Looking back, the best decade for you?

[Dtail]

I would vote 2010's coz met my current DGF, career income accelerated, no pandemic, less politics and retired in 2017.
Current decade is 2nd and looking forward to the future.

 

[stepford]

Though my career peak was in the 2000s by that point work had taken over my life to such an extent that it certainly is not a period I recall with particular fondness. The 1990s, however, were the time when I was out of grad school, finally making good money, enjoying lots of music, outdoor recreation and dating lots of different women - culminating in my wife whom I met mid-decade. Very much the time of my life.

 

[Lsbcal]

IMHO, this seems like something of an oversimplification, or generalization. I feel like I can be fondly nostalgic about my childhood in the 1970s, while at the same time thoroughly enjoying my life at the present moment. And, in fact, I do feel this way! My life is pretty great right now, all things considered.


Again, IMHO, I don't think it's either a "fallacy" or an "erroneous notion" that my childhood was a very special, magical, wonderful time compared to other decades of my life. The decade of the 1970s was a better time in my life, for me, not necessarily better in general or for other people. Now, of course, some might say that I'm merely being irrationally nostalgic, and that I'm forgetting all the negative stuff that happened when I was a child. There may be some truth to that, but obviously it must be the case that for some people, a prior epoch of their life was actually, objectively better than their current one. My elderly father, for example, who is suffering from dementia, certainly lived though much better decades than the current one, and the same is true for his long-time companion and current caregiver.

This was a line from Woody Allen's movie Midnight in Paris. It should be taken in the context of that film. See the full article I referenced plus a clip from the show with that line.

 

[skyking1]

90's for me. I was hooning around the country in a plane when I had the time, we were carefree earning and spending. Our ratio of play to work was the best as I recall.

 

[NW-Bound]

In 1980, I finished graduate school, started to make good money, got married, bought my 1st home. I did not have too many worries then, did not have children to take care of, was still low in the company hierarchy to be concerned with office politics and bothered by envy, etc.

Now in my retirement years, I have so much more money and freedom, but also have aging issues to think about.

 

[N02L84ER]

90's for me. I was hooning around the country in a plane when I had the time, we were carefree earning and spending. Our ratio of play to work was the best as I recall.

What is "hooning"?

 

[Pellice]

I voted current. Have never been happier, even though the world situation is not happy. The caveat is, of course, that the decade isn't over yet, and the moral of the fable of King Midas comes to mend.

 

[DrRoy]

Post RE but pre-covid was best, which was in the 2010's, but not the whole decade because I worked most of it.

 

[Ronstar]

2010's because I was retired for 60% of it, and I did everything that I wanted to do and went everywhere that I wanted to go. Current decade has the ability to be better than the 2010's, but I'd have to be healthy and enjoy life through the rest of the decade for the 2020's to be better than the 2010's.

 

[DayDreaming]

The 60s - because I was a kid, I was happy and clueless.

 

[Badger]

A fun survey but what does it say? I wonder what the median age of the people participating plays a role. Some were not even born in the 40s, 50, or 60s (even 70s). They have no experience to make a judgement of those decades. No wonder those decades have fewer votes.



Cheers!

 

[iloveyoga]

2010 because I retired then, my grandkids were at a great age and I got to spend a lot of time with them, and my Dad was alive.

 

[Freedom56]

For me it was the 80's.

1- One of the best decades for music
2- People actually socialized talked to each other and were not glued to their smartphones
3- People were much healthier and dressed much better
4- Started my career after completing my undergraduate degree and then completed my graduate degree at the expense of my employer.
5- Bought my first, second, and third homes.
6- Dumped my full service broker and opened an account at a discount broker and became a self directed investor.
7- Started traveling abroad for the first time.

 

[Lsbcal]

I voted current. Have never been happier, even though the world situation is not happy. The caveat is, of course, that the decade isn't over yet, and the moral of the fable of King Midas comes to mend.

Now I know what you meant by the world situation not being a happy one. Maybe the "end of the cold war" was better? China was not a perceived competitor and there was not devisive social media. There wasn't even an ER site! That would be the 1990's I suppose. So group happiness might show some trend which is most evident in the extremes that occur in wars or economic bad times.

But I guess happiness is an individual human thing that is highly variable. One can be happy in a pandemic as apparently many are here including myself. I've been telling DW that even though we are in a drought situation here we should just enjoy the 70 degree weather here in the winter. Cannot control it by wishing it away.

 

[Aerides]

If you could go back to then, what was the best decade?

So thinking about this more, the best decade for...what?

The world? My personal life and growth? My income?

I picked the 90's, because in retrospect, so much happened and the end was so much growth for me in many ways vs. the start. But it was turbulent and I wouldn't want to relive it. (my 20's, and I was a trainwreck for most of them). But it set me on a trajectory, and would be the biggest Up arrow from start to finish.

 

[Lsbcal]

So thinking about this more, the best decade for...what?

The world? My personal life and growth? My income?

I picked the 90's, because in retrospect, so much happened and the end was so much growth for me in many ways vs. the start. But it was turbulent and I wouldn't want to relive it. (my 20's, and I was a trainwreck for most of them). But it set me on a trajectory, and would be the biggest Up arrow from start to finish.

For you. Intentionally a little vague as some people think back to net worth, some to freedom and play, some to their sex life, marriage, etc. etc.

