Lawnophobia (Millen: how much, big house, neighborhood)

[arjay57]

I was edging out back this morning and it occurred to me what may be at the root of this problem with Millennials and their obsession with density and walkability.

Once you peel away the layers, it’s just plain old lawnophobia. It’s as if they hate grass, lawnmowers, weed whackers, sprinklers, fertilizer spreaders and everything associated with the process of maintaining a nice lawn.

Instead of spending a few hours of honest labor enhancing the natural environment, they’d rather walk down a crowded 12 foot wide artificial path where you can barely get by without bumping elbows or being run over by a bicycle.

So I think that’s it. Maybe these young folks were traumatized by their fathers yelling at them to get out there and mow the grass and if that’s what happened my generation bears some responsibility. All I can say is we were a product of our fathers yelling at us, too.

In any event that was long ago. Yet now it seems like we’re being forced to reshape our entire society as a result of this irrational fear.

Frankly I don’t see an easy way out.

[Iconographer]

Arjay, I did get a chuckle out of this. And yes, I did get pressed into service when it was my turn to mow the lawn growing up.
The amount of lawn remaining in our SSI yard is pretty small, so we use an old fashioned push blade mower to do it. Very 'sustainable', as they say.

[toll_booth]

Arjay...brother...let me let you in on a little secret:

Faux News talking points are bad for your health. Just thought you'd like to know.

[Pemgin]

lol

I like having a decent lawn, but it does suck away time and money I'd rather spend elsewhere. Not afraid of it, just occasionally annoyed by it, like now, since I have to go buy grass seed to cover a few dead spots. Not too surprising that lawn care isn't a priority for younger generations.

Way to find a new dimension for your elbow room argument. Keep up the good work.

[lorilove]

I disagree - most millennials that I know rarely if ever mowed the grass. I am a very late baby boomer and love yard work but also love density and walkability.

My nephew and niece are both millennials and their comments are that they saw their parents stress out about the cost and effort about the upkeep of a big house and a big yard - they also saw how much time their parents wasted in traffic just for that big house and big yard. They don't get it - the stress is not worth it. They want a simpler life and don't need to bigger and better house.

They are both smart hard working = millennials just value their time differently than their parents.

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by lorilove

My nephew and niece are both millennials and their comments are that they saw their parents stress out about the cost and effort about the upkeep of a big house and a big yard - they also saw how much time their parents wasted in traffic just for that big house and big yard. They don't get it - the stress is not worth it. They want a simpler life and don't need to bigger and better house.

I wonder how many Boomer and GenX parents would have chosen differently if they weren't under the (apparently inaccurate) impression that their (apparently down-to-earth) millennial children didn't feel entitled to a big house with their own rooms, own bathrooms and a big yard to play in?

Alternatively, I suppose it's possible that millennials did feel entitled to these things as children, but now that at least some of them have moved out of their parents' house, they "don't see the point."

It will be interesting to see what the preferences of the millennnials' children are. I don't have children myself, but those I've known have all seemed to favor yards, swingsets, playrooms and minivans over urban density and street-level retail. They probably just don't know any better.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by lorilove

I disagree - most millennials that I know rarely if ever mowed the grass. I am a very late baby boomer and love yard work but also love density and walkability.

My nephew and niece are both millennials and their comments are that they saw their parents stress out about the cost and effort about the upkeep of a big house and a big yard - they also saw how much time their parents wasted in traffic just for that big house and big yard. They don't get it - the stress is not worth it. They want a simpler life and don't need to bigger and better house.

They are both smart hard working = millennials just value their time differently than their parents.

Interesting point, indeed LL. I rather remember it being a bit of a competition between families in my neighborhood. I still see 'Lawn of the Month' signs in subdivisions.

[cabasse]

i'll admit it - i took care of my parents lawn as soon as i was old enough to push a mower, and still help out sometimes to this day when i visit my folks in the burbs at 30. i'd rather share a lawn as a park instead of spending precious time dealing with my own.

[arjay57]

I hope nobody is too upset.

I feel like I've gone out on a limb to even mention the L word.

[stoppeddown]

I don't want a large suburban house for the fact I don't want to travel 30 minutes+ in a car every day for 30 years. I have done it in the past and hope to not have to again for many years. That said, cities are getting more and more expensive to live in, so it may become more and more difficult to manage living in close proximity to everything.