Thread: Are you retro?

I guess I am, either retro or alternative, I don't care much for the modern world but have to live in it, I rarely watch TV, although I love my PC, I'm really into self sufficiency and simple living.

I fish and hunt, make things from wood, drive a beater car etc etc. I'm hoping to start building my own house soon.

I wear modern clothes, but don't own a cellphone.

Originally Posted by Kenrup

Actually, I"m beyond retro. I did colonial era and fur trade era re-enactment. I'd do Roman re-enactment if I look as good in a skirt as jockeys does.

aw shucks

I don't really think of myself as retro. I use straight razors and fountain pens, and have lots of old things, but only if I think they are better than new things. I usually wear overalls and combat boots (unless I'm not at work, and then it's a kilt), which isn't especially old or new. I work as an engineer for a cutting edge defense company, there is nothing retro there.

A lot of my friends seem to think I'm obsessed with old-tyme stuff, but the truth is I'm just obsessed with having BETTER stuff. A fountain pen is better to write with than a ballpoint. A straight razor is better to shave with than a disposable, etc.

Sunbane, thank you for starting this thread. I am totally Retro. My father was nearly 48 when I was born in 1945. I have been around Old School People all of my life. I can do without all modern things except running water. I do appreciate computers and cell phones. I am going solar and wind for them in the future. I never throw anything away and wear "hand me up" clothes from my son who is nearly my sizes. Being warped this way, I realize that I am this economy's worst nightmare! My greatest blessing is that I cannot ever get bored. My mind is too simple to become bored. I never am lost because I never go anywhere. Being retired now, I am working on making my second million dollars. I never made the first million!

I tried to buy a cell phone with a rotary dial. The kid salesman did not know what a rotary dial was!

Artie Shaw and Buddy Holly are the only music I like. Top this for being Retro. Thanks, Robert the Chronologically Challenged Posterboy

Originally Posted by jockeys

A lot of my friends seem to think I'm obsessed with old-tyme stuff, but the truth is I'm just obsessed with having BETTER stuff. A fountain pen is better to write with than a ballpoint. A straight razor is better to shave with than a disposable, etc.

I understand what you are saying and no, liking good stuff doesn't make you Retro. It makes you demanding...
I find the Retro lifestyle something to be pondered uppon. I see no interest in being so Retro that you ban technologies like electricity for the sake of the "perfect" kerosene lamp... Doing stuff like that is not Retro. It's reactionary! But I feel that a Retro lifestyle is a lot more than using old stuff. It's using old stuff if it's better than new stuff. Otherwise it would be simply silly... and outcasting too.
This is how I see it, myself: if a vintage suit is made of better fabric and better tailored than new suits, go for it, you won't regret it; if a fountain pen is better than a ball point (it is, really... and I use nothing other than foutain pens) you should use it... It's a filosophy in itself. A simple one - not necessarily a filosophy of a simpler way of life, you know... a SR needs a lot of work, for instance.
I'm Retro, as I said before... but only if it's worth it. A 70's raincoat is better than a new one; a vintage suit is better looking and more durable than a new one. If it's better... great! No need to be reactionary. But one needs to react to a consumerism dominated society, right?

I'd like to thank everyone who voted and responded so far!
I really enjoy reading your responses.

To add a few thoughts of my own, I think there are several reasons for myself going retro:

Firstly, I really like the esthetics from the beginning of the 20th century - the art Noveau movement in particular. Secondly, I appreciate how things were done back then. I'm in awe of the quality of the workmanship you'll find in products of that era (and up to the 1940's/1950's). Yes, a lot of things were done better back then, and straight razors are a prime example!

Aside of buying kerosene lamps and shaving gear, I'm also...
...participating in historical roleplaying.
...restoring a 1922 Underwood typewriter.
...doing pinstriping with traditional stripe brushes.
...considering gathering a complete edwardian wardrobe.

But like many of you stated, there are many modern things I wouldn't want to live without. I've been into computers since childhood for instance, and then there's the whole development in the political and intellectual areas. But it's kind of funny how I (who is not a political conservative by any stretch) can be very conservative about items and crafts!

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Nice. Now where have I seen that shape before?

You are right. In fact the Toyota 200 GT had I believe 2 prototype cars made specific for one of the James Bond movies. I am sure that the Jag was the inspiration for the design.

My brothers and I inherited this from our father, who was one of the original Toyota dealers in the USA back to 1966. A service man returned to the mainland from Guam and brought this car with him but realized that in New Mexico he would need a Landcruiser more than a sports car. That is how my dad got it - purely as a fluke trade-in.

One of his service managers was a pro at restoring cars and he wanted to do this for us so he did. It took a worldwide search for over a year to procure an original windshield (the curvature is particular) - that is how hard it is to get parts. But the car is 100% factory restored. We used to have it in the showroom of the Toyota dealership but we were urged to store it in a bubble. We drove it years ago and it is a fun car to drive. The interior is the BOMB!!!

I have great memories of that car going back to when I was a kid!!

I do, use and wear what I like and works best for me. Some of it is old and some new. I don't look at objects as 'retro' or modern just their functionality and matched with my desire. Anyone that knows me will say that when I go shopping for something I already have my specifications in my head and that what I am looking for either isn't make yet, very hard to find or very expensive. It makes shopping with me very challenging but in the end I either get what I was looking for, make a moderate compromise or go without and wait until I find what I am looking for.

That said I prefer old rock music but enjoy many different styles depending on my mood. Rock almost always fits in. I enjoy older muscle cars like my Shelby but also find some of the newer rides interesting. I dress appropriate to my surroundings but also make statements that usually don't fit a common style like some of the hats (Russian fur in winter, or fadora in spring and fall) I wear when a hat is in order. As far as relationships go, I'm old school.

Originally Posted by Garrett

You are right. In fact the Toyota 200 GT had I believe 2 prototype cars made specific for one of the James Bond movies. I am sure that the Jag was the inspiration for the design.

My brothers and I inherited this from our father, who was one of the original Toyota dealers in the USA back to 1966. A service man returned to the mainland from Guam and brought this car with him but realized that in New Mexico he would need a Landcruiser more than a sports car. That is how my dad got it - purely as a fluke trade-in.

One of his service managers was a pro at restoring cars and he wanted to do this for us so he did. It took a worldwide search for over a year to procure an original windshield (the curvature is particular) - that is how hard it is to get parts. But the car is 100% factory restored. We used to have it in the showroom of the Toyota dealership but we were urged to store it in a bubble. We drove it years ago and it is a fun car to drive. The interior is the BOMB!!!

I have great memories of that car going back to when I was a kid!!

Can you PLEASE send me some pics! I'm not sure others realize how rare these little 2000 GTs are!

I sail an all original 1887 G.L. Watson Gaff Cutter, need I say more.

PuFF

I went to Grad School at a univerity that could be a bit of a traditionalist, there was a type writer in the back of the library which was vintage 1850s and worked real well. Noticed a tewnty-somthing student pounding out a term paper on the thing, I was amazed that it still worked.