Absolutely. My grandparents always talked of the 1930s as a magical era of creative problem solving. Of how people helped each other. Of Depression era food. Of the freedom young people had to pursue their own interests and roam the woods. Etc. Because that was life when they were young and full of hope. Stepping into their place in this country. And before the horrors of another world war.

I often think back on the 70s and early 80s the same way. Idyllic. But there was an energy crisis. High unemployment. Drugs were starting to make their way through the country. Childhood was becoming both criminalized, scheduled, and medicated for many. Rise of gangs. AIDS. The beginnings of climate warnings that no one heeded. Oil wars. Etc. They weren't that great. They weren't all bad either.

Memory and perception are tricky things.