Back then I was living and working on an island nature reserve (great experience, but nothing like as idyllic as that sounds to a lot of people) and my marriage was going through a rough patch.
Since then I’ve changed roles, been promoted, moved back to the mainland - moved 3 times in fact - but am now settled and our marriage is going much more smoothly. Retirement is on the horizon.
I think my equivalent at that age would have been going to a friend’s house to watch their newly acquired colour TV instead of our B/W one.