Quote Originally Posted by Windup Merchantski View Post
Speaking from my own experience I would say that life back then was about the same as today, living conditions included. Whether everything was really really bad or tickety-boo depended entirely on you just as it does now and I suppose just as it always will. For those wondering how long ago "back then" is, I am 53 so do your own maths.
I think your view is particularly interesting then, since you can remember the USSR from an adult perspective.
Most people here just remember it from their childhood, or not at all.

It seems to me that the situation with flats etc must have changed a lot. People can buy a flat according to their finances, whereas as I understand, in the Soviet Union it was problematic and bureacratic to get hold of a flat, or move to a better one.

One of the reasons Russia is so fascinating is that people there have been through so much, particularly people who are a bit older.
Some people might even remember the hardships of the War, then life in the USSR over a few decades, followed by the chaos and hardship of the 1990s and then now.
Hardly any country had so much drama in its modern history!
Then as it happens, Russia has beautiful nature, fun and friendly people + cool culture.
So all, and all very intereresting!