Mar 8 2010

How Baby Boomers Are Creating A New America

How Baby Boomers Are Creating A New America
When all the Baby Boomers were charming new relatives with toothless smiles and sweet gurgles, no one would have thought that, as a group, they would create social changes that would actually change this country forever.
Groups of demographers have had a field day creating virtual groups based on year of birth, careers, financial position and any other trait they can think of that would put all Baby Boomers in tidy pigeon holes. Well, that didn’t work!
The first thing you all did was crowd schools, beginning in elementary school and continuing right through college. Your very existence forced schools to add resources and teachers to accommodate the overload. Additionally, you were not the normal students that were mental clones of your parents. You had your own beliefs and acted upon them.
Your financial status depended on when you became old enough to pursue a career or take a job. Those of you born early, 1946 to 1955, had the benefit of a robust job market and an emerging economy to choose from. Those born between 1956 and 1964 had a different, less stable job market ahead of them, which encouraged moving to other locations and making career alterations.
You were too young to march with the civil rights activists, but the Vietnam War did not escape you. At least 30 percent of you served in Vietnam and the rest protested in the streets, passed out leaflets, wrote articles for the newspapers and posted in forums. You were a strong force for change on college campuses.
You held solid opinions about family values, gender identification, social values, sexuality and family solidarity. Because of you and your generation, traditional parenthood and family values changed.  Retirement evolved into something far more elusive to accommodate the changing and failing economy.
Civil Rights protests and the Cold War formed definite political attitudes that did not resemble the attitudes of their parents. Baby Boomers, as a group, believe that the American Military must be strong in order to protect this country from our enemies.
Today, Baby Boomers are old enough to be staring retirement right in the face while knowing that they cannot retire because of financial reasons. So, many continue working, moving on to different jobs if they have to. Boomers are creative, resilient and tough.
Health is a considerable concern to Baby Boomers and they visit their doctors on a regular basis. On the positive side, they are likely to live longer than their parents and be healthier, but aging bodies do need additional care. The sheer numbers of the Baby Boomer population has helped to put both Social Security and Medicare in jeopardy.
Soon, Baby Boomers will leave the workforce in large numbers as they retire and dramatically decrease the workforce. The birth rate decreased after the Baby Boomer period, which means less workers to fill the vacancies left by the retirees. That unbalance might signal more outsourcing of jobs to other countries and a reduction in our country’s production.
These Baby Boomers started creating a new America shortly after their birth and now they are changing America once again as they retire. Who knew?

When all the Baby Boomers were charming new relatives with toothless smiles and sweet gurgles, no one would have thought that, as a group, they would create social changes that would actually change this country forever.

Groups of demographers have had a field day creating virtual groups based on year of birth, careers, financial position and any other trait they can think of that would put all Baby Boomers in tidy pigeon holes. Well, that didn’t work!

The first thing you all did was crowd schools, beginning in elementary school and continuing right through college. Your very existence forced schools to add resources and teachers to accommodate the overload. Additionally, you were not the normal students that were mental clones of your parents. You had your own beliefs and acted upon them.

Your financial status depended on when you became old enough to pursue a career or take a job. Those of you born early, 1946 to 1955, had the benefit of a robust job market and an emerging economy to choose from. Those born between 1956 and 1964 had a different, less stable job market ahead of them, which encouraged moving to other locations and making career alterations.

You were too young to march with the civil rights activists, but the Vietnam War did not escape you. At least 30 percent of you served in Vietnam and the rest protested in the streets, passed out leaflets, wrote articles for the newspapers and posted in forums. You were a strong force for change on college campuses.

You held solid opinions about family values, gender identification, social values, sexuality and family solidarity. Because of you and your generation, traditional parenthood and family values changed.  Retirement evolved into something far more elusive to accommodate the changing and failing economy.

Civil Rights protests and the Cold War formed definite political attitudes that did not resemble the attitudes of their parents. Baby Boomers, as a group, believe that the American Military must be strong in order to protect this country from our enemies.

Today, Baby Boomers are old enough to be staring retirement right in the face while knowing that they cannot retire because of financial reasons. So, many continue working, moving on to different jobs if they have to. Boomers are creative, resilient and tough.

Health is a considerable concern to Baby Boomers and they visit their doctors on a regular basis. On the positive side, they are likely to live longer than their parents and be healthier, but aging bodies do need additional care. The sheer numbers of the Baby Boomer population has helped to put both Social Security and Medicare in jeopardy.

Soon, Baby Boomers will leave the workforce in large numbers as they retire and dramatically decrease the workforce. The birth rate decreased after the Baby Boomer period, which means less workers to fill the vacancies left by the retirees. That unbalance might signal more outsourcing of jobs to other countries and a reduction in our country’s production.

These Baby Boomers started creating a new America shortly after their birth and now they are changing America once again as they retire. Who knew?

