But as much as I love that era, I don't think I'd ever be able to live in it. I'm far too addicted to my mod-cons. I need my iPad, and my microwave, and my wifi internet access. But apparently there's a whole host of men and women out there who are choosing to live that lifestyle today.
The video below is a documentary I found that follows three women who've chosen to be "Vintage Wives", showing their lives and the sacrifices they've had to make to live like that. Sure, it's a bit cutesy, but it's definitely worth a watch if you're into that sort of thing. It goes for about 20 minutes though, so make sure you set a bit of time aside before pressing play.
I found it interesting that the three women seemed to have one thing in common, they used their lifestyles as an escape from the rest of the world. They didn't really want to be part of it, preferring to socialise with other Vintage Lifestylers. The documentary seemed to insinuate that this was a bad thing, that they were running away, but that seemed a bit harsh to me. Sure, they were actively avoiding the 21st Century, but that was because they'd found something that suited them better.
Either way, it was fascinating to see the amount of detail that had gone into their homes, their clothes, how they did their housework, and how they navigated the "real" world when they couldn't avoid it. I really don't think I could do it, but more power to them!
What do you guys think? Could you live like these people?
I'm rather certain that I couldn't... I wake up in the morning and really want my coffee to already be made in my timed coffee pot and waiting for me so I can plunk down and read a few hours of the internet as the caffeine sinks in before I actually become a productive person.
ReplyDeleteI feel like taking away the coffee pot and the internet would hinder that process.
Terrifying! Early morning wake up without caffeine!
DeleteThe 30's and 40's did seem to be a romantic age...except for that Depression and World War thing.
ReplyDeleteTHe 50's, now those were the days, except for Korea, polio and stuff. The 60's they were great...if you liked bell-bottoms and Viet Nam. THe 70's totally sucked, the 80's ..don't really remember (my kids were teens) 90's personally very bad for me, 2000's still not so good...Today is looking good! T thin I'll stick with today.
Yeah, I agree. I like today, or perhaps in a few years time when they finally get Virtual Reality working properly!
DeleteI really enjoy my modern electric coffee maker. Like, really, really enjoy it. So I don't know...
ReplyDeleteProbably best not to accept the offer to travel in time then :D
DeleteThese ladies are living so out of not only our reality, but also out of the reality of the 30s and 40s. It's easy to live that way when the stresses and pressures of the actual 30s and 40s are gone. It cracks me up that the two couples aren't having children because then they would have to face the real world. Bizarre.
ReplyDeleteI would like to live in the 1860's, as long as I was rich and didn't have to worry about that pesky Civil War.
Heh, I think everyone can appreciate a nice crinoline.
DeleteThis was absolutely riveting! There are certain aspects of this that appeal to me - like the vintage vehicles and fashions and taking more pride in your appearance, I often bemoan that we as a society are now way too casual. But the idea of not having children because it would, in effect, burst the bubble my husband & I were living in, is so silly - I'd respect their decision more if it didn't seem so trivial. I had to chuckle at that 1930's woman buying her dresses on the internet - if she truly wanted to fully embrace the lifestyle, she'd be sewing her own clothing or having a seamstress fitting her. Also, the fact that she had a microwave hidden in her cupboard, lol!!
ReplyDeleteI just love the fact that the 30's woman actually looked like she WAS from the 30's. The other two were doing their best, but they really just looked like people trying to look like someone from that time period.
DeleteI wonder if life has always been this much about escapism. We all have something we take up to bail us out of reality, from shopping to internet to living in the 1930's. These people have just done it with exceptional panache.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I can't poke fun, I play an online game where I pretend to be a Troll Mage and kill ogres and dragons for fun!
DeleteHow neat!!! I'm about to hit play. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! It's a bit shallow, I can't help wishing someone would do a more serious look at it, but it's cute for what it is.
DeleteI love the style and the things from that era but I don't think I could live that way. I enjoy some things a bit too much to just stop. But props to them. Ya know I have a book you would just LOVE, it's all about the 40s I think. Lemme know if ya want it, I won't ever go a thing with it!!! :) Have I told you Happy New Year?
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too, honey! And I'd LOVE to see that book!
DeleteGreat post and video. Not sure what I'd do w/o the modern conveniences I take advantage of today, like my Keurig coffee maker! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm rather attached to my media centre so I'd probably fail at it too.
DeleteThanks for passing this on! I had no idea people were going that far with the vintage thing. I could never do the 40s or 50s because I could never spend 1 1/2 hours getting ready in the morning, lol! However, I do admire their commitment to the aesthetic and their houses look so great :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be a trip to live in those places! I'd love to for a little while, but soon enough I'd be wanting more modern stuff I think.
DeleteI watched that video you posted in most wide-eyed horror. I guess you shouldn't judge people who are generally happy and not directly hurting you.... but I could not be one of those wives. I love my laptop. And my phone. And my fancy coffee maker.
ReplyDeleteAlso, wasn't the 40's & 50's when women's hysteria and "the disease that knew no name" an issue with some many sexually unhappy, alcoholic women? I love the images of that era too-- everyone looked so beautiful, but I feel like it was so suppressive for many wives/mothers.
