People today groan about the economy. Pansies! I was paying 14% on my mortgage. That was average. I was driving a 20 year old car that I did all the maintenance on including an engine rebuild. Not by choice. Of course, No Internet. No cell phones. It would be a few more years before VCRs were a reality. No cable TV. My only set was a 13". I took the bus to work most days. We used cloth diapers for my son until he was trained. Yes, cloth - and no diaper service if you know what I mean. I played drums in a crappy wedding/polka band for an extra $100 a week. I could go on, but you are right, that period of our history is lost. Good riddance.