Why Comfort Took Over in the 1970s, Understanding Overactive Bladder and Incontinence, and Investing Guidelines for Retirement

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By the time the 1970s arrived, something subtle but lasting had shifted: people stopped dressing, furnishing, and living primarily for appearances and started prioritizing comfort. This wasn’t a passing style choice — it was a change in values, and its influence is still with us.

Fashion in earlier decades often emphasized structure: stiff fabrics, fitted waists, and clothes designed to hold a shape. In the 1970s, that trend softened. Bell-bottom jeans, knit tops, loose dresses, and elastic waistbands became common. Clothes were meant to move with the body, not restrict it. For many people, this was the first time everyday clothing felt practical rather than performative.

The living room changed just as dramatically. Formal seating arrangements gave way to sofas you could sink into, shag carpeting that encouraged sitting on the floor, and coffee tables low enough to gather around. Bean bag chairs and floor cushions weren’t just trends — they reflected a shift toward informality and togetherness. Homes became places to be, not places to present.

Television and music reinforced this comfort-first mindset. Long-form TV programming and full music albums invited people to sit for extended periods rather than come and go. Listening to records on the floor, leaning against furniture, or stretching out on a couch became part of the experience. Entertainment wasn’t something you stood up for — it was something you settled into.

Perhaps most importantly, the 1970s relaxed expectations. You no longer needed a special reason to dress comfortably, eat casually, or rearrange furniture for ease. Comfort stopped being a guilty pleasure and became a legitimate priority.

Once people experienced this new comfortable way of living, it was hard to give up. Today’s casual clothing, open living spaces, and relaxed routines all trace back to the 70’s quiet rebellion against the stiffness and formality of earlier decades.

“The Drawer With the Extra Keys”
From the life overview of Arthur P., 88, Santa Fe, NM. Shared with permission.

In our kitchen, there was a narrow drawer that never quite closed all the way. It sat between the sink and the stove, and inside it lived an assortment of keys: house keys that no longer fit any lock, car keys for vehicles long since sold, and a few I couldn’t have identified even when they were new. Every time the drawer caught, I’d give it a small shove with my hip and promise myself I’d sort it out someday.

Those keys accumulated quietly over decades. A spare made “just in case.” A copy kept after a door was replaced. A key handed back at the end of a job, then forgotten. I knew they were there, but I never felt any urgency about them. They belonged to earlier versions of our life, and I suppose I liked knowing they were close at hand.

After we downsized, I finally emptied the drawer onto the table. The pile looked more chaotic than it should have been, metal clinking against metal as if it were all still in use. I tested a few out of habit, holding them up to the light, turning them in my fingers, trying to remember what they once opened.

I threw most of them away that afternoon. A couple I kept, though I couldn’t have said why. They sit now in a small bowl by the door, not because they unlock anything, but because they remind me how many doors I’ve passed through.

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