Thursday, February 03, 2005
No. of Colin Firth movies lent out: 4. No. of bitch sessions last night at happy hour: 1 really big LONG one.
Had interesting conversation last night at happy hour with co-workers. Appears that I am not the only one worried about marriage and family. It seems that a lot of people from 25-35 are worried about what it all means to be tied down to children and a husband and just aren't sure if that's the sacrifice they are willing to take.
I read an article that someone posted on line about this being a generation of "twixters". They say that people who are between 23-28 are't making hard and fast decisions about their lives. They are still graduating from college, even though it used to be that people wanted to graduate by at least 24-25. They are taking longer to make solid decisions and are floating from one job to the next, and one living situation to the next. Some say this indecision is fear driven, other's say it's just because they don't want to lose their independence.
I say what's happening now is recognition of a situation that has been happening since Generation X. I really think there is a dichotomy between what our parents considered "better" and what is considered "better" NOW.
Owning a house was probably easier back then, and now (especially in California) it's next to impossible. Do you get married just so you can afford a house, and therefore marry someone that you may divorce in 5 years...or do you go it alone, hopping from one apartment and roommate to the next? Is relying on your parent's income to help you out make you spoiled, or is it a reality check that maybe things aren't as good as we hope they are?
I really think that since the 80's, there has been this need to be accepted. All that blings isn't always gold, and I think that a lot of people are living beyond their means just to show that they could, if they really wanted to. I think a lot of people are in debt because the appearance of being successful is far more important that actually being successful...so there's a lot of young people who own a BMW and live in a posh studio apartment in the city, with nothing in their bank account and credit that would keep them in debt for the next 25 years.
The prevailing thought amongst "twixters" seems to be living for the moment, as long as the facade that everything is ok is kept up. There's a quote from "Less Than Zero" where Andrew McCarthy asks Jamie Gertz, "Are you happy, Blair? You don't look happy." Her response is, "But do I look good?"
Those people who can barely keep up the impression that everything is going well, can barely take care of themselves...so how can they take care of a family? Also, I see a generation of "American Idols" where if something absolutely great were to happen in the next instance, they need to be able to just pick up and "go to Hollywood" and leave everything else behind. So it's OK to have a disposable job and home because the grass is always greener.
As a direct contradiction to the "twixter" lifestyle, I've read that more and more families are "nesting". I saw a news report a couple of years ago that since 9/11, people are tending to stay home and not vacation anymore because it's just too scary in a world of terrorism, so they are making their homes into "castles" and investing a lot of money to make their homes as comfortable as possible.
So where does one go from here? It seems to me that back during my parent's generation, the decisions were made earlier. Families were settled long before they were in their 30's and that just doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I'm in my mid 30's now (GAAAAAH!), and have only got it halfway between everything.
Hmmm...didn't realize that would be a rant.
I've loaned out "Bridget Jones" yet again. I hate to be without, but I guess I'll just have to watch "Love Actually". GAAAAH! Cannot WAIT until "Edge of Reason" comes out. Did I mention that they actually have "Bridget Jones interviews Colin Firth" on the DVD? I saw a picture from it, and it really is Rene Zellweger as Bridget Jones, interviewing Colin Firth. There's also an interview with Colin and Rene about Bridget and Mark. GAAAAAAAHHH! They need to release it before March 22!
Back to work.
Had interesting conversation last night at happy hour with co-workers. Appears that I am not the only one worried about marriage and family. It seems that a lot of people from 25-35 are worried about what it all means to be tied down to children and a husband and just aren't sure if that's the sacrifice they are willing to take.
I read an article that someone posted on line about this being a generation of "twixters". They say that people who are between 23-28 are't making hard and fast decisions about their lives. They are still graduating from college, even though it used to be that people wanted to graduate by at least 24-25. They are taking longer to make solid decisions and are floating from one job to the next, and one living situation to the next. Some say this indecision is fear driven, other's say it's just because they don't want to lose their independence.
I say what's happening now is recognition of a situation that has been happening since Generation X. I really think there is a dichotomy between what our parents considered "better" and what is considered "better" NOW.
Owning a house was probably easier back then, and now (especially in California) it's next to impossible. Do you get married just so you can afford a house, and therefore marry someone that you may divorce in 5 years...or do you go it alone, hopping from one apartment and roommate to the next? Is relying on your parent's income to help you out make you spoiled, or is it a reality check that maybe things aren't as good as we hope they are?
I really think that since the 80's, there has been this need to be accepted. All that blings isn't always gold, and I think that a lot of people are living beyond their means just to show that they could, if they really wanted to. I think a lot of people are in debt because the appearance of being successful is far more important that actually being successful...so there's a lot of young people who own a BMW and live in a posh studio apartment in the city, with nothing in their bank account and credit that would keep them in debt for the next 25 years.
The prevailing thought amongst "twixters" seems to be living for the moment, as long as the facade that everything is ok is kept up. There's a quote from "Less Than Zero" where Andrew McCarthy asks Jamie Gertz, "Are you happy, Blair? You don't look happy." Her response is, "But do I look good?"
Those people who can barely keep up the impression that everything is going well, can barely take care of themselves...so how can they take care of a family? Also, I see a generation of "American Idols" where if something absolutely great were to happen in the next instance, they need to be able to just pick up and "go to Hollywood" and leave everything else behind. So it's OK to have a disposable job and home because the grass is always greener.
As a direct contradiction to the "twixter" lifestyle, I've read that more and more families are "nesting". I saw a news report a couple of years ago that since 9/11, people are tending to stay home and not vacation anymore because it's just too scary in a world of terrorism, so they are making their homes into "castles" and investing a lot of money to make their homes as comfortable as possible.
So where does one go from here? It seems to me that back during my parent's generation, the decisions were made earlier. Families were settled long before they were in their 30's and that just doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I'm in my mid 30's now (GAAAAAH!), and have only got it halfway between everything.
Hmmm...didn't realize that would be a rant.
I've loaned out "Bridget Jones" yet again. I hate to be without, but I guess I'll just have to watch "Love Actually". GAAAAH! Cannot WAIT until "Edge of Reason" comes out. Did I mention that they actually have "Bridget Jones interviews Colin Firth" on the DVD? I saw a picture from it, and it really is Rene Zellweger as Bridget Jones, interviewing Colin Firth. There's also an interview with Colin and Rene about Bridget and Mark. GAAAAAAAHHH! They need to release it before March 22!
Back to work.
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