1939 vs. 2011

"I simply love to have to set my alarm clock for anything." 

      - Quoted from Lost Sunrise by Kathleen Norris published in 1939. 

This sentence really stuck out to me.  I simply love to NOT have to set my alarm clock for anything.  It isn't very often in present time that most people don't have to set their alarm clocks.  Our lives are busy and we have to be woken up to start the day. 
I know some people just automatically wake up around a certain time each day without an alarm but as I am not one of those people, (however I do often wake up 10 minutes before my alarm goes off - but I am not very alert) I just love the rare occasions when I can wake up when I wake up.  It gives me a peaceful feeling when I go to sleep if I know I won't be waking up to my alarm. 
This above quoted sentence, demonstrates that life is different now from 1939.  I know people still had jobs so I don't know why they wouldn't need alarms on a normal basis so that they are happy when they have a reason to set it.  I think life was just slower back then. 
I can understand enjoying the alarm if you have something exciting to get up for rather than the every day routine.  It is always easier to get up in that case.  Say for example, I was waking up to go to Disneyland.  I would definitely enjoy setting my alarm for that.