"The mood of the 80s - Get what you can, can what you get, and sit on the can"

This quote by Patricia Schroeder is a funny way of describing the economic and social climate of the 1980s. It suggests that people need to make the most of any opportunities they can discover, make the most of what they have, and be prepared to wait on better times. The expression "rest on the can" is a colloquial method of saying to be patient and wait for much better times. This quote reflects the mindset of many individuals during the 1980s, when the economy was having a hard time and people needed to be resourceful and innovative in order to make ends satisfy. It likewise reflects the spirit of strength and determination that many people had throughout this time, as they strove to take advantage of what they had and to reconcile a difficult situation.