I'm not in the age bracket you mention, but I have noticed that as I get older I simply enjoy accomplishing things alongside others.
In my early 20s I worked hard, but I also couldn't wait to get out of the office and hang out with my friends. As I get older, I still hang out with my friends when I can, but I also really enjoy interacting with work peers and getting things done at work.
Even in my off time, I find myself preferring to do projects around the house or yard rather than watch yet another show on Netflix or waste more time scrolling social media.
> This is meant to demonstrate my general frustration with younger folks having many barriers to stability or opportunity by being crowded out politically and in the workforce by those who've had years more in better economic situations
It's interesting to see this in contrast to complaints on HN that older developers are crowded out of the workforce by companies that prefer to hire younger developers. Perhaps it's more likely that breaking into good jobs is just hard in general, and it's easier to blame your older or younger peers.
> and just can't seem to develop a life that isn't revolving around consumerism and lacking in signifcant social/familial time investment.
Someone in their 50s or 60s is likely more interested in securing their retirement than simple consumerism. That's about the age it becomes obvious that you physically can't work forever, and you need a decent chunk of money in the bank if you want to do fun things in retirement.
As for social/family time investment: Someone in their late 40s through 60s might have raised kids to adulthood, who are now off doing their own thing. It can be a shock to go from constant family time at home to having nothing to do. Not uncommon for them to return to work to fill the void with some activity, a way to continue getting things done, and to simply socialize with coworkers.
In my early 20s I worked hard, but I also couldn't wait to get out of the office and hang out with my friends. As I get older, I still hang out with my friends when I can, but I also really enjoy interacting with work peers and getting things done at work.
Even in my off time, I find myself preferring to do projects around the house or yard rather than watch yet another show on Netflix or waste more time scrolling social media.
> This is meant to demonstrate my general frustration with younger folks having many barriers to stability or opportunity by being crowded out politically and in the workforce by those who've had years more in better economic situations It's interesting to see this in contrast to complaints on HN that older developers are crowded out of the workforce by companies that prefer to hire younger developers. Perhaps it's more likely that breaking into good jobs is just hard in general, and it's easier to blame your older or younger peers.
> and just can't seem to develop a life that isn't revolving around consumerism and lacking in signifcant social/familial time investment.
Someone in their 50s or 60s is likely more interested in securing their retirement than simple consumerism. That's about the age it becomes obvious that you physically can't work forever, and you need a decent chunk of money in the bank if you want to do fun things in retirement.
As for social/family time investment: Someone in their late 40s through 60s might have raised kids to adulthood, who are now off doing their own thing. It can be a shock to go from constant family time at home to having nothing to do. Not uncommon for them to return to work to fill the void with some activity, a way to continue getting things done, and to simply socialize with coworkers.