I grew up in the 1950s and 60s. Therefore, I have a different view of the world than Millennials & Gen Z. So, I am going to give you an old geezer’s view of these younger generations. That is what this post is about.

First, let me tell you a little about us Boomers who started in the 1940s

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We lived through the idea that a nuclear holocaust could come at any time. In grade school, we were taught that if a bomb was dropped, we would be safe if we just scrunched down under our schoolroom desks.

The 1960s were a time of unrest and political dissent. We were in the middle of a war on the other side of the planet, and none of us understood why we were being drafted to fight, and very possibly die for Vietnam? When I started driving in the 60s gasoline was 28¢ a gallon. That was about the same price as a gallon of milk.

I went to college in the 1960s. It was the age of campus demonstrations, but since I was the son of a milkman who made $40/week, I had to pay my own way through college, so just didn’t have time to protest anything. I started my first college job at 90¢ an hour. I worked 35 – 40 hours a week throughout my college years to pay my $165/semester tuition and $4,000/yr dormitory room and board.

In the 1980s we faced double-digit inflation along with long gas lines and shortages. My salary doubled during that decade, but so did inflation. Before the 1980s, congress managed to do a pretty good job doing the “people’s business”. But then a brand of Republican called Reaganism took hold of the Grand Old Party, and it has only gotten worse since.

The 1990s was a pretty docile period. But then the age of technology sprouted and everything started changing quickly, at least by Boomer standards. Since most of you Millennials were around by that time, I think I will stop here in my look at the “good old days”.

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Now on to my view of Millennials & Gen Zs (Ms&Zs)

• First off, I kinda believe that Ms&Zs are much more “thing” oriented than we Boomers were. Part of that might be because there are just more “things” around today.
• Most Ms&Zs are addicted to their cell phones and social apps. They just can’t stay away from them. Today Facebook is now losing memberships and I believe that cell phones will move to the background as, like Facebook, become for “old people”.
• In some ways, I think Ms&Zs are more socially isolated than we Boomers were. I know that sounds strange, but we Boomers actually got together at the mall and other place, where Ms&Zs do it virtually now.
• Social standings have a much higher priority than in Boomer times.

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Every generation faces its own unique challenges, and it’s up to each of us to find solutions to those challenges. I know you Ms&Zs are not going to believe this, but in the not too distant future, you will be seen as old-fashioned and out of touch with reality, much the same as you see us now.