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Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

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101–110 of 116 posts

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#101

Shit man, who are these people getting so much alone time? I struggle to find 5 minutes to myself these days (34 years old).

Say more about your situation.

I have a lot of alone time, even though I live with my partner. I don't have coworkers, kids, family, or friends, so if I'm not with my partner, I'm alone.

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#102
post #59
post #54

One thing I have noticed now, and I'm not sure if its a function of myself and my family being older, is that we feel much less compelled to get together for holidays and other events even though the travel time has remained mostly the same. When I was younger, my family would make it a habit of getting together at least on Christmas and Easter and usually also the 4th of July for a big party. Not everybody lived sup…

I came across an interesting take on this in the book Algorithms to live by [1]. They argue that old age is a time of exploitation (as in explore/exploit strategy) where we tend to prioritize relations/experiences that we know to be rewarding. At a younger age, we are more accommodating to explore new experiences. That is why a teenager entering a dorm in a new environment full of strangers can get excited while for…

> while for old people entering a retirement home it can be a harrowing experience

if this example is from the book, I guess I just lost my interest. Totally different scenarios, apart from "living with other people"

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#103
post #101

Shit man, who are these people getting so much alone time? I struggle to find 5 minutes to myself these days (34 years old).

Say more about your situation. I have a lot of alone time, even though I live with my partner. I don't have coworkers, kids, family, or friends, so if I'm not with my partner, I'm alone.

I have a wife and two young children. I work remote so I am around them all the time.

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#106
Dang I just turned 30 and according to this graph, I will be looking to spend even more time alone each year although I have two kids and a partner.

I think this could also be related to our culture shaping around modern technology such as the internet and social media. We're more connected than ever, but even more alone.

This isn't to say we're "lonely" in terms of community, but rather we experience our respective communities "alone".

I think our culture needs more people who point out that their love can be misplaced. When you're desperately in love with someone, it's almost impossible to see their failings. When you get enough distance however, you can see how problematic something can be. I think that applies to family, friends, coworkers, and even the technology we use every day.

It's a sad realization, but a realization nonetheless.

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#107

Dang I just turned 30 and according to this graph, I will be looking to spend even more time alone each year although I have two kids and a partner. I think this could also be related to our culture shaping around modern technology such as the internet and social media. We're more connected than ever, but even more alone. This isn't to say we're "lonely" in terms of community, but rather we experience our respective…

Looking at my parents who are further along on the X axis it seems part of that "alone" may be due to assisted living or deceased spouses (ie, not by choice).

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#108

I don't understand this data. How is the average 15 year old spending 23 minutes a day with their children?

It doesn't say "their children" it says "children". Perhaps siblings count? I was basically responsible form younger sibling when I was growing up like 1-2h a day (we were latchkey kids).

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#109
post #108

I don't understand this data. How is the average 15 year old spending 23 minutes a day with their children?

It doesn't say "their children" it says "children". Perhaps siblings count? I was basically responsible form younger sibling when I was growing up like 1-2h a day (we were latchkey kids).

I'm assuming siblings would be "family"

Re: Who do we spend time with across our lifetime? (2020)

#110

Whenever I have a family vacation, I can’t help but think how unnatural our present lives are. For thousands of years, we essentially just lived with and around family. Yet now I get to see my entire family for a few days every year. Some cousins I haven’t met in years. The people I spend the most time with everyday are also the people I care the least for - colleagues and acquaintances. I don’t have a solution. But…

Yeah its really sad. Most of the time I've spent with my family has already happened. The future holds at most a week or two each year in the future. It is really hard as well since I really dont want to live in the part of the country ANY of my family currently lives in.
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