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6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JUNE 2026 By Annette Hillis, Resident Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, often take a nostalgic look back with a bit of sloppy sentimentality. Fond memories include the social and political changes they initiated, the blossoming music scene of the 1960s and 1970s, black-and- white, rabbit-eared televisions, which later transitioned to color, and safer, close-knit neighborhoods. Saturday morning cartoons were part of a Boomer's lazy weekend, along with listening to a transistor radio, playing vinyl records, or attending the local drive-in movie theater. This generation lived loudly and laughed hard. Even so, the dreamy-eyed depiction of a simpler time must include that it was also riddled with controversies and upheaval: the Vietnam War, political assassinations, and the popularity of drug use, to name a few. We experienced it all. Over the years, we lost many of the hallmarks of our era, but we gained some valuable innovations. We used to communicate with landlines (along with those annoying tangled cords), handwritten letters, or over-the-fence conversations. Now, we instantly connect via texts, emails, and FaceTime. Sure, the ability to read a map has vanished, but GPS has rescued us time and time again. No more asking the corner gas station attendant for directions. The once ubiquitous Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs are now outdated, and browsing at the mall is not as popular. Instead, those bulky books have morphed into scrolling, and the requirement to leave the house to buy has been replaced with expedient, online shopping. Additionally, old-fashioned cameras once required a trip to the local Foto-Mat to pick up our snapshots. Today, we've traded that delay for instant gratification with our smartphones which gives us thousands of photos and videos right at our fingertips. Some of our generation believe that the old ways built character and unity. Remember when the entire world watched a TV program at the same time? The shared experience of the moon landing, or Elvis Presley and the Beatles on e Ed Sullivan Show, brought us all together. We recall feeling the anticipation of waiting a whole week before the airing of the next episode of our favorite show. It taught us to be patient. Currently, we binge-watch shows and get real-time news updates constantly. Scheduled play dates are now the norm. Yet, at times, it feels as though we've lost the simple habit of just knocking on a friend's door. Gluten- free and organic foods are universal, as is nutritional awareness. Eating together at the family dinner table, however, may not be "trending" as much as it once was. Today we may have numerous "followers," but we may be losing touch with the most important people right next to us. Life back then wasn't better; it was just different. Perhaps the real goal is to keep a foot in the past as we enjoy our new reality — and to keep a grandchild nearby to help us with our tech. Thankfully, when all is said and done, at least we no longer have to rewind a VHS tape. What Baby Boomers Have Lost and Gained