Grey Nomads - grumpy pains in the ***

[Crazy Dazz]

Hardly surprising, considering that we are now seeing is the retirement of the most privileged generation in history.
(and keep in mind that by definition any discussion of a "generation" is a series of massive generalisations.)
The preceding generation (my parents) grew up in the Great Depression, with fatherss who had fought in the Great War, went off to fight in WW2 and Korea, and learnt the value of humility and frugality.
In contrast, the Boomers have never know anything but prosperity.
They left school at 15 and walked into great jobs, they've never known unemployment, with obvious exceptions they mostly stayed home smoking pot during the Viet Nam war
by the time recessions started to roll around in the 70's and 80's they already had careers and had started on their property portfolio.
During the "Recession we had to have" they were the ones earning 15% on their savings whilst the rest of us starved with 18% mortgages.
Then for some reason, during the 90's the government decided that the richest generation in history needed to receive billions in superannuation incentives. You and I are limited to $25k per year, and still pay 15% tax on it. Back in 90's the govt effectively paid them bonuses to sock away hundreds of thousands.

And yes, I have seen first hand their entitled behaviour in the north west.
These are people that think dropping $300k on a 200 Series and matching Van makes them some form of Aussie Battler.
A lot of wealthy people from my parents generation were farmers. By contrast the boomers are highly urbanised and look way down their long noses at country folk.
It doesn't help that it is an overwhelming WASP generation, with racism practically written into their DNA. So you can imagine what they make of our melting-pot regional communities.

And before the cries of individual indignation start, let be reiterate that we're talking in massively broad strokes.

[ronwest]

I just got back from driving hols out north/west.

We did a few touristy things - Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, etc, I didn't see any evidence of entitlement.

Generally I think that face to face people watch their manners.

As far as the driving goes it was just about trouble free.

A few dropkicks who really don't get that if they sat back a bit those behind wouldn't have to overtake 3 or 4 of them at a time. It's not as though they are going to overtake. They just sit there.

Just about all of them (grey nomads) watched their mirrors and were well over to the left (I was coming up on them pretty fast and only shocked a few on the way past).

Personally I don't get the caravanning thing but horses for courses.

All in all, they (the nomads) were representative of what you find anywhere.

A few dick heads, a few clueless, the vast majority are fine.

[Cav]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Hardly surprising, considering that we are now seeing is the retirement of the most privileged generation in history.
(and keep in mind that by definition any discussion of a "generation" is a series of massive generalisations.)
The preceding generation (my parents) grew up in the Great Depression, with fatherss who had fought in the Great War, went off to fight in WW2 and Korea, and learnt the value of humility and frugality.
In contrast, the Boomers have never know anything but prosperity.
They left school at 15 and walked into great jobs, they've never known unemployment, with obvious exceptions they mostly stayed home smoking pot during the Viet Nam war
by the time recessions started to roll around in the 70's and 80's they already had careers and had started on their property portfolio.
During the "Recession we had to have" they were the ones earning 15% on their savings whilst the rest of us starved with 18% mortgages.
Then for some reason, during the 90's the government decided that the richest generation in history needed to receive billions in superannuation incentives. You and I are limited to $25k per year, and still pay 15% tax on it. Back in 90's the govt effectively paid them bonuses to sock away hundreds of thousands.

And yes, I have seen first hand their entitled behaviour in the north west.
These are people that think dropping $300k on a 200 Series and matching Van makes them some form of Aussie Battler.
A lot of wealthy people from my parents generation were farmers. By contrast the boomers are highly urbanised and look way down their long noses at country folk.
It doesn't help that it is an overwhelming WASP generation, with racism practically written into their DNA. So you can imagine what they make of our melting-pot regional communities.

And before the cries of individual indignation start, let be reiterate that we're talking in massively broad strokes.

I think you have had one too many massive broad strokes yourself.

[Cav]

OK I'll go out on a limb here and edumacate some of youse dumb ugly losers and let you know what is it that attracts thousands of oldies to criss cross the country in caravans.

