Going through my grandparents’ belongings, I learned a lot about their lifestyle and standard of living.

For instance, their everyday plates, saucers and cups were “Platinum Wheat,” a brand of which one received a new piece with the purchase of food dry goods.  Same for their forks, spoons and knives.  Even one of their antique lamps, converted from kerosene to electric, was once free with the purchase of ten gallons gasoline.

Much of their furniture was purchased secondhand, at thrift stores or such.

Such, indeed, was the life of a chief warrant officer and his wife in the middle decades of the 20th Century.

Lowcost life in the lower half of the state of Florida.

Drove a Dodge Dart for a long time.

Entertained themselves and their neighbours with self-produced staged shows, taking the productions to local community centres, senior centres and nursing homes.

He fished and smoked cigarettes until emphysema put him on an oxygen machine.

She made experimental floral arrangements for Federated Garden Club competitions until old age put her in a wheelchair.

A happy life together.

Comfortable.

What more do we, can we, will we ask for?