General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This, my friends, is far too typical for my generation. [View all]mike_c
(36,191 posts)Although I'm a certified baby boomer-- born in 1955-- I didn't begin college until I was 30 and I finished grad school at 40, so I was in the academic job market with Gen X colleagues too, in the late 1990s. Maybe that's why it seems to be "same as it ever was," because we're really talking about the same experience. But it really was the same 20 yrs ago, at least in the academic sciences.
When I look at the colleagues that my current cohort replaced, the difference in life style and expectations is shocking. They were SOLIDLY middle class, somewhat upper middle class in this community. They did well financially and retired comfortably. Few of us are doing so well these days, and those of us with huge student debt will likely retire to some form of homelessness, i.e. living in a camper. For example, I've never been able to buy a home in the community where I live and work. That was unheard of among the cohort we replaced, who worked here from the late 60's through the 90's, largely. It's normal, today.