You see it is the only way to get away all those self entitled people who see themselves as victims in our racist/homophobic/capitalistic society.

I can go up to most people in a caravan park and say g'day and start talking to people as if I have known them all my life. They like me were born just after the war when families had nothing but we were happy and wanted for nothing because nobody had anything. We didn't lock our homes because there was nothing of value to pinch. If you walked around our neighbourhood there would be kids everywhere playing in the parks and streets. Nobody walked for exercise. Walking was how you went to school and how you met up with ya mates. Dogs were not on a leash.

Parents were the boss. You did what they said, even if that meant waiting outside the pub while dad was inside having a few.

When you got married you lived in a small rented flat with second hand stuff that was mostly given to you free because you could barely afford anything. When you had a kid people gave you their second hand stuff like kids clothes and old prams.

There were no credit cards. If you wanted something you saved up for it by going to the bank and depositing money which would be written into a passbook. Everybody tried to save money.

The cars we drove were old and we learnt how to fix basic stuff on them to keep them running.

Holidays meant we visited the relos somewhere. We rarely went interstate and nobody went overseas.

By contrast check out your peers - new wife, new cars, new clothes, new baby stuff, new phones, new electronics stuff, and on it goes, including those overseas holidays. People have everything that opens and shut and they are still not satisfied because they see others with more stuff than they have.

Us oldies know what it was like to have nothing and we enjoy the company of like minded people who love life, who are civil to one another and who enjoy the banter of our generation and no one gets offended.

In essence we like people.

So how did you fund that rig and 'van I hear you ask?

Well over the years we saved up and bought a second hand 'van and towed it with our clapped out family sedan. When we got to retirement age our super paid off the home and we upgraded. Others sold their homes to downsize and then hit the road.

So after you have worked for 45 years and raised a finally, you are finally able to hit the road and spend some time and money on yaself for a change while everyone else wants what you have taken a lifetime to amass when they are in their 20s and they blame you for the state of the planet/failed capitalism/climate change/ poor phone and NBN reception and they think socialism is the answer.

God help us.

[Citroënbender]

My parents met many of your descriptions there, save for the relos bit. They were never grey nomads because they never really “bonded” with the country and developed a resultant interest in seeing more of it.

But the frugality I remember well, much of it makes good sense. I’m still infamous among friends for wearing my clothing into (apparently embarrassingly large) holes “What’s wrong - it’s mostly still there?”... In deliberate irony or self-mockery only yesterday I ordered a “#povolife” sticker for the new-to-me ute.

[jgmdat]

Originally Posted by Cav

OK I'll go out on a limb here and edumacate some of youse dumb ugly losers and let you know what is it that attracts thousands of oldies to criss cross the country in caravans.

You see it is the only way to get away all those self entitled people who see themselves as victims in our racist/homophobic/capitalistic society.

I can go up to most people in a caravan park and say g'day and start talking to people as if I have known them all my life. They like me were born just after the war when families had nothing but we were happy and wanted for nothing because nobody had anything. We didn't lock our homes because there was nothing of value to pinch. If you walked around our neighbourhood there would be kids everywhere playing in the parks and streets. Nobody walked for exercise. Walking was how you went to school and how you met up with ya mates. Dogs were not on a leash.

Parents were the boss. You did what they said, even if that meant waiting outside the pub while dad was inside having a few.

When you got married you lived in a small rented flat with second hand stuff that was mostly given to you free because you could barely afford anything. When you had a kid people gave you their second hand stuff like kids clothes and old prams.

There were no credit cards. If you wanted something you saved up for it by going to the bank and depositing money which would be written into a passbook. Everybody tried to save money.

The cars we drove were old and we learnt how to fix basic stuff on them to keep them running.

Holidays meant we visited the relos somewhere. We rarely went interstate and nobody went overseas.

