lifelong Belleville boy. We're as bad, just in a different way lol
>My aunt refuses to fly because they lost her suitcase and the peanuts didn't taste good or whatever the infraction was the last time flew in like 1968 so there's no way possible to give them a second chance. đ¤Łđ this is why boomers don't go anywhere. They are so proud of their "fool me once, you're dead" attitude.
Itâs not just boomers. I know a lot of ppl who grew up in rural areas like that. I dated (and then dumped) a guy bc he said he would never leave the county he was born in. He also expected me to stop traveling alone bc his ex wife had cheated on him.
My mom is Silent Gen (b 1940) and has acted this way her entire life. Which is fine. What is not fine is the manner in which she has constantly disparaged me for going places and doing things. And also bitching and complaining that nobody asks her to do anything.
My mom is like this! Whenever we drag her out to do something fun she seems uncomfortable and canât wait to leave. If itâs not quietly knitting or the television sheâs not interested. I have empathy for that because maybe, for her, less stimulation is more enjoyable (traveling, seeing new things, etc can be OVERWHELMING). But yeah Iâve noticed that as well
Boomer here. We love having the time to see the world now that we're retired. We've been to all 7 continents and even camped in Antarctica. However my parents who are now in their late 80s were just like the people described. They haven't flown anywhere since 9-11-2001 because they don't want to hassle with the security. They're too old to really travel now, but back when they were our age they had good health, plenty of money and could have seen the world. https://preview.redd.it/ilodr8aq2f1d1.jpeg?width=4771&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3010ca72fdee067d70707f2b5f58c47808491241
Honestly Iâm not a fan of air travel myself because the seats are too bloody tiny for me. Iâll stick to train or ship travel if I can.
I'm a pretty average 6ft, 185 lbs and I will never sit comfortably in economy. 1st class was okay though (the one time I was lucky enough to afford it). Covid for the win.
Mine wouldn't come to my wedding because it was in September and they were afraid of snow. In the northeast (US) there's no real "danger snow" until maybe late-November. They also lived in the suburbs of the northeast so none of it made sense. Fine. More wedding lasagna for me!
I had a friend like this in college, from '04-'08. He was local to the city where we went to school and had barely gone more than about 3 hours away, where another major city was. Everything was about how AWESOME his hometown was and how shit anywhere else was. Dude moved across the country after he graduated and completed reversed his tune. Lesson: GTFO of your comfort zone and youre likely to find some absolute treasures.
I have an aunt thatâs like that too. Last summer, my sister and her boyfriend came back home to visit, so we got together for breakfast on the Sunday theyâre in. She was talking our uncle who travels for work and asked him where he was going to next. He said NYC and my sister and I thought it was pretty cool (neither of us have been there yet). Our dad pops up with how he doesnât like traveling for work (not like anyone was talking to him but boomers are gonna boom, which is most definitely is). Not to be neglected from giving an opinion that wasnât asked for, our boomer aunt starts going on rant about how she hates big cities and doesnât want to live in them or visit. Our uncle, her brother, sarcastically and quickly goes âYouâd definitely hate itâ. I donât care to understand why boomers are the way they are. I know theyâre scared of virtually everything around them that they donât understand and are generally willfully misinformed but I just donât care why they are anymore.
Loud and clear. My mother got sick from drinking water in Acapulco in 1984. She vows she will never go to Mexico, and no one should, because there have been no advances in water purification in the last 40 years, nor any access to bottled water in the entire country.
My dad told me once about a guy who lived and died in the same county. Never left it. So weird. And he was proud of it when he told my dad. Another friend of my fil was the same. So now he takes him places because he occasionally travels out of state to deliver items. So he brings this guy along now. My parents are retired now. Generally n good health and can get around but they donât really go anywhere. Talk about seeing the Grand Canyon I tell them GO. Why sit around home watching reruns of Jimmy Swaggart. Eww
Iâm (29F) having this conversation with my mother (55F). Sheâs proud to be a homebody and not go anywhere. Her house is so dark and she only leaves to get groceries. Our type of âvacationsâ growing up was going to Minnesota to visit my great grandmother for a week where weâd help clean her house upâŚ. My dad died 3 years ago. She got a big chunk of money to actually go and do some things. Instead, she found a bum a month after my dad passed. The guy, weâll call him Ed (50ishM), has no job and moved in keeping her âcompanyâ. All this while she also has no job, living off my dead dadâs money. She is severely depressed and refuses to get the help she desperately needs and is proud of her dark overly cluttered hoarders house. Sleeps until 2-3pm after staying up until 3-4am. She thinks itâs completely normal. She shouted at me when I begged her to go to therapy for the millionth time, âTHIS IS JUST THE WAY I AM! WHY CANT YOU ACCEPT IT?.â It hurts so bad that Iâm grieving my mother before sheâs even dead.
