topic Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content? in Community Chat

In what decade were you the most happy and content?

LilacTree — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:20:42 GMT

Mine was the 80's. My girls were teenagers, I was working full time in a job I loved, learning the new computer technology, I had my best relationship, I was still lookin' and feelin' good, and we were a happy family. Those were my social years, which I had never really had before.

Money was still scarce but by the end of the decade, I was making a lot more.

And there were the BeeGees, Travolta, and Saturday Night Fever!! (By the way, big tribute to them Easter night on CBS at 8 PM!)

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

SeaMaiden — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:24:40 GMT

Probably this decade... in my 60's... retired, no more periods every month... have had all my joints replaced and I have no pain anymore.... feel pretty darn good!

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

SaRina — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:28:47 GMT

Probably between ages 5 and 16. I loved school (couldn't wait for summer to be over -- is that weird?), I was smart, popular, athletic, even pretty, if I say so myself. Those were carefree days of good friends and fun times.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

ptagirl — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:31:01 GMT

I would also say this decade..also in our 60's and both feeling pretty good. Retired, down-sized home is paid for, cars paid for, no children at home anymore, beautiful grandkids and great-grandchild..able to go any where or any time if we want...Life is Good!

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

Trinity11 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:33:10 GMT

I really would have difficulty pin pointing a particular decade where I was happiest. I loved high school and I loved getting married and raising my children. Today I have a very comfortable life with a really good man but my health isn't the best so I think the really good times are behind me....

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

LilacTree — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:36:23 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
I really would have difficulty pin pointing a particular decade where I was happiest. I loved high school and I loved getting married and raising my children. Today I have a very comfortable life with a really good man but my health isn't the best....I think the really good times are behind me.

@Trinity11

Ditto to that Trinity!!

Good health is everything.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

Trinity11 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:39:02 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
I really would have difficulty pin pointing a particular decade where I was happiest. I loved high school and I loved getting married and raising my children. Today I have a very comfortable life with a really good man but my health isn't the best....I think the really good times are behind me.
@Trinity11
Ditto to that Trinity!!
Good health is everything.

That it is, LilacTree. All the money in the world just can't change that fact.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

golding76 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:44:50 GMT

I adore this question, Lilac Tree. Many times I have reflected on the happiest period(s) of my life, and, without hesitation, I claim the '80s, too. However, the '90s were a close second.

In the '80s I not only achieved a high point in my career but also became pregnant for the first time. Then two more pregnancies followed. Dreams and desires were fulfilled My late husband established his own company by the end of the decade, and our sons were doing well academically and socially. For most of the decade I was a stay-at-home mother who relished every moment of such an existence! I never once took it for granted -- honestly. There were part-time gigs, in different periods, but nothing that would intrude with family time, which I treasured.

The '90s were filled with joy and fulfillment, too. We were fine and happy until 2001. Everything fell apart for us a couple weeks after 9/11. Our sorrow for that tragic date was compounded by personal tragedy. We have never really returned to who we were.

I HATE THIS NEW CENTURY! I know, I know try to be positive and all that, but I know my best years are behind me. I'm mature and can adjust to the losses one experiences when aging, but I find it hard to digest that my happiest moments are in the rear-view mirror.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

LilacTree — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:52:15 GMT

@golding76 wrote:
I adore this question, Lilac Tree. Many times I have reflected on the happiest period(s) of my life, and, without hesitation, I claim the '80s, too. However, the '90s were a close second.

In the '80s I not only achieved a high point in my career but also became pregnant for the first time. Then two more pregnancies followed. Dreams and desires were fulfilled My late husband established his own company by the end of the decade, and our sons were doing well academically and socially. For most of the decade I was a stay-at-home mother who relished every moment of such an existence! I never once took it for granted -- honestly. There were part-time gigs, in different periods, but nothing that would intrude with family time, which I treasured.

The '90s were filled with joy and fulfillment, too. We were fine and happy until 2001. Everything fell apart for us a couple weeks after 9/11. Our sorrow for that tragic date was compounded by personal tragedy. We have never really returned to who we were.

I HATE THIS NEW CENTURY! I know, I know try to be positive and all that, but I know my best years are behind me. I'm mature and can adjust to the losses one experiences when aging, but I find it hard to digest that my happiest moments are in the rear-view mirror.

@golding76

Goldie, the only reason I don't say my "baby" years (all four born in the 1960s within four and a half years) was because I had a bad marriage. It wasn't violent or anything like that . . . he just didn't love me. The 70s were a period of adjustment that didn't end well either.

And I agree . . . the 2000s have not been good either personally (illness) or generally for our country. I can only hope for change for my children and my grandchildren . . . and all who have to live in the coming years.