By contrast check out your peers - new wife, new cars, new clothes, new baby stuff, new phones, new electronics stuff, and on it goes, including those overseas holidays. People have everything that opens and shut and they are still not satisfied because they see others with more stuff than they have.

Us oldies know what it was like to have nothing and we enjoy the company of like minded people who love life, who are civil to one another and who enjoy the banter of our generation and no one gets offended.

In essence we like people.

So how did you fund that rig and 'van I hear you ask?

Well over the years we saved up and bought a second hand 'van and towed it with our clapped out family sedan. When we got to retirement age our super paid off the home and we upgraded. Others sold their homes to downsize and then hit the road.

So after you have worked for 45 years and raised a finally, you are finally able to hit the road and spend some time and money on yaself for a change while everyone else wants what you have taken a lifetime to amass when they are in their 20s and they blame you for the state of the planet/failed capitalism/climate change/ poor phone and NBN reception and they think socialism is the answer.

God help us.

You left out the best bit Cav, there was no internet or social media back then.

[dunga]

Originally Posted by jgmdat

You left out the best bit Cav, there was no internet or social media back then.

Or superannuation it only came in mid 80 all these left tard whinges will probably be only too happy to give all their super wealth to the next generation of lazy **** hardly done by socialist whingers .

[Franco Cozzo]

Keep in mind that the youngins going on international travel and doing working holidays/back packing - that's the only thing that separates them from the other 500,000 kids who come out of the education factory with the exact same degree when they're going for jobs.

We've got 4 mechanical and 1 electrical engineer at work, two are doing basic assembly work in the factory for sub $20/hour, one does basic data entry work and another one keeps offering to come in on his weekends to work for free.

We had an experienced aerospace engineer across the road who was our barista at the cafe because he was struggling for work.

The travel is the only point of difference on a graduates resume that is going to put them on top of the candidate list, everyone else has the same high level of education and they're competing with a global workforce in Melbourne and Sydney - who will work on the weekend for free.

The grey nomads could walk out of one job at lunchtime then walk into another starting tomorrow, you had much more industry and a much lower bar for entry with less competition than Generation Z faces who are coming out of their University degree starting $50K in the red.

I saw something a few days ago where a business is advertising for a position to wash and park their fleet of cars but they're looking for qualified automotive trades person with manufacturing experience then to even apply for it the candidate has to do a cover letter addressing key selection criteria and complete a further application form - to wash and park a fleet of cars even though this person is not responsible for maintenance just organisation of the fleet in the car park

Our resident oldies here - would you rather be in your teens/20s when you were or in 2019?

[fiestaz]

There’s a lot of oldies on here banging on about how hard they had it as if there is no challenges today for younger people. Whilst I do agree there is a lot of younger people today who think they are self entitled, spend it up etc. There is still quite a few of us (I am 27) who for example can’t get a loan big enough to buy a small basic run down house in the Sydney basin even with a big deposit saved over years of staying at home. This is only one example.

I think the oldies here instead of living in their land of I have had a tough life, so I am escaping in my caravan because the young ones are annoying, need to have a reality check on current challenges. Just because you had it hard, doesn’t mean we have it easy.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I saw something a few days ago where a business is advertising for a position to wash and park their fleet of cars but they're looking for qualified automotive trades person with manufacturing experience then to even apply for it the candidate has to do a cover letter addressing key selection criteria and complete a further application form - to wash and park a fleet of cars even though this person is not responsible for maintenance just organisation of the fleet in the car park

Sounds by that job description they will be and paying them only for the car cleaning.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

These are people that think dropping $300k on a 200 Series and matching Van makes them some form of Aussie Battler.
A lot of wealthy people from my parents generation were farmers. By contrast the boomers are highly urbanised and look way down their long noses at country folk.

This is my favourite bit, I agree with.

[Citroënbender]

We've got 4 mechanical and 1 electrical engineer at work, two are doing basic assembly work in the factory for sub $20/hour, one does basic data entry work and another one keeps offering to come in on his weekends to work for free.