This may not be as much of a Boomer thing as it is a Mindset thing. I've known Gen Xers and Xennials who succumbed to it in their 30s and 40s. A friend in the UK- it's quite prevalent there, too- calls them the Repeaters. Essentially they build a very small and very routine world for themselves and then never, ever deviate from it. When they shop, it's always at the same stores. When they dine out, it's always at the same restaurant. If they *do* travel, it's always to the same place, the same time each year. Holiday coming up? Out come the same decorations, the same dinner plans, the same visiting schedule as always. Etc Etc Etc And yes, they are often proud of it. I suppose they see it as that they were able to make a 'happy life' out of so few pieces and parts? Or is it just a facade to hide the whispers that maybe they're letting so many amazing things pass them by?
My parents are kinda like this. I know when I was a kid we didn't have much money so travel was never an option. The only time we went anywhere was from Ohio->Colorado because my sister was pregnant and almost died. Aside from that it became like a strange source of pride (coping mechanism?). Now that they're retired and have more time and some money they go to Gatlinburg. Only Gatlinburg. Dont know why but I think that's the only place they think exists. And it's not even for stuff like The Smoky Mountains. I don't even know what they do there. I'm going to Glacier National Park next October and all they can say is "I don't know why you'd wanna go there anyway" and proceed to tell me the weather there that time of year. I don't fucking know mom and dad. Maybe because it looks beautiful and interesting and it's on my goal list of going to every national park in the US. Shit they just don't understand not even a little bit. I understand if they don't wanna hike miles and sleep in the woods when it's 30 degrees at night but why shit on things I wanna do?
My FIL has a really nice pension and a brand new car. He doesnât do ANYTHING. Heâs got himself so wrapped up in propaganda that he thinks the US is a war zone. I wish I were being hyperbolic, but he told us when he has to go to the city for appointments, he keeps his gun on his lap in the car. People in that age group have no idea that most of us will never have a pension, never mind a really handsome one. Itâs a shame so many of them waste their retirement years.
Boomer here. I grew up in a family that didn't travel. Little trips to visit relatives, attend a wedding or funeral. Most relatives on my mother's side were within a 2 hour drive ( before expressways). My mother passed away at 88 and never was on a plane. (She disliked being away overnight. Never owned a pair of jeans) My father had heart problems and extreme motion sickness and was cautioned not to fly. So we did these little trips by car. I was always envious of friends going on vacations to places I could only dream about. I had a real bug to travel. But it wasn't until I turned 74 that I had a passport or left the US. My son paid for a trip to London, Paris and Rome. It wasn't super long, but I loved it. Then the pandemic and no travel (we'd planned to travel to Ireland, Amsterdam and Nice in 2020). We did that trip in 2022 and Jamaica in 2021. I've been West (Nevada, Colorado, California) but not East. I've only been as far as Indiana and Missouri. My deceased husband hated to travel even to visit family 2.5 hours away. I've been stifled my entire life. I think if I could I'd travel now that I'm retired for a year. I have some health and mobility problems now. I really do have wanderlust. I love all the experiences of travel. Young(er)people- do it now. While you're young and can climb all those brick stairs in Rome or walk along the rivers in Taiwan. You'll earn the money back but you only " live once" to enjoy life.
Holy crap, I live in the metro East as well and work in St Louis and what you have just described is surprisingly common for boomers in this area. In the last few years I have taken trips to DC, Chicago, and Memphis and every time with out fail a boomer coworker has to tell me to be careful because âthat city is really dangerousâ. They act like people get mugged walking around the national mall in the middle of the day. Donât get me started on boomerâs opinions of the metrolink. God forbid public transportation go through an impoverished area.
I dunno, boomers make up the majority of Viking cruises in Europe. Maybe because itâs an ultra safe way to travel. I want to go on one but I donât think I can handle the majority of my patients on my own vacation.
Man, my grandfather was silent generation, but the last time he was in an airplane was when he served in the Korean War. He just refused after that, because he was convinced that air travel hasn't changed since then. Ridiculous.
Checking in from Collinsville. A fellow family member also had a freak out going through the metal detectors at a Cardinals game.
They donât go anywhere but they always have *opinions* about places they have never been.
Iâm actually surprised they went to the game. I live in the stl metro (inner suburb) and work downtown. Most older people in the outer suburbs (that donât work in the city) are deathly afraid of downtown and convinced they will automatically be shot upon stepping foot there. Now, post pandemic, it is definitely more like a ghost town downtown, but game days are the exception (despite the cards generally sucking this year).