New Seniors

Maybe it’s me, but a friend, who is also a pre-boomer, told me he is moving into a retirement facility later this year. I could not determine if he was pleased or simply resigned to it. This man is younger than I am, so it got me to thinking about this as an option down the road. Probably many of us at the farther end of the generation born between 1930 and 1945 have thought about this possibility, so let’s explore it.

Some say experience is what you gain when you don’t get what you want. A less cynical way to look at what New Seniors offer society is the knowledge base and the character built by having lived life for 65+ years. We can look back on even the seemingly bad times and still find something worthwhile to share with other generations. So our role is to be the teachers of life’s lessons for all who listen and observe.

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.

An unrepresentative form of government, or one that treats the majority of Americans that way, may be the reason behind the President’s plummeting approval rating and why so many Congressional incumbents facing re-election in November are likely to be sent home rather than back to Washington. Less than 18 months after the new administration was seated, citizens are dissatisfied with the direction in which the country is going, especially those 65+.

If you think you know what its like to be 65, how about answering these questions. What’s it feel like to be retired? Do you remember how old you were when you realized you were 65? How far into the future do you make plans? Have people gotten up so you can have a seat? When was the first time someone called you an old-timer (fogey, coot, geezer or as a senior) ? If you haven’t experienced any of these just wait. It’ll happen.

Don’t be put off by this bold statement, but don’t dismiss it either. The plans for this country were drawn up by the founding fathers. Our ancestors who came here believed in the promise America offered and found a place where they could be free to pursue their dreams. They built the country. Now it’s time to remodel.

When does blind faith end and fiscal responsibility begin to sink into the minds of the politicians in Washington? With the nation’s economy and attention to financial stability as the top issues, according to about 60% of adults, elected officials continue to ignore conventional wisdom in favor of more spending. To many of them, throwing money at a problem is the only answer they know, even though polls show that people are tiring of this kind of thinking.

The number of visitors to NewSeniors.com has dramatically increased over the past several months. This growth may be due to our higher rankings on search engines. Or it could be because of publicity generated through the traditional media. Best of all, it appears the site is benefiting from people like you telling others to take a look at us.

We are the most fortunate individuals in American history. Because of the hard work and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation and those before them, we received much. For this we are grateful. The values, traditions and hopeful spirit of the builders and defenders of this country are a legacy which we now have the responsibility to pass on to generations following us.

Surveys indicate that today’s parents are afraid their children will not have a life as good as theirs. As grandparents and great grandparents, the pre-boomers have the time and the experience to help solve this problem by getting involved with their local school board and volunteering to help at the individual school level. After all, don’t these kids deserve the opportunities past generations gave us?