But holding and loving my babies . . . I can never replace that feeling. They were and are now still, my life.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

gmkb — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:53:24 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
Probably between ages 5 and 16. I loved school (couldn't wait for summer to be over -- is that weird?), I was smart, popular, athletic, even pretty, if I say so myself. Those were carefree days of good friends and fun times.

@SaRina I'm with you. I will extend my age to 21 - college years. I, too was smart, popular, pretty, successful in most ways and very content. Not a real care in the world.

Seems like a lifetime away now.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:54:04 GMT

So far, this one. Hopefully, the next one.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

reiki604 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:54:37 GMT

The one I am in.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

SaRina — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:58:19 GMT

@gmkb wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
Probably between ages 5 and 16. I loved school (couldn't wait for summer to be over -- is that weird?), I was smart, popular, athletic, even pretty, if I say so myself. Those were carefree days of good friends and fun times.
@SaRina I'm with you. I will extend my age to 21 - college years. I, too was smart, popular, pretty, successful in most ways and very content. Not a real care in the world.
Seems like a lifetime away now.

@gmkb, My good times ended after high school. Going away to college at a young age wasn't helpful. College was large, impersonal, and tough. I was lost.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

hoosieroriginal — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:00:29 GMT

My childhood sucked, my teen years even more so, married life wasn't good for me - I think when I was in my 40s was the best - had a high-paying job, kids were out of the house, I was just having FUN! I was down to my high school weight, I loved running and exercise classes, it was just a fun time in my life. Now is great too though - retired, no worries, sleep in, do what I want - guess it can't get much better than that - oh, and I still feel really good healthwise.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

golding76 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:01:23 GMT

Lilac Tree, I understand your reason for not citing your "baby years" because of the bad marriage. My first marriage was horrific (he was cruel and violent). I am your age, I think, but had children late in life. I still pat myself on the back for knowing -- even in the 1960s when divorce was still rare and abuse was not really spoken of -- to get out of a dangerous relationship.

It is odd, I just saw the end of "The View" today, with singer Jackie Evancho singing "Caruso." Oh, how I love the passion and longing in that song! Anyway, the composer wrote the song about Caruso (natch!) and his (Caruso's) visit to Sorrento near the end of his life. The hotel where he stayed was, I think, where I stayed on part of my ill-fated honeymoon in my ill-fated marriage. First, all I could think of was what spoiled brats my groom and I were. Really, look at the rooftop restaurant where we sat and could hardly look each other in the eye. By this point I knew I had made a mistake.

http://www.lhw.com/hotel/Grand-Hotel-Excelsior-Vittoria-Sorrento-Italy/services-amenities/dining

Here's the song "Caruso," sung by Pavarotti. It is cleansing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDEdZfnULIg

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

gmkb — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:01:40 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
@gmkb wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
Probably between ages 5 and 16. I loved school (couldn't wait for summer to be over -- is that weird?), I was smart, popular, athletic, even pretty, if I say so myself. Those were carefree days of good friends and fun times.
@SaRina I'm with you. I will extend my age to 21 - college years. I, too was smart, popular, pretty, successful in most ways and very content. Not a real care in the world.
Seems like a lifetime away now.
@gmkb, My good times ended after high school. Going away to college at a young age wasn't helpful. College was large, impersonal, and tough. I was lost.

@SaRina I lived at home while I went to Univ. of Pgh. so I still had "security blanket" of Mom and Dad.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

jubilant — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:02:48 GMT

Probably my childhood which would have been in the 50's and early 60's. I had a very happy childhood. Oh those carefree days!

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

151949 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:04:14 GMT

I had an amazing childhood on the 50's and early 60's. I was blessed with really great parents and family in general. I loved high school. I had a steady boyfriend all the way thru school , I was a majorette, because my boyfriend was a football star I got to hang out with everyone and anyone I wanted. High school was great. Then in the 70's I was married to the love of my life and his job provided us the opportunity to travel all over the world and see many exotic places.I couldn't possibly have been any happier. Since my first husbands death in 1979 I would say I have been more content and accepting of my life choices than ecstatically happy. But that is ok too. I'm certainly not unhappy.

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

jaxs mom — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:04:19 GMT

2000's

Re: In what decade were you the most happy and content?

proudlyfromNJ — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:09:48 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
@gmkb wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
Probably between ages 5 and 16. I loved school (couldn't wait for summer to be over -- is that weird?), I was smart, popular, athletic, even pretty, if I say so myself. Those were carefree days of good friends and fun times.
@SaRina I'm with you. I will extend my age to 21 - college years. I, too was smart, popular, pretty, successful in most ways and very content. Not a real care in the world.
Seems like a lifetime away now.
@gmkb, My good times ended after high school. Going away to college at a young age wasn't helpful. College was large, impersonal, and tough. I was lost.

I went away to college and it was one of the best years of my life(college was a smaller one). Unfortunately, I met my first husband there and like a fool I dropped out and married him. Should have stayed and enjoyed the rest of my college years.