What has Become of The Boomers?

I am a Boomer. I never thought of it as a negative until the past 5 years or so when the younger gen, as did my gen, think their parents were “uncool and uninformed.” Truth is, every generation falls out and away from their parents gen, even though they love they parents (mostly).

I returned recently from a cruise starting in Portugal and Spain, going to Europe including France, Monaco and Florence. I know this sounds like a brag. It was magical. It was also filled with boomers in various stages of health (some in wheel chairs).

I hear the complaints from young people of how we are luxuriating in the wealth and time luxury that they wish to have. I get it. I will go into the fact that most of us worked in what is now known as “soul-sucking jobs” for decades, and some of us didn’t get promised pensions, etc. Boo, hoo, as my husband sometimes says (which usually causes the person to argue with him). We were lucky as my husband retired from said “soul sucking job,” worked very hard to begin his own software company well before many other tech companies popped up. I retired also, was lucky to retain my pension and get a “buy-out” from the company, went on to work for him for nearly a decade.

We ascribe by the 3-prong path to “wealth”; save and invest 10 percent at least, work hard and don’t plan on retiring young, collect Social Security if it’s still around. Be generous with your money.

Oh, and vote. You have more power than you think you do. Hopefully, my children and grandchildren and those of many families will inherit what we have, and I hold that thought dear.

Getting back to the Boomers, I’ve noticed that almost every Boomer I know is now living out a “dream” of sorts that began with they were young. For some, it is a hobby; writing a book or poems or journals. painting, music, playing an instrument, having a horse, starting a dog camp. Retirement isn’t a time to sit and watch shows all the time (I’m guilty of watching a limited amount–nothing wrong with that IMO).

So, res assured, lower gens, we love you. We do. We want to pass along what we can. We want to pass along a clean and safe world and country.