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Mar 4 2010

Thinking Outside The Box and Other Boomer Traits

Thinking Outside The Box and Other Boomer Traits
The older we get, the smarter we get and less likely we are to tolerate fools. We’ve figured out that, regardless of how long we live or outlive our friends and family, life is short. We were raised believing that we had to be polite, nice and compassionate, or face our parents and explain where our manners went.
Over the decades since our parents tried to instill old-world manners and beliefs in us, we’ve developed a very low tolerance for poor service from all the vendors in our lives. We may be older, but we are the people who demonstrated for racial equality and ending the Vietnam War. We know what we want and will specifically make our needs clear.
Salesmen and women are used to deflecting customer objections with one more benefit for purchasing the item that almost meets our requirements, but not quite. They always look surprised when we walk out. With life being so short, why would we spend any time with salesmen who are not listening to what we are looking for? It saves a lot of time to only deal with those who listen and offer what we need.
Think about it. Have you put up with bad hair cuts, sloppy or dishonest repairs on automobiles or plumbing, employers who promise the moon and provide nothing? How about friends who take and take and never return the favor or are always busy when you need some help? Do you still hear your mother’s voice telling you to “be nice?” Well, her life was lived in a time far different than yours.
With all the media attention being paid to our diminishing memories or mental capacities, research has proven that our Boomer minds are still a viable intelligence. North Carolina State University conducted research that showed older participants were better at determining honest and intelligent people than younger people. Additionally, researchers at Duke University found that older people have merged the left and right hemispheres of their brains and use both sides at the same time.
When you can think with both sides of your brain at the same time, you can see the big picture when working on a job or problem, including what’s needed and the possible outcomes of different strategies. You will be logically creative and able to think outside the box without much effort.
As a group, we are politically powerful. Almost half of American adults are over 50 years old. Historically that’s a landmark. In a year or so, by 2011,
100,000,000 Americans will be 50 years old or older. Right now, over 3/4 of the financial assets in the U.S. are owned by Boomers over 55 and almost half of the consumer spending in the U.S. is done by Boomers.
When a specific segment of the population in any country is larger than all the other segments put together, that’s real power. As the figures above prove, Boomers own almost all of this country’s financial assets and spend at least a couple of trillion dollars a year.
Medical research and new discoveries have extended the normal life span for Boomers and those who come behind them. Our population is mostly full of older Boomers with a social consciousness and the power to make a real difference in education, politics, medical care and in the lives of those disadvantaged among us.
The older we get, the smarter we get and less likely we are to tolerate fools. We’ve figured out that, regardless of how long we live or outlive our friends and family, life is short. We were raised believing that we had to be polite, nice and compassionate, or face our parents and explain where our manners went.
Over the decades since our parents tried to instill old-world manners and beliefs in us, we’ve developed a very low tolerance for poor service from all the vendors in our lives. We may be older, but we are the people who demonstrated for racial equality and ending the Vietnam War. We know what we want and will specifically make our needs clear.
Salesmen and women are used to deflecting customer objections with one more benefit for purchasing the item that almost meets our requirements, but not quite. They always look surprised when we walk out. With life being so short, why would we spend any time with salesmen who are not listening to what we are looking for? It saves a lot of time to only deal with those who listen and offer what we need.
Think about it. Have you put up with bad hair cuts, sloppy or dishonest repairs on automobiles or plumbing, employers who promise the moon and provide nothing? How about friends who take and take and never return the favor or are always busy when you need some help? Do you still hear your mother’s voice telling you to “be nice?” Well, her life was lived in a time far different than yours.
With all the media attention being paid to our diminishing memories or mental capacities, research has proven that our Boomer minds are still a viable intelligence. North Carolina State University conducted research that showed older participants were better at determining honest and intelligent people than younger people. Additionally, researchers at Duke University found that older people have merged the left and right hemispheres of their brains and use both sides at the same time.
When you can think with both sides of your brain at the same time, you can see the big picture when working on a job or problem, including what’s needed and the possible outcomes of different strategies. You will be logically creative and able to think outside the box without much effort.
As a group, we are politically powerful. Almost half of American adults are over 50 years old. Historically that’s a landmark. In a year or so, by 2011,
100,000,000 Americans will be 50 years old or older. Right now, over 3/4 of the financial assets in the U.S. are owned by Boomers over 55 and almost half of the consumer spending in the U.S. is done by Boomers.
When a specific segment of the population in any country is larger than all the other segments put together, that’s real power. As the figures above prove, Boomers own almost all of this country’s financial assets and spend at least a couple of trillion dollars a year.
Medical research and new discoveries have extended the normal life span for Boomers and those who come behind them. Our population is mostly full of older Boomers with a social consciousness and the power to make a real difference in education, politics, medical care and in the lives of those disadvantaged among us.

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Feb 1 2010

What Is a Universal Design House?

What Is a Universal Design House?
Just what is Universal Design?  It’s a concept that goes by several other different names, including Accessible Design, Diverse Design, and Adaptive Architecture; however, they all mean the same thing.  The goal is to build a home that doesn’t just work for the young, but will enable older people to age gracefully in their own homes.  Let’s take a look at this interesting concept and how to implement it in your life.
Imagine having a home that will work just as well for you at the ages of twenty-five, fifty-five, and eighty-five, without the need to change it or move somewhere else as you grow older. This place would be comfortable and work well as a living space, no matter what kind of physical limitations you had. This is what Universal Design is all about.
The goal is to create products and environments that everyone can use, without the need for special designs or adapting them later. This can be very important, since most of us can expect to develop some kind of disability or illness as we age, which could keep us from getting around a conventional home the way we used to. Many people are planning now, and choosing homes with Universal Design features before they need them.
That means Universal Design houses have larger showers with seats and grab bars built in.  They also have larger, clearer spaces including wider doorways and hallways for wheelchair accessibility.  Included are lower cabinets, higher electrical sockets, and lower closet rods.  In short, less bending, reaching, and maneuvering is required in these homes.  It means these homes can reduce the chance of accidents, including falls, which can be very dangerous as we get older. Completely flat floors and entryways, with no stairs, are extremely common.
A surprising number of our homes are not friendly to people with mobility problems or other types of disabilities. Yet we still live in them.  Look around at your current home and determine how safe it would be for someone with health and mobility issues.  How easy would it be to get around if you were in a wheelchair?  What will life be like when you get older?  Universal Design asks us to take a look at this question and implement techniques to reduce problems for ourselves later on, and for people with disabilities now.
More and more home builders are beginning to understand the need for homes like these. That means there are a surprising