If you could live during any period, in any country...

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daviddd!1994

in a southern usa state just for the antebellum houses! early 1900's or 1930/40's please :smile:

...i wonder if what time period we feel drawn too has an relevance to maybe 'past lives' or something like that...haha

Yeah I've always thought that too! There was the program on tv a while back where they helped celebrities unlock their past lives. A lot of them were things they were interested in or felt a connection to.

Reply 121

arbaaz

1920's in america when it was the boom.

Reply 122

pellejema

Original post by philistine

Where and when would you choose, and why?

I'm a bit obsessed with Regency England so I'd definitely consider being the landed gentry of the Prince Regent's time. OR the Edwardian era, purely for the dresses.

Reply 123

madferit-lfc

Russia 1918 is that utopian socialist society

Reply 124

jimcatinnes

I honestly read this as "if you could have your period in any country"

In answer to the actual question:

I think I'd chose France about 1910 or so. I'm not entirely sure why....

Reply 125

philistine

Original post by jimcatinnes

I think I'd chose France about 1910 or so. I'm not entirely sure why....

It's so you could get absolutely clattered with Modigliani, Diaz, Picasso and Renoir, of course.

Good times, I'd bet.

Reply 126

Concept186

About a century from now, Japan. Just to see what newfangled contraptions they've come up with by then, but the further into the future you go the less likely you're able to guarantee that the place you land in hasn't collapsed and become a brutal third world dictatorship by the time you arrive. Also because Japan seems to have a collective hardon for futuristic stuff, which I can definitely respect.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 127

TurboCretin

I wish I had been born about ten years earlier, and lived my life exactly as I have.

Basically, I wish the recession had happened some time other than when I'm about to embark on a career.

Reply 128

diggy

1950s America same age would have said 90s but the gun crime was too much

Reply 129

Curzon

Images of living in the past are always very romanticised, but forgetting about all that let's see...

Ancient Rome would have been very nice, but depending on who you were of course... a fairly well off merchant maybe, or even a slave in a noble household. Tidy darts. I've wished I could go back in time and visit Rome back then, must have been a sight to see. Wouldn't have been bad to be a Romano-Briton either, after all the dust had settled and Boudica wasn't burning Londinium to the ground. Plus I am completely fascinated by the pre-Christian culture of those people, though in the Roman centres they would have mostly been Romanised. Bugger it, let's go pre-Roman living in a nice oppida in Wales. Sleeping in a chilly roundhouse, dying at 20-something most likely, but it wouldn't be so bad! Maybe I could be a tribal chieftain or something... or.... or a druid :eek:

I'd also love to have been around in the 50s or so, where I live now. From what my parents have said, life seemed to be so much simpler and less impersonal back then...

Reply 130

Papermate15

Late 1970s America- the start of the disco era! :biggrin:

Reply 131

Skarm

Original post by philistine

Where and when would you choose, and why?

For myself, I'd love to have lived during the beautiful era, or 'La Belle Époque', in France. To be the same age as I am now around 1900 - 1910. Man, that would have been amazing. Just...amazing.

The period was famously painted copious times by French artists Eugène Galien-Laloue, Georges Seurat, Jean Beraud, Renoir and many others. Some images:

Interesting in seeing the responses. :smile:

And in just 4 years along comes World War 1, with you the perfect age for conscription.

Reply 132

Shadowplay

Ancient Rome! I'd be a Patrician of course!

Reply 133

aspirinpharmacist

Oooh. Considering my taste in music, films and clothes, I would love to live in 1950's Britain, or 1950's America, but it was still a very sexist time so it wouldn't be that great. Or maybe being middle class in Britain in the early/mid 1800's, one thing I'd definitely do is try and find Elizabeth Gaskell because she's an amazing author. But let's be honest, most of history is going to suck if you're a woman. Wouldn't say no to Renaissance France either. Obviously I'd love to go back and meet Jesus as well, even if he wasn't the son of God, he must have been a great speaker or he wouldn't have had so many people listening to him, would he?

Reply 134

MrHayden

I'm surprised there haven't been more medieval posts on here!
I would love to be around in mid 14th Century England, during the rule of Edward III. Other than the fact that everybody was dying of plague for most of the time, it was beautiful. There was a major political upheaval in which there was a (limited) degree of movement towards secularism, and the official announcement of one united race of English. Fashion developed dramatically, with the long and flowing robes of the earlier years being replaced with fluted and sweeping curves of early Renaissance fashion. Building works became more sophisticated, with stone foundations being introduced to the housing of most people making living conditions somewhat more palatable. Significant wealth flowed into England from the French campaigns and, despite Edward's ultimate failure to secure the French crown, national pride had never been higher! It was a lovely time!
Either that, or the late 9th Century. There is no type of building I prefer to spend time in than the Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus, which is warmer and cosier than any other structure I've ever been in. Also, I would do anything to stand in the shield-wall of Alfred the Great in the epic final stand against the marauding Danish Viking armies at Ethandun. Hooray for Wessex!

Reply 135

L.O.V.E

1980s America, it just seemed a way more innocent time. I know that sounds weird but it looked so much happier.

Reply 136

Patapon

Sixteenth century Japan in the Edo period because it was said to be the most peaceful time in Japanese history.

Reply 137

philistine

Original post by Skarm

And in just 4 years along comes World War 1, with you the perfect age for conscription.

Strong crews. Tempted to neg.

Reply 138

Darrenh800

Either on the backdrop of the American Civil War - I think the slow move from friends to enemies would be interesting to see develop - or the French revolution