Is there no after-hours pooling of skills, is my question re this lot. Not renovating houses together, working for a panel shop, repairing damaged caravans, building granny flats, what are they doing on their “time off”?

[roKWiz]

Sorry I don't get it, CB

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Hardly surprising, considering that we are now seeing is the retirement of the most privileged generation in history.
(and keep in mind that by definition any discussion of a "generation" is a series of massive generalisations.)
The preceding generation (my parents) grew up in the Great Depression, with fatherss who had fought in the Great War, went off to fight in WW2 and Korea, and learnt the value of humility and frugality.
In contrast, the Boomers have never know anything but prosperity.
They left school at 15 and walked into great jobs, they've never known unemployment, with obvious exceptions they mostly stayed home smoking pot during the Viet Nam war
by the time recessions started to roll around in the 70's and 80's they already had careers and had started on their property portfolio.
During the "Recession we had to have" they were the ones earning 15% on their savings whilst the rest of us starved with 18% mortgages.
Then for some reason, during the 90's the government decided that the richest generation in history needed to receive billions in superannuation incentives. You and I are limited to $25k per year, and still pay 15% tax on it. Back in 90's the govt effectively paid them bonuses to sock away hundreds of thousands.

And yes, I have seen first hand their entitled behaviour in the north west.
These are people that think dropping $300k on a 200 Series and matching Van makes them some form of Aussie Battler.
A lot of wealthy people from my parents generation were farmers. By contrast the boomers are highly urbanised and look way down their long noses at country folk.
It doesn't help that it is an overwhelming WASP generation, with racism practically written into their DNA. So you can imagine what they make of our melting-pot regional communities.

And before the cries of individual indignation start, let be reiterate that we're talking in massively broad strokes.

an exceptionally one sided point of view. I am classed as a 'baby boomer'. I was born in the lat 50's, didn't leave school until the early - mid 70's

Oh and by the way through my so called gifted life (and both my wife and I are both working full time and have raised 4 children to adulthood and who actually appreciate the hard work we did, unlike you) I have paid **** load of tax so you can sit on your **** and enjoy our 'prosperity' like the middle class welfare we paid/pay for you to enjoy - you knew the latest gift of $1000 paid for by the tax payers when you do your tax return, or the now gone baby bonus or the child care funding and rebates for couples who both work full time to fund their exorbitant spending habits which we now have to pick up the burden of, we are funding your 'free to spend as you like' lifestyle

In all our years on non-unemployment how much tax do you reckon we paid to this country?

[GT450]

Here here Trev, the social welfare that is available today just wasn't available when we were bringing up or children, we relied on family , friends or did it ourselves when it came to raising our kids . Childcare centres didn't exist as they do today and I do feel for families today who both work and struggle to pay the exorbitant fees charged by centres. You can't blame people for the era they were born in, it's not something you can choose, but you can blame them for their manners and how they treat others and there are good and bad in all , but don't condemn them for working hard and achieving what you may covet. Most took a lifetime to achieve what some of todays generation want yesterday.
I wonder what they will think of whatever the current generation is doing when they are in their 60s. Pity I'd like to be a fly on that wall but i wont be around to find out.
GT450

[Dave1966]

I can see both Crazy Daz and Trevs views. I’d also add the present “entitled” generation were raised (for want of a better word) by someone.....they are the sum of the previous generation. Own it.
Previous eras provided prosperity for many, not all of course, someone always pays. I can’t say I enjoyed any great luxuries growing up, nor do I really envy those who did, but it is what is is and here we are now paying the bill in more ways than one.Sadly so much of our major city housing markets are out of reach, only the wealthy or the overseas land bankers can afford it. Of course there are other options for the present generation but we bred what we got, good and bad. I don’t blame them for what they are, we as a generation made them.

[ford71V8]

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Cav

OK I'll go out on a limb here and edumacate some of youse dumb ugly losers and let you know what is it that attracts thousands of oldies to criss cross the country in caravans.

