I recently read a Facebook post that talked about a microgeneration – sandwiched between Gen X and the Milennials – unofficially named the “Xennials.” This group, born in the short window between 1977 and 1983, is said to encompass those who had an analogue childhood but are now living a digital adulthood. Having arrived on scene at the tail end of 1977, I guess that makes me a Xennial. Quite honestly I do feel caught between two worlds sometimes: excited to see what the future holds, possess the latest high-tech gadget, eagerly awaiting the arrival of flying cars and tele-transportation like in the shows and movies of our childhood, but also longing for a return to that childhood, the simplicity of it, the face-to-face and safety of it.
As our world expands and moves forward, it seems that this generation especially realizes that not every step toward the future is the right one, and there are things that shouldn’t have been left behind, or at least should have been more carefully thought through before being brought into reality.
April marks our Green / Nautical issue, and while of course the term “green” in this sense means being concerned with the environment and our effects on it, while putting together the magazine this month and thinking about my newfound Xennial label it’s occurred to me that it’s really about so much more.
Green is about righting past wrongs and ensuring we have a clearer vision for the future. Green is about finding some of those important things we’ve lost: farming, a simpler life, doing things for ourselves, making things from scratch, working together for a common cause … green is about ripping up the carpet to find the beautiful hardwood underneath, going back to butter and ditching the margarine; tossing the tupperware and embracing glass again, eating in instead of out, or even better, growing our own dinner.
Of course I’m not implying that the so-called Xennials are the only ones who are embracing the green lifestyle; a quick glance through the preceding pages makes it very clear that we are not. But the tipping point between past and future that Xennials represent is an important thing. On the cusp of a generational change, these might be the people best able to act as interpreter for those on either side. They are also uniquely placed to recognize the great ideas from both generations, and help to pick only the best ones to move forward with. I hope you find some new ideas in this month’s issue, and maybe some new, old ideas too!
