"You had more working moms and retired parents who had the health and desire to help with the kids," she said. "All these things have come together to rebuild generational ties on a much more democratic basis, out of real friendship rather than loyalty."

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

Linda Eckhardt, a 70-year-old cookbook writer in Maplewood, N.J., is hosting her 44-year-old son while he sets up his own company after losing his corporate job last fall. Several of her friends in their 60s and 70s also had grown children move home in the past six months. "It's really common," she said. "It's like when the economy sneezed it blew out people."

Her son pays "rent" by helping her market her new e-book for the "Silver Cloud Diet." She has been proud to get a firsthand glimpse at his business savvy but they both had adjusting to do.

"My house is not very big," she said. "We have periodic dust-ups — like about spitting toothpaste in the sink and not washing it up. It's the little stuff that drives you wild."

Her son is going to move out as soon as he saves $10,000. He declined to elaborate with a reporter. When his mother handed him the phone, he groaned. "It's a challenge," he said tersely. "Good food and a challenge."