在恩菲尔德的家中,他在床底下存放着两只彩色箱子,里面是童年时代已经松动的乐高玩具,他还用各式各样怀旧的大件模型来装饰房子.比如有一只大众牌露营车的乐高玩具（价值85英镑）,这是去年夏天他与阿黛尔收到的结婚礼物,这件乐高总是让他们想起在新西兰时开的那辆大众车.还有一只星球大战的"X-Wing战斗机",这是他所在的青年组织一起买给他的谢礼.而私下里,他每两个月左右就添一件新的收藏品,通常都是乐高城市系列的趣玩基础款,这些东西不像有些玩具那么幼稚.
"In a way, this comes around with each generation," says Lou Ellerton, a brand consultant with considerable experience tracking consumer trends. "A decade ago, people might remember board game cafés being all over the news. That was Generation X experiencing the same nostalgia and backlash against work; we called them 'greenagers' – grown-up teenagers. What we're seeing now is Generation Y having the same feelings, and they're less ashamed about it."
"某种程度上说,每代人都会这样,"善于捕捉消费趋势的品牌顾问卢•伊勒顿说,"十年之前,人们或许还记得,新闻中全是桌游咖啡厅的报道.那是有着相同的怀旧情绪并且同样厌恶工作的X一代（出生于1970年代的美国人）,我们称他们是"成年的孩子们".而我们现在所看到的是Y一代（出生于1980年后的美国人）相同的情感,只不过他们不那么感到羞愧了."
Indeed, as millennials have sought to return to the toys of their own childhoods, clever brands have pandered to their every needs, often charging very adult prices for essentially souped-up versions of 90s toys. Could it be that Gen Y, unable to afford to move on with their lives in the traditional sense – getting a mortgage, for one – are seeking more immediate pleasures?
的确,当千禧一代回归各种儿时的玩具时,精明商家便努力迎合他们的各种需求,经常把改装过的90年代的玩具高价卖给成年人.Y一代会不会因为承担不起传统意义上长大的代价——比如支付不起抵押贷款——而去寻求更加直接的乐趣呢？
"Probably true," says Ellerton. "If they put every spare pound they get into savings now, it could [still] take 10 or 15 years to get a deposit. This generation is characterised by not putting off today for tomorrow – they spend on experiences, so £500 for a toy is worth it to them."
伊勒顿说："很有可能是这样.如果他们把多余的每一分钱都存进银行,也得花10到15年才能有一笔像样的存款.这一代人的特点就是及时行乐,他们喜欢花钱体验生活,所以一个价值500英镑的玩具对他们来说是物有所值."
And it's not just millennials. The 'middle aged' bracket of 34-50 may be least likely to buy their own toys – as they're most likely to have young children themselves – but baby boomers account for a fifth of the 'kidult' market spend.
不仅仅千禧一代是如此.34到50岁的中年一代应该是最不可能给自己买玩具的人群,毕竟他们基本都有自己的孩子了,而事实却是,战后婴儿潮一代（1946年-1964年出生人群）的消费竟占据了五分之一的"成人玩具"市场.
"I have a lot of toys around the house, but it's more of a way of connecting with the kids," says Andrew Birkin, a 71-year-old screenwriter with young children from his second marriage. "[The toys] went away when my older ones grew up, but now I get them out to spend time with them and fiddle about myself. I'm fortunate – my five-year-old loves World War One and rockets and planes, so that's interesting for me as well. I even bought a drone, to take photos and show him."
"我家里有很多玩具,但这些大多都是与孩子们一起玩耍用的,"71岁的编剧安德鲁•伯金这样说,他与继子女住在一起."年纪大一些的孩子们长大后,他们的玩具就都收起来了,但是现在我把它们找了出来,陪孩子们玩,自己同时也以此打发时间.我很庆幸我五岁的小儿子喜欢一战玩具,还喜欢火箭和飞机,我对这些也很感兴趣.我甚至还买了一架无人机,用来拍照并给我的小儿子展示."
Willner's motivations are slightly more profound. When he became a man, it was important he didn't put away childish things.
而维尔纳想得更深刻一些.当他长大成人时,还能葆有一颗简单的童心是多么的重要.
"I don't want to be one of these people surrounded by models or spending all my money [on toys], but it's more like a symbol of what really matters – fun."
"我不想成为那些整天围着玩具模型团团转的人,也不想把所有钱都花在玩具上,但是这些玩具却能够代表生活中真正重要的东西,那就是乐趣."
英文来源：每日电讯报
