Education played a giant part of the new prosperity. More and more people went and graduated from college and became proficient in their work life. They earned wages and found opportunities that perhaps hadn't been there before, or at least hadn't been tapped by previous generations. A trend to unsaddle oneself from life long debt helped create new types of financing that enabled borrowers to pay off their house and put their money to more creative uses: second and third homes, boats, cars and planes, world wide travel, philanthropic endeavors, better schools for their progeny, hobbies for recreation and relaxation (I am not sure that golf fits in this) etc.
Can you envision the life you wish to create for yourself? One thing we have to realize is it is never to late. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his book "Chasing Life" talks about a man who never did much athletically in his life until he retired. He decided to take up organized sport, running, at the age of 86 and won a 100 yard race in 30 seconds. At age 92 he is now the national record holder at 18.2 seconds. He is just one of thousands of Americans who can see themselves in a better place than they have been, health wise, educationally, financially, religiously or philanthropically. You can too!
The first step to any plan is seeing yourself in it. Get your mind in front and you will follow.
If you wish to pay off your house and have a better financial life you can do it. If you want better health and physical being you can do it. Wrap your mind around your desires and you are on your way. See the results not the process and when you are solidly there in your mind the process will begin. As the president of the Men's Warehouse always says,
"I guarantee it!"