You see it is the only way to get away all those self entitled people who see themselves as victims in our racist/homophobic/capitalistic society.

I can go up to most people in a caravan park and say g'day and start talking to people as if I have known them all my life. They like me were born just after the war when families had nothing but we were happy and wanted for nothing because nobody had anything. We didn't lock our homes because there was nothing of value to pinch. If you walked around our neighbourhood there would be kids everywhere playing in the parks and streets. Nobody walked for exercise. Walking was how you went to school and how you met up with ya mates. Dogs were not on a leash.

Parents were the boss. You did what they said, even if that meant waiting outside the pub while dad was inside having a few.

When you got married you lived in a small rented flat with second hand stuff that was mostly given to you free because you could barely afford anything. When you had a kid people gave you their second hand stuff like kids clothes and old prams.

There were no credit cards. If you wanted something you saved up for it by going to the bank and depositing money which would be written into a passbook. Everybody tried to save money.

The cars we drove were old and we learnt how to fix basic stuff on them to keep them running.

Holidays meant we visited the relos somewhere. We rarely went interstate and nobody went overseas.

By contrast check out your peers - new wife, new cars, new clothes, new baby stuff, new phones, new electronics stuff, and on it goes, including those overseas holidays. People have everything that opens and shut and they are still not satisfied because they see others with more stuff than they have.

Us oldies know what it was like to have nothing and we enjoy the company of like minded people who love life, who are civil to one another and who enjoy the banter of our generation and no one gets offended.

In essence we like people.

So how did you fund that rig and 'van I hear you ask?

Well over the years we saved up and bought a second hand 'van and towed it with our clapped out family sedan. When we got to retirement age our super paid off the home and we upgraded. Others sold their homes to downsize and then hit the road.

So after you have worked for 45 years and raised a finally, you are finally able to hit the road and spend some time and money on yaself for a change while everyone else wants what you have taken a lifetime to amass when they are in their 20s and they blame you for the state of the planet/failed capitalism/climate change/ poor phone and NBN reception and they think socialism is the answer.

God help us.

Originally Posted by Dave1966

I can see both Crazy Daz and Trevs views. I’d also add the present “entitled” generation were raised (for want of a better word) by someone.....they are the sum of the previous generation. Own it.
Previous eras provided prosperity for many, not all of course, someone always pays. I can’t say I enjoyed any great luxuries growing up, nor do I really envy those who did, but it is what is is and here we are now paying the bill in more ways than one.Sadly so much of our major city housing markets are out of reach, only the wealthy or the overseas land bankers can afford it. Of course there are other options for the present generation but we bred what we got, good and bad. I don’t blame them for what they are, we as a generation made them.

Exactly this. The oldies who complain about the younger generation are the ones who created them, and their ****ty society that they now live in. Absolute hypocrisy to complain about the world they created.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

image

Boy, did they get lost, doors on the wrong side.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Exactly this. The oldies who complain about the younger generation are the ones who created them, and their ****ty society that they now live in. Absolute hypocrisy to complain about the world they created.

I don't think zuckerberg and the like are grey nomads. Grey nomads aren't responsible for the poor manners of a society who are controlled by electronic devices.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Is there no after-hours pooling of skills, is my question re this lot. Not renovating houses together, working for a panel shop, repairing damaged caravans, building granny flats, what are they doing on their “time off”?

Probably driving people between Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Airport in clapped out yellow Hybrid Camry's

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by prydey

I don't think zuckerberg and the like are grey nomads. Grey nomads aren't responsible for the poor manners of a society who are controlled by electronic devices.

So it's all zuckerberg's fault is it?

The decay has been going on long before anyone knew who he was.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by prydey

I don't think zuckerberg and the like are grey nomads. Grey nomads aren't responsible for the poor manners of a society who are controlled by electronic devices.

But they were the inventors of such electronic boxes.

[guzzis3]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

(and keep in mind that by definition any discussion of a "generation" is a series of massive generalisations.)

