Absolutely nothing. Every day I look around and just cannot believe I'm living the life I have. No way back when I was in KC in the '50s could I imagine being able to live the life I lead or having the material things I have today. We weren't that poor but even the rich folks up on the hill didn't have what I later gained and experienced.
Re the economy, I was looking forward this year on taking a drive-about. This is a driving trip with no preplanned route or schedule, maybe an end date in pencil and a quasi-promise or two to visit friends or relatives. God, it's refreshing and fun! I hadn't done one in a few years -- no time since moving to TV but I was going to force myself. Unfortunately, other things have put it on hold, but gas prices et al would not bother me. If I did 5000 miles, that'd be maybe 200 gallons, say $1.50 more per gallon. That's $300 bucks and on a 10 - 15 day or so trip, that's not a critical issue.
Like you Boomer, I don't want to get into politics. I don't have a tremendous amount of faith in our immediate future, politically, economically, socially, or any other way. But when I compare it to the supposed halcyon days of the '50's and '60's, it's not such a bad world after all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKKjqzkGo3o