Great post. Interesting idea. If that is really what these women want, and they are happy, good for them.
LOL! Wide eyed horror isn't a response I was expecting, but I can see why you had it. You're right of course, it was an era of supression, but I don't know just how accurate their lifestyles really are. But, as you say, as long as they're happy.
DeleteLike Joe pointed out, back in those years men seemed to be shot at a lot by Nazi's and such. I think I'll pass. Not that I'm all that technologically savy, but having a few modern gizmos is kinda nice.
ReplyDeleteS
That's probably a wise precaution.
Deleteamazing post :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting!
http://bubblemylicorice.blogspot.com/
But... How do they look at porn?! No Internet means no freaky-deaky porn!! Not... Not that I watch it...
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Valerie
Maybe they go old school and look at magazines? It's a bit before my time, but I hear that's how they used to do it back in the olden days.
DeleteI like the idea of vintage values but I need my electric toys to keep me happy.
ReplyDeleteOh me too, totally!
DeleteWow. That was really fascinating. I would really miss tampons and modern dental care, though.
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely! No one's getting me into one of those god awful belt contraptions!
DeleteI am not prepared to go without my smartphone for a day let alone household conveniences. I like my techy gadgets and I love my appliances. Oh, heck there would be a HUGE list of stuff I would miss.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a really interesting concept but not for me. Each to his own I suppose.
I'm more than happy to let other people do it and watch the results :D
DeleteDepends on the extent we gotta give up things. I could do without my smart phone but kind of like my tv and laptop. Would need wifi to keep the laptop going but I could definitely limit that. I like cooking and the look but I need some time out of the house otherwise I'd go nuts.
ReplyDeleteI definitely couldn't live without my internet access, it'd be a decider for me.
DeleteKellie! I will have to come back in a few days. Today has been a very crazy busy day and I am not sure why. It is almost like the holidays are way behind us now so lets get back to the responsible stuff and it all hit today. So I will watch it and then let you know. I'm interested. I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it!
DeleteWow.. Those are some dedicated women. I'm not sure I could live that way permanently but it might be fun for a weekend. Thanks for sharing. That was really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think I could maybe manage it for a few months (as long as I still had the internet), but I'd want an out clause.
DeleteVery interesting but no. I like my life just fine now and not having ac in the summer? No! Not ready to switch from television to smellovision thanks.
ReplyDeleteDo stop by my blog; I have something for you there!
Oh god, I hadn't even thought about that! Oh hell no, I'm not living without aircon! It just ain't happening!
DeleteCongrats on the award from Jacqueline.
ReplyDeleteIn one word NO I think we should keep going forward not backwards. I think they are hiding from the real world but I am happy they are happy. To each their own. I lived like that for twenty years and in most areas I think I still do. I now love technology and want to keep going forward. I am so past that:) B
That certainly seems to be the consensus. I expect they are hiding a bit, but then again I guess I hide in the internet so I can't really judge. I've got to say though, their avoidance is done with a lot more style than mine!
DeleteI like a bit of prewar existence, in fact I wouldn't mind living in a cave. I would miss the internet, at first. And socks. A blend of high and low tech suits me best: a cave with indoor plumbing and wi-fi.
ReplyDeleteLOL! A nice two up, two down cave with central air and good wifi reception? Sounds good to me!
DeleteI'm definitely going to have to watch this video. Such an interesting post!!! I too LOVE this era and the fashion. The women always looked so classy!!!!!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Ashley
The style is definitely lovely. I wish I had the patience to do it, but I think I'll just have to make do with wearing the clothing style (it's suits my frame, luckily).
DeleteI love the vintage life and live the life myself much like these women but have got rid of my microwave and use a stove to heat my home from chopped wood and i use an oil lamp and candels for light when possible and I know its hard to give up laptops and tv wish i could but I think these people are in a bubble and not truely living through the real hardships of these eras. I regularlly go through finacial hardship in my 400 year old cottage with no insulation as a stay at home house wife and have to use ration recipies to get me through as my late grandmother taught me she lived in london throught the blitz. My other Granny is 90 so was born in 1923 and she was there living throught these eras and loved it but she had to work in factories and keep a home with no running water or mains electricty and my Granda says it was called the hungry 30's. So no hidden mircowaves and laptops then! but it is weird how they wont have children as during these eras my great aunt had 16 children and that was all part of life back then and i plan to start a family myself. but any how loved the program and im off now from some earl grey in my royal albert tea cup lol
ReplyDeleteI guess that's the difference, isn't it. They don't do it because they need to or because they've decided it would be a better alternative, they do it with the safety net of knowing they can back out at any moment.
DeleteThey look adorable, but could I do it? No. I wonder how long they can maintain this lifestyle or if the modern world will one day seep into their lives.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I've always said if I was dumped back 100 years what would I want to bring and I have decided it would be my refrigerator. Nothing like eating a piece of meat gone bad to spoil the evening. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDelete