I have recently become enamored of the 1950’s. My house was built in 1956. And I found 2 really great blogs that are experiments in living the lifestyle of the 40’s and 50’s.
I don’t want to go so far as to live all aspects of my life as if I were transported to the past, but I would really like to incorporate a lot of the ideals and skills that were present then into my current 2009 life.
Things to Keep
1950’s
* Always looking nice
-It’s a little depressing to see people schlepping around in sweats and t-shirts. It doesn’t take any more time to put on real pants.
-Taking the time to do hair and fix the face. Not because we are expected to, but because it just makes you feel good to look put together.
-Not staying in your PJ’s all day. No excuse other than illness.
-Baking from scratch.
I just started doing this. It tastes so good and gives such a feeling of accomplishment
-Saves money and can be healthier
-Cooking more instead of going out.
Same sense of accomplishment, saves money, makes the house smell good.
An excuse to get out candlesticks, or buy vintage ones like I just did.
* Staying home
-It seems to be the norm today to be overworked and stressed. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love to work part-time and use the rest of my time volunteering and keeping house.
*Self-Reliance
-It seems that few people in my generation and younger have many useful skills outside of the workplace.
-I have friends who can’t even sew on a button
-I want to cook for myself, do my own laundry and mend (and possibly make) my own clothes
-Why pay someone to do the things that I can do on my own?
* Sense of Community
-Ladies clubs, I just started one that meets once a month and we have coffee and discuss things we are up to and the things we want to be involved in
-Volunteering, I am donating blood, crocheting squares for Warm Up America and applied to work at the hospital one night a week
2009
*Computers
-Blogging anyone?
-Internet shopping for used items, better prices, and selling your handmade wares
* The option to work outside the home
* The option to not have children without being thought of in a certain way ( though people still do sometimes think that way)
* Equality in the workplace: not 100% there yet, but ‘we’ve come a long way baby!’
* My Dyson Slim (ahhhh)
Things to Ditch
1950’s
* Girdles
-I can’t get into it, though I do like the hose and garter belt…sexy!
* Keeping house because it is a woman’s place.
-I love to keep house. I don’t know how much I would love it if it were my only option.
2009
* Online Social Networking Sites
-I may be in the minority, but I HATE these things. I see so many people waste so much time on them. Please, if you are my ‘friend’, pick up the phone and call me. Write me a letter. I will not follow you on twitter.
I think Social Networking Sites have their place, but from what I can see, they are misused and way overused.
In a time when we have so many ways to connect to people, the statistics say that we are feeling more isolated than ever. Maybe because we are holed up in a computer room instead of out with real live people.
* Having-It-All Syndrome
-I see no need to have a full-time career, a brood of children, a happy husband, a dog and still have time to be Mary Poppins. I don’t see how it is possible. And for those who do accomplish it, when do you sleep?
How about a little bit of balance? There is way too much pressure to have and do it all. And then we end up having to hire people to do have of it, and we don’t even get to enjoy what we have…
It’s upsetting to me to read articles online about how looking to the past, to want a more simple way of life is anti-feminist. I don’t think it is at all. Women who choose to live their lives in this way are doing just that, making a CHOICE. That is what feminism is all about. These women are not being caged in or oppressed, that have taken a look at all the options that are open to them, and they have said yes to the ones that make them happiest and most fulfilled.
I couldn’t be a full time stay at homer, but I respect the choice of those who do. Just like I respect the choice of those who work full-time, part-time, have children or choose not to have children. They are ALL valid choices. There is no one right path to being a liberated woman.
My future plan? Once Brian’s law school loan is paid, I want to scale back to working 3 days a week. I then want to volunteer at the hospital 8 hours a week and then keep house the rest of the time. Tending a garden, cleaning, making dresses and baking pies are all things that I never knew I loved to do until recently. Sure, we will need to make sacrifices and keep a budget in order for me to stay home part-time, but its worth it for a little bit of balance and a whole lot of happy.






