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The Goddess Speaks Genevieve A. Suzuki |
‘Boomerang’ couple lives
with parents for a reasonI've discovered that my husband and I are members of the Boomerang Generation, or at least close to it.
We're really Gen-Xers, but because we live with his parents, we're Boomerangers -- we left home only to snap back. Like a Boomerang. How funny.
Being called the Boomerang Generation sucks for a plethora of reasons. (Yup, I used the word "sucks." Typical Boomeranger lingo, I'm sure.)
First came the Greatest Generation, then the Baby Boomers, Generation X, then Y. Witness the degradation of the generations as evidenced by their monikers.
It was bad enough when some gloriously witty person invented "Generation X." We were the faceless generation that would accomplish nothing.
Slackers -- never mind Tiger Woods, Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, George Stephanopolous or my friends who think getting a master's degree just isn't enough.
Now I get tagged with another nickname, Boomerang Generation, invented by an even more gloriously witty person.
The first article I read on the phenomenon blathered on about how Mary Tyler Moore and the characters in "Friends" would sooner be caught dead than move back with the 'rents.
Moore and the cast of "Friends" -- Oprah love 'em -- are neurotic, self-indulgent characters who make us laugh at their failed relationships and workplace challenges.
Ha. Ha. Ha ha.
Perish the thought that Ross and Rachel look down on those of us moving in with the family.
Reality check on Aisle 9: Moore, Joey and the gang are fictional characters created by people who once lived with their parents.
Money was a consideration in our decision to move back in with his parents. Thanks to a terrific seller's market, we sold our Mililani Mauka townhouse for a profit so that, rather than struggle to pay a mortgage on a starter home, we can save up for the home we'll have for the rest of our lives.
But we're not leeches on our little society. We pay rent -- though reasonably lower than our mortgage -- and we chip in for food. We're still saving rather than spending.
Speaking to sustenance, food is another plus. Derek's mom cooks way better and much healthier food than what we were consuming. Fast food, boxed curry, macaroni and cheese -- if it took less than five minutes, it was on our menu when we were on our own.
As much as I would have loved to become Nigella in the kitchen, the demands of a more-than-full-time job, driving between town and Mililani during rush hour and random extracurricular activities gave me more of a Roseanne outlook on eating.
So yes, we packed up and moved out to move in, and said hello to cohabiting with the in-laws, a good thing for a writer looking for fresh material.
Working from home has allowed me to really get to know my in-laws. For instance, Denis and Iris, retired teachers, really enjoy the Game Show Network. Correction: They love the Game Show Network.
Denis and Iris are avid watchers of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "$10,000 Pyramid," "Jeopardy" and "Lingo," the newest of the bunch.
"Lingo" was the subject du jour last week when my mother-in-law wondered aloud why Chuck Woolery needed his new blond co-host.
"Why do they need her? Why don't they just fire her and give better prizes with the money they would save? What is she doing that Chuck Woolery can't do? And why does he keep touching her?"
Answers: To raise ratings, because she's someone's cousin, Chuck doesn't have breasts, she's got breasts.
What I really said: "Huh."
Rule No. 1 of living with the in-laws: Never opine.
Rule No. 2: Never say breasts. Too awkward.
So we're saving money, eating well, enjoying good company and collecting enough material for a book I'm sure could be a bestseller.
Say what you want about the Boomerang Generation. We'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Genevieve A. Suzuki is a Honolulu freelance writer.
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