A List of New Luxuries
In an effort to go against the rising fear and talk of how bad things are, I decided to work on a list of possessions we now take for granted that were not common to the general public 100 years ago either because they had not been invented or were too expensive. Our lives have become immeasurably easier and we are accustomed to more luxuries than we know. Our population is better off than many of the richest kings throughout history. Perhaps they ought to do this on the news instead of continuing to spew phrases such as “in tough times like these,” “not since the great depression,” or “with such uncertainty.” This would certainly help counter the class envy being stirred up right now throughout the nation.
Our comforts have grown so greatly that compiling a complete list of this nature would be impossible. Here are a few items I’ve come up:
- Cars (and the litany of refinements they’ve experienced)
- Air conditioning
- Goretex, Kevlar, Scotchguard
- Titanium
- TV, DVD, DVR, Blu Ray, High Definition TV
- MP3 Players, CDs, Stereo Systems
- Bicycles with gears & advanced components, skateboards, in-line skates
- Sporting goods, clothing, facilities for any sport imaginable
- Interstates & Highways
- Air travel
- Plastic
- Shoes engineered & made for specific purposes
- LASIK eye correction
- Restaurant dining
- Soft drinks
- Candy that’s mass produced and no longer considered “a treat”
- Starbucks & ungodly expensive coffee
- Microwaves, Fridges, Freezers, Dishwashers, Bread makers, rice cookers, and other kitchen appliances
- Health Clubs
- Professional Sporting Events–ability to attend games or watch on TV
- Internet, Email
- Cell Phones & Landlines that connect almost instantly
- Cameras – both photographic & video
- Shopping options unimaginable 100 years ago in terms of quantity of stores & items available
- Gas Grills
- Dental Care & all its advances
- Medical Care & all its advances, increased quality of life, life span
- Sunglasses
- Copy machines
- Skin creams, ointments, vitamins, pain killers, etc.
- Firearms & numerous advances
- Book availability on an unprecedented scale
- 911 & emergency services
- Electricity & lighting everywhere throughout country
- Snowmobiles, ATVs, Personal watercraft, etc.
- Washing Machines & Dryers
- Supermarkets
- UPS, FedEx, and reliable package delivery
- ….and many, many more that ought to give us reason to pause and give thanks.
Can you add anything to the list? What advances commonplace advances have made your life easier?
