New Seniors

Before leaving home, you check for emails, see what’s cooking on Twitter and open Facebook to find out if any friends invited you to an event or posted a comment on your wall. On your way for a Starbuck’s you get two cell calls and a text message comes through while waiting in line to pick up your latte. This is typical in today’s expanding social networking world that keeps us informed about people we may hardly know and falls short in delivering the joy experienced when human beings get together face-to-face.

Pre-boomers are at the age where financial security, health concerns and other retirement issues can weigh heavy on our minds. Of course, we share the nation’s worries about the economy, terrorism, and health care. Employment, education, and climate change are troubling primarily because of the effect they will have on our children and grandchildren.

The first lady’s recent remarks to the National Restaurant Association may mean fewer fun foods and more healthy options for kids. Steps have already been taken through the health care reform bill to require eateries to post calorie information on menus. Ad campaigns are being aired to cast a negative image on eating items that are not deemed healthy. Will the next move be to levy ultra-high taxes on sugary, salty, fatty and otherwise “harmful” food as the government tries to regulate us into good health?

Nearly a quarter of the time Americans spend online is devoted to social networking, according to a recent Nielsen study. This represents a 43% increase in share-of-time spent for the biggest single online activity. Blogs are included in the popular social networking sector.

There’s been a lot of press surrounding GM’s introduction of the new electric car, the Volt. Going for over $41,000, this car is designed to create interest in “green” vehicles made in America by an American company. The administration and the government owned automaker hail this a first step in reducing our dependence on fossil fuel, but critics are doubtful and consumers don’t seem to be ready to buy green cars, particularly those 65+.

When television first came on the scene there was little problem with violence, profanity and sexual content in the programs beamed into our living rooms, because most of the regulations were holdovers from the days of radio. Today, the rules are loose and the envelope is be pushed in the name of first amendment rights. Cable TV has fewer restrictions, and when it comes to rules for Internet content, well, there are none. Will this situation worse in the years ahead? This depends on were you stand on the issue.

Flying in the ‘60s was an experience I will never forget. As a pre-boomer, one born between 1930 and 1945, I had the good fortune to see this evolution first-hand. From props to jets. From a slow, uncomfortable means of travel to luxury and rapid convenience. From a special event to an affordable everyday way of conducting business. If you weren’t there, let me share with you some of the glory days of flying. If you do remember those days, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

Pre-boomers were born during the Great Depression or WWII. In spite of hard times the nation experienced, growing up during that era was easier and softer for us in many ways. Some say it was the lack of money that caused us to find simpler means for having fun. Others point to most households having a stay-at-home mom. Another popular notion is that we were the last traditional generation. Actually, all three opinions had a meaningful influence on those who are now New Seniors. Here’s why.

For Pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945), the flavor of the foods we ate was not nearly as important as being substantial enough to fill us up. At least that’s the way it was when we were kids. Food was either hot or cold, sweet or salty, and we didn’t know from spicy. Now high intensity tastes and virtual flavor explosions are the rage, which many believe will become the norm in years to come.

Pre-boomers grew up in a world where parents, for the most part, stayed married no matter what. This was not always good for the kids, but many in less than satisfactory marriages thought it was a good enough reason to stay together. There were many other factors discouraging divorce such as religion, finances and public opinion to name a few. However, society has evolved to the point where divorce has become as big a part of adult life as marriage itself. Now the notion of late life divorce is in the spotlight.