With a rebel heart beating in my chest, being put in a box really bugs me especially when capitalist culture gets it wrong. Born in December of 1962, I embody the Flower Children designation. I think your name for this group works out better than the Jones name. Some people commenting in the thread on generation classifications in Oldster (that's how I found you) were confused with the meaning and thought it meant 'keeping up with the Jones' instead of jonesing for something. - Amy @findingmyway and @mindfulsoulcenter
Thank you!! Yeah that Jones name is weird and confusing, glad you like mine better too. Classifying people by generation is highly flawed, but if we're going to do it let's at least get it closer to right! I can relate to being a rebel — and hey, capitalist culture gets just about everything wrong ...
I think I get most of what you mean. I identified with flower power for maybe a year, back in junior high. Striped bell bottoms and flowery shirts. After that, existentialism took over my being, and I just went dark. Even GenX didn't really fit, and I was never, ever a boomer. If I could have named my generation, it might have been the "Apollo Generation," for the space race optimism and the "pale blue dot" feeling. But that moniker only seems to fit those who "got" the engineering attitude, with all its hopes and flaws. Yet, I believe the Flower and the Rocket are oddly allied. Renewable energy, as a social benefit enabled by deft engineering, is a good example. So, more power to your flower! There's room in the rocket for flowers, too!
I'm pretty much a GenXer by your q's, but things do blend a little bit to flower child because of my older brother (1964), who had an influence on discovering music, politics, etc. Great thoughts, Rosana!
I was born in 55. I’m a little older than you, but I identify more with your Flower Child classification. I always felt that I was not a “real” boomer- too young to join the marches and protests or hitch a ride to Woodstock. Funnily enough, we hit the traffic that ensued due to it on our way to a campground upstate!! Glad that I followed you on Bluesky!
I'm so glad this resonated with you! And thanks for reading, subscribing, and commenting — I really appreciate it! Your experience just goes to show that it's a bit arbitrary delineating generations according to specific years. And hey, you got a lot closer to Woodstock than I did. 🤣
Good point! I grew up with an awareness that I didn't have to get married and I was expected to work, and that was different from the mindset of previous generations — but of course, there were still many obstacles in the way of women and still are to this day. I often think about how girls now have such a different experience and view of the world, seeing so many examples of women politicians, doctors, engineers, etc. all around them. But we still have such a long way to go! That's amazing that you had that West Point offer — and it sounds like you don't regret passing it up?
No regrets at all. It was a bit surprising even to get the offer - I was a library girl, not an outdoors one! Even the application process is grueling, I seemed unlikely to get in, and didn't really want to so I put the effort into other things.
With a rebel heart beating in my chest, being put in a box really bugs me especially when capitalist culture gets it wrong. Born in December of 1962, I embody the Flower Children designation. I think your name for this group works out better than the Jones name. Some people commenting in the thread on generation classifications in Oldster (that's how I found you) were confused with the meaning and thought it meant 'keeping up with the Jones' instead of jonesing for something. - Amy @findingmyway and @mindfulsoulcenter
Thank you!! Yeah that Jones name is weird and confusing, glad you like mine better too. Classifying people by generation is highly flawed, but if we're going to do it let's at least get it closer to right! I can relate to being a rebel — and hey, capitalist culture gets just about everything wrong ...
1963 here so I feel all of this. Definitely a Flower Child
So glad you can relate! I'm a 1961 myself, very close to your year. Thanks for reading!!
I think I get most of what you mean. I identified with flower power for maybe a year, back in junior high. Striped bell bottoms and flowery shirts. After that, existentialism took over my being, and I just went dark. Even GenX didn't really fit, and I was never, ever a boomer. If I could have named my generation, it might have been the "Apollo Generation," for the space race optimism and the "pale blue dot" feeling. But that moniker only seems to fit those who "got" the engineering attitude, with all its hopes and flaws. Yet, I believe the Flower and the Rocket are oddly allied. Renewable energy, as a social benefit enabled by deft engineering, is a good example. So, more power to your flower! There's room in the rocket for flowers, too!
I'm pretty much a GenXer by your q's, but things do blend a little bit to flower child because of my older brother (1964), who had an influence on discovering music, politics, etc. Great thoughts, Rosana!
Thanks, Tor! I think it really comes down to which generation you relate to the most — and as with most things in life, the lines are blurry.
I was born in 55. I’m a little older than you, but I identify more with your Flower Child classification. I always felt that I was not a “real” boomer- too young to join the marches and protests or hitch a ride to Woodstock. Funnily enough, we hit the traffic that ensued due to it on our way to a campground upstate!! Glad that I followed you on Bluesky!
I'm so glad this resonated with you! And thanks for reading, subscribing, and commenting — I really appreciate it! Your experience just goes to show that it's a bit arbitrary delineating generations according to specific years. And hey, you got a lot closer to Woodstock than I did. 🤣
Soon not a Boomer! But that bit about always having options as women..? We *had* them, only if we were willing to fight for them.
I was offered a shot at the first West Point class to admit women. I (almost instinctively) knew I didn't want it enough.
Good point! I grew up with an awareness that I didn't have to get married and I was expected to work, and that was different from the mindset of previous generations — but of course, there were still many obstacles in the way of women and still are to this day. I often think about how girls now have such a different experience and view of the world, seeing so many examples of women politicians, doctors, engineers, etc. all around them. But we still have such a long way to go! That's amazing that you had that West Point offer — and it sounds like you don't regret passing it up?
No regrets at all. It was a bit surprising even to get the offer - I was a library girl, not an outdoors one! Even the application process is grueling, I seemed unlikely to get in, and didn't really want to so I put the effort into other things.