Well actually in the case of the baby boomers the definition of thier generation is very specific. In fact the clarity of it's definition is the reason we talk so much about "generations" now. X,Y and the so called millenials are much more arbitrary.

You can attribute the need for childcare today to the move in the 70's to 2 income families, so it's actually the feminists who are to blame!

If you want me I'll be in my bomb shelter...

And since we are having a pointless argument lets go all the way and introduce politics..

IMO (worth what you paid for it) it was quite specifically the Hawke government that ruined australia and it never ceae to amaze me how spectacularly the left can re-imagine reality with regard to it...

Remember...bomb shelter. Knock loudly, the door will be locked...

[roKWiz]

This is turning into a State of the Nation thread.

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Cav

Well over the years we saved up and bought a second hand 'van and towed it with our clapped out family sedan. When we got to retirement age our super paid off the home and we upgraded. Others sold their homes to downsize and then hit the road.

Yet go figure, a surprising number of them don't know how to tow anything, nevermind reverse their caravan into a van park site!

[Charliewool]

It’s really a no win argument, this BB, Gen Y, X or whatever generational crap!
A lot in life’s fortunes, regardless of generation, comes through “luck”, or being in the right place at the right time, or knowing someone/being recommended by someone.
Hard work?... yeh/nah... I’d be more inclined to say “working smart”
I mean, what typifies “hard work”? Is that like our grandfathers manually digging foundations with a pick and shovel in the 20’s, Is it like our Fathers working a 10hr day in a factory on a lathe, or on a production line? Or is it someone sitting in front of a computer screen in a bank inputting crucial data 10 hours a day?? ... I’m sure they all have their physical AND mental stress levels?
And future generations will no doubt laugh at the last analogy? “You had to type into a computer, and got paid WHAT”?

Re: Grey Nomads? Who gives a feck, how they spend their money, how they earned it, what rig and caravan they’ve got, whether they’re leaving any money for their kids, or whether they’re buying their groceries from Kununurra general store or friggin Coles in Perth?
Personally, Caravanning ain’t my cuppa tea, but in our own way, with our move, me and the Mrs are probably a type of “off shore grey nomads”?
Probably also like Aussie’s grey nomads... We couldn’t give a rats what others opinions are of us! It’s our time..
Pura Vida you lot!

[Cav]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Yet go figure, a surprising number of them don't know how to tow anything, nevermind reverse their caravan into a van park site!

I resemble that comment.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[theBlake]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Hardly surprising, considering that we are now seeing is the retirement of the most privileged generation in history.
(and keep in mind that by definition any discussion of a "generation" is a series of massive generalisations.)
The preceding generation (my parents) grew up in the Great Depression, with fatherss who had fought in the Great War, went off to fight in WW2 and Korea, and learnt the value of humility and frugality.
In contrast, the Boomers have never know anything but prosperity.

agree with much what you have said to a point, which is encapsulated by this profund statement.

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times"

The strong men have long since retired or are dead, We are very much now in the era of weak men, the hard times will come.

IMO the most priveleged generation in our history will be the current young people. They are the "whats in it for me" generation. Hence all the sooking about not being able to afford a house.

There hasnt been a generation that ever exiisted that could easily buy houses when they were young. Everyone I ever heard of bought dogboxes or dongas in the outer suburbs for first homes, and did it hard too.

[dunga]

Originally Posted by theBlake

agree with much what you have said to a point, which is encapsulated by this profund statement.

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times"

The strong men have long since retired or are dead, We are very much now in the era of weak men, the hard times will come.

IMO the most priveleged generation in our history will be the current young people. They are the "whats in it for me" generation. Hence all the sooking about not being able to afford a house.

There hasnt been a generation that ever exiisted that could easily buy houses when they were young. Everyone I ever heard of bought dogboxes or dongas in the outer suburbs for first homes, and did it hard too.

Or bought a block of land in the way out suburbs and built their own house of a w/end while still working through the week I'd like to see today's whinging generation do that