Blast from the Past
Everyone needs a hobby. However, young people—20-somethings who grew up attached to a cell phone or a computer—seek hobbies that allow them to completely unplug, because being chained to an electronic device for their entire life has left them teetering on the edge of digital burnout. So, sapped by the tech of today, younger generations are looking into Meemaw’s sewing kit—a repurposed shortbread cookie tin—to find intrinsic value far, far away from the bombardment of their devices.
But it’s not just the escape from tech that’s making young people gravitate towards geriatric hobbies, it’s the subconscious fascination with the idea of retirement and a longing for the peace that comes along with it. We saw our grandparents reach retirement age, enjoying nature walks at the park, cookie-baking afternoons with their book club, and water aerobics classes, and it’s tough not to be a little bit jealous of their carefree analog lifestyle. Newsweek’s life and trends reporter, Alyce Collins, says that “many millennials feel exhausted by the world of constant connectivity, and [hobbies have] proved a hugely rewarding experience.” Lo and behold, in an era of hustle and bustle, Grandma-esque hobbies have resurged. According to the TOI Trending Desk of Times Entertainment, “The aesthetic is meant to evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia and to encourage people to appreciate the simple things in life.” Grandmacore hobbies are the kinds of activities that you can take your time doing, dialing down your screen exposure and disengaging from device-mania, while concentrating on a task that brings intrinsic fulfillment—just like your retired grandparents.
Social Insecurity
The future is more uncertain than ever for younger generations, and retirement is severely threatened. Teresa Ghilarducci, an economist at the New School for Social Research, says, “The pension system disappeared, Social Security isn't enough, and even the concept of retirement is beginning to disappear.” Without the financial safety net of retirement, many of us have steeled ourselves to work forever—but not without our beloved hobbies.
Young people, who know their chances of a state-bankrolled retirement are slim, yet the conceptual magic of enjoying your retirement era is hypnotic. Hannah Arnold, a millennial who started her own embroidery channel on TikTok, says, “I think part of it is the desire to kind of find some slowness in your day, versus the constant fast-paced rat race of what we were kind of taught was what we should be doing." Albeit oversimplified, cosplaying as a retired person gives young people a taste of the envied security of past generations who had it all. Overwhelming technology, rising inflation, and the dissolution of the common man’s retirement fund makes a secure and safe future feel unlikely.
However, through the hidden treasures of long-forgotten hobbies, we can leave behind our algorithm’s bombardment, the tumultuous news coverage, and that murky crystal ball dictating our future, and simply enjoy the bird songs in our garden or a simple chess game with a kind neighbor. Fixated by analog interests, young people can momentarily find comfort in mock-retirement.
Making Lemonade
We’ve come to terms with the reality that our futures will look nothing like the structured, comfortable, and paid-for retirement years of our parents' generation. The Social Security system is falling apart after years of running at a deficit, pensions don’t exist anymore, inflation is exponential, and the world is just not panning out in the favor of millennials and Gen Z—but that's nothing new to us, right? With that in mind, young people have opted to enjoy their 'retirement' years while they're still young and employed, picking up historically geriatric hobbies like birdwatching, knitting, flyfishing, and woodworking to create their own version of peace, despite the collapsing promise of future stability. Kineree Shaw, a financial analyst, reports, “At least one in 10 Gen Z and Millennials say they may never retire.” But that’s not stopping us from faking our way into the retirement mindset.
Through Grandma and Grandpa's hobbies, younger generations are manifesting retirement vibes, meditating through slow-paced activities, and finding intrinsic value in the present, instead of carving out a definitive plan for the future.
Early Retirement
With the bird almanac earmarked, weathered, and full of notes on your coffee table, birdwatchers find happiness in simplicity. Like tiny, flying works of art, anybody can grab a pair of binoculars, go outside, and take a peek at the warblers, sparrows, swallows, and fowl that inhabit the neighborhood treetops, flying high above the human world of hustling chaos. Transcending the worries and tribulations of man, birds have found their peace, so why can’t we do the same?
And through the timeless hobbies of our grandparents, young people can finally fly above the radar. If only for a moment, they can put down their phones, close their laptop, and open their eyes to a faux sense of security and play-pretend early retirement. Similarly, cozy warm cookie bakeoffs, plant propagation, knitting, and gameshow nights piqued the youth’s interest as we manifest a false sense of Social Security.
Because if you’re never going to actually retire, you might as well enjoy the next best thing: Old people's hobbies.