I agree w early retirement… there are a lot of kids who aren’t working or going to school and basically need, IMO, a kick in the pants to stop sponging. I have a coworker who can’t figure out how to motivate his daughter into getting a job or getting serious about college. His wife refuss to consider the tough love approach, so they’re enabling her less than productive lifestyle.
And BG – I grew up in coastal San Diego in the 70s… I wasn’t ready for college when I graduated high school… but I got a job and moved out 2 weeks after my 18th birthday… I think it’s more of a generational thing than a geographical thing that is keeping kids at home these days. I see kids lingering at home well into their 20’s back east too.