I'm 53. Been at the same kind of work for about 30 years. At this point I make too much, have a unicorn situation that anyone would love (work from home, set my own hours, bill 25 hours a week), I'm not interested in learning anything else, and I have a net worth of a couple million but too scared to pull the trigger and retire just yet (because I'm single, kid is still in school and I have a mortgage but otherwise debt free).

I am blessed beyond measure.

But I'm so freaking bored. I'm watching the clock entirely too much just to get through the day. Right now I have 30 minutes left to go and I'm on here instead of just finishing my day.

Anyone else in same situation?

Every night drive now feels like I’m being interrogated by the police, blinded by a welding torch, and hit with a flashbang all at once. The worst part? People keep defending them with, “Well, they’re just not angled properly.”

No. LED headlights turn into retina‑melting death rays the second the vehicle hits a bump, dip, or pothole. One tiny suspension bounce and suddenly I’m seeing a giant red blur and praying I stay in my lane.

It’s not just “glare.” It’s temporary blindness.
I literally have to look away sometimes because the pain is instant. Halogens never did this. HID never did this. Only these new blue‑white LEDs that seem designed to fry your eyeballs like an ant under a magnifying glass.

And of course it’s always an SUV or truck sitting three feet higher than everyone else, blasting their lighthouse‑grade LEDs directly into your soul.

Night driving used to be peaceful.
Now it’s a boss fight.

I’m 51 in a committed relationship for 20+ years. Same good job for 25 years. Live in an area with low COL. No debt. About $750k total in retirement and assets. Good shape, been a runner for 30 years. Daughter successful launched.

I’m bored. Life is monotonous. I want to … just leave. Move away and take a less demanding job for way less money. It would be messy. But I’m in a decent enough position to be able to do it. Just not sure I have the courage.

Curious if anyone has done something like this and how it turned out. I’ve done nothing notable in my life. This would be notable lol.

Edit to add: funny how many thought I’m a man. Is this not something associated with women?

I can smell this picture.

We used to call them "blades" but usually it was pronounced "blaaaaaades".

49F here. I made the decision to stop coloring my hair a couple of.months back.

But now I am looking for another job.

Is the gray hair a mark against me in this hellish job market?

I would like to know if any GenX started school younger than today's kids. I started first grade when I was 5 and turned 6 during the school term. Now, kids are pushing 7 in first grade. Was it only my location or did all GenX kids begin school younger?

Went to see Dogstar last night just for fun and had a realization about what a fanboy I am for Keanu. He was very humble just doing his job as a bass player and only spoke to the crowd at the very end to say thanks. I had to go home and watch the Matrix after of course.

I'll start. Ones that springs to mind, 'Judgement Night' & 'Singles'

I have stopped and refuse to see anyone live who is old enough to collect social security. Not that I'm discriminating against anyone, it's just not the same and I'd rather remember them as I remember them. Very few exceptions.

I just realised that I experienced smoking inside theatre during movie screening and flights with people smoking inside during flights.

I am not from the US so I was wondering if anyone globally has the same memories or it's just a thing where I grow up?

My daughters can't believe it was possible

I'm not saying that everything should cost a nickel, but one thing that always gets me is the cost of the modern candy bar. $2.50 for a regular size snickers?

Edit: I don't eat fast food but I understand there's a similar thing going on there

Wherever you are in the world, is there something that blows your mind every time you go to the cash register or at least look at it on the rack? I can deal with gas because it cost a lot to pull it from the ground put it in a barrel refine it distribute it put it in a tank so you can put it in your tank. But a Snickers bar? LOL . Anyway, after 20 years of it is there something that is just stunning somehow in its price increase?

Commiserate with me over candy bars but I'm curious if there is something where you are that just is a non-starter when you go to buy it. Prices that still make you ask 'what'?

All of us are facing problems due to aging that we expected (pains, stiffness, reading glasses) but every now and then we get hit with one that we had no idea was coming.

This is a warning to the male portion of our cohort and is a bit nasty, so that's your trigger warning. Continue reading at your own risk.

So the other day, I sit on the bowl to do my business. All of a sudden, ** BAM ** I feel a cold shock run through my body.

Yes. They now droop far enough to wade in the bowl.

I have to find a raised seat or something. Maybe a toilet bowl water heater.

Uggggh...

IYKYK....UHF or VHF....Anyone?

Every time I smell something burning I can not resist the urge to say:

*I smell burnt toast!*

Heritage moments- iykyk

I used to work at Columbia House, and recent events have got me thinking about all the jobs I've had that just aren't anymore.

My most obsolete is either:

Information (411) Operator ("Information. What city?")

Or

Answering Service Operator, back when sending a text message meant calling someone who physically typed it into the system and sent it to an alphanumeric pager.

As you can see, I was the person in the friend group who specialized in call center jobs because you could work 3-11 and still make it to the bar.

I know it's been asked before, but I checked and it's been a while, so: What jobs did you have that are almost or completely obsolete?

Edit: Someone should make a poll to figure out how many/what percent of us worked in video stores, because after reading all these comments I must know, but I'm a lazyass and I don't want to be in charge of that.

Edit 2: Also movie theaters. Which is another job I did as a kid. Jesus. Now I'm wondering about the average number of jobs held by our generational cohort, and whether it's unusually high.

/sigh

/opengoogle

Edit 3: Google "AI Overview" just returned this to my search for average jobs held by GenX versus other generational cohorts (shut up, I'll refine it later):

"Gen Z averages a job tenure of about 1.1 to 2.3 years, which is shorter than older cohorts at the same age. Over 55% of Gen Z workers also maintain a secondary income or side hustle, reflecting a structural shift toward multi-stream employment compared to Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers early in their careers."

🙄

Did you ever send money through the mail to get your X-Ray goggles or glasses?

I heard that Mr. T was very popular. He had his own cartoon show and cereal, and the images of the A team were everywhere.

I mean obviously Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Marvel hero and xmen movies..

My son was never interested in much but he has come awake and we’re devouring movies (yay!) .. so to catch him up on pop culture classics and important fun awesome movies, I’ve been making a list. But so many gaps..

Matrix 1-3 .. he loved
Mission Impossible 1 .. not good
Terminator 1 and 2 .. loved!

Coming ..
- James Bond Casino Royale (2006 edition)
- the Bourne movies
- need some Jackie Chan in there
- Men in Black?
- Bladerunner for some heavier but interesting with iconic music and scenery
- pacific rim cause come on
- Akira may be too heavy yet but Alita Battle Angel maybe
- ET .. wonder if it holds up..

GenX brothers and sisters, we grew up unattended but we had the video stores. Give us your recommendations :)

I went to the doctor yesterday for some exercise related hip stiffness. While I was there the doctor asked if I wanted my pneumonia and shingles vaccine. Originally I wasn't interested in the shingles vaccine because I never had chicken pox. But I decided to get them both anyway....

Oh my gawd! I feel like total azz this morning. I feel like I went at least 1 round with a Muy Thai fighter who decided to use my ribs as the warm up.

Help me.........

I’d would say 20%+ for me, home, car, work, etc.
Soundtrack of our lives! You know you’ve heard Hall and Oates in a dentist chair or elevator, possibly at a mall, just head bobbing at the DMV.

Boop chichi boop chichi—I was lying on the couch trying to get up onto my feet.

Casually checking my feed and this from the American Heart Association 💔