Not (the people of) the world because they wouldn't agree on anything. I mentioned countries in passing because Pellice mentioned something about the world situation.

 

[6miths]

If I get to be a carefree kid I'd be going back to the 70s but I don't think I would want to be there as an adult with the stresses of inflation, stagflation, unemployment, poor market returns, societal stresses and the cold war.

 

[Sojourner]

This was a line from Woody Allen's movie Midnight in Paris. It should be taken in the context of that film. See the full article I referenced plus a clip from the show with that line.

Ahh, OK. I just read the article and now see that it was referencing quotes from the movie... which I loved, by the way.

On a different note, I'm pretty amazed that the current decade is getting so many votes. So far in the 2020s, we've had a mere 77 days without COVID lockdowns, restrictions, and other life-altering encumbrances. IMHO, the next few years would need to be utterly magnificent for the 2020s get my vote for best decade.

 

[Car-Guy]

1970's.... I got a very high lottery number and didn't get drafted and possibly killed (or worse). I got married (still am). Finished school and got a job that turned into a lifelong/rewarding career. Those are the highlights from the 70's for me anyway.


Maybe I should have said/voted for the 40's since my dad survived WWII and married my DM in that decade. If those two things had not happen in the 40's, I would be typing this!

 

[2017ish]

...

On a different note, I'm pretty amazed that the current decade is getting so many votes. So far in the 2020s, we've had a mere 77 days without COVID lockdowns, restrictions, and other life-altering encumbrances. IMHO, the next few years would need to be utterly magnificent for the 2020s get my vote for best decade.

In Tennessee, at least, I believe most of those things have been gone for some time. And when traveling (apart from planes and airports) these things can mostly be worked around. Granted, most every country we've been has had some type of mask requirement indoors, but the lack of crowds at our travel locations has easily made up for it. (Not that we don't drop the masks whenever they aren't absolutely mandated and enforced!)

All in all, beats working 7 days a week and seeing spouse for maybe a couple waking hours a day. So for me personally, this decade is off to a pretty good start--although I anticipate/hope that it gets better!

 

[Lsbcal]

Ahh, OK. I just read the article and now see that it was referencing quotes from the movie... which I loved, by the way.

On a different note, I'm pretty amazed that the current decade is getting so many votes. So far in the 2020s, we've had a mere 77 days without COVID lockdowns, restrictions, and other life-altering encumbrances. IMHO, the next few years would need to be utterly magnificent for the 2020s get my vote for best decade.

Well yes there are restrictions. We just choose other activities like hiking, eating at takeout places, etc. Plus there is Wordle, numerous streaming videos, good novels, interesting history, ... There are ways to make life fun and interesting especially if one is a nerd. I try hard to keep a positive attitude because really every year is a gift.

 

[Sojourner]

All in all, beats working 7 days a week and seeing spouse for maybe a couple waking hours a day. So for me personally, this decade is off to a pretty good start--although I anticipate/hope that it gets better!

Well yes there are restrictions. We just choose other activities like hiking, eating at takeout places, etc. Plus there is Wordle, numerous streaming videos, good novels, interesting history, ... There are ways to make life fun and interesting especially if one is a nerd. I try hard to keep a positive attitude because really every year is a gift.

Sure, being happily FIREd during COVID times is better than working, and yes there are plenty of things to do (getting takeout, hiking, Wordle, reading books, etc.). It's just that there were many more enjoyable things to do pre-COVID, which make those years better in a relative sense.

What also makes earlier decades better for me, though, quite honestly, is that my overall health was better (e.g. I could easily read small print, I didn't have to take daily medications, I could eat/drink late into the night without worrying about heartburn, etc.) and many more of my older loved ones and friends were still alive. IMHO, these kinds of progressive, ever-worsening, age-related health issues along with the loss of so many beloved relatives over the years (parents and grandparents, especially) makes it a very clear choice for me. All things considered, the decades of my youth were better. As much as I love being FIREd, I would trade it in a heartbeat to go back and relive the 1970s.

 

[Lsbcal]

DW says she misses being young and more attractive.

Yes we all miss some things. I too miss the youthfulness and some better functioning body parts . Lost my parents in the late 70's and early 80's, sad. Our son was born in the 80's, happy. Then he was a teenager in the 2000's, awful. And there was the 2000's bear markets and me being involuntarily led into ER. Oh well, not exactly all fun and games and not necessarily on decade boundaries.

 

[38Chevy454]

2010s for me. I was making the best money of my career, had a great off-site work assignment where I liked the work and the people I worked with (at an Air Force facility). Then retired in 2017 and started this great so far retirement life.


The poll didn't ask, but would probably say the 1980s as second for me as then I was in college and my first engineering job out of school. Life was simpler, had a lot of fun even if I didn't have much money. Being self-supporting student was tough economically, but graduated with essentially no debt. Even once started working, I was saving money as much as i could to buy my first house. Had more fun money though.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I feel for your DW. I was a beauty as a teenager and young adult. My favorite decade was probably 1975-1985. High school was successful and I had a wonderful group of friends. We were into hiking, Renaissance Faire, music and theater, lazing away summer afternoons playing chess. We stayed local for college and continued to hang out. One long term boyfriend, who introduced me to DH when I was 15. We’re still great friends. I was very thin and healthy, running 3 miles or swimming a mile almost daily, toward the end of college and all through medical school. Then I started internship and discovered just how much I disliked w**king.