Technology was much simpler and if you were involved in it you had the opportunity to experiment with it, no 'elf and safety' you could cobble up things and experiment. Electronics were a lot simpler too, my early years in the TV trade where you could see exactly how things worked made for easy repair and dare I say it modification, in fact practically every thing in life was simpler. I was blessed with a happy childhood, nothing to do with my parents or money - I didn't have any, (money that is) but it was interesting, by poking my nose into things I got a number of invitations to look round various plants, a brand new gasworks and an ice making plant in Penzance when we were on holiday for instance, this was in about 1950 though.
I used to maintain the PA system in a paper mill as part of my work in the '50s and had free run of the place, I had a thirst for knowledge and this sort of thing brought me immense enjoyment.
Jim
You are happy because you are content with the simpler things (apart from Citroens) and get lots of exercise as most people did back then, I used to cycle everywhere as did many people, there were not many cars. The present system of things has made many people unhealthy and dare I say, lazy and fat.
Keep it up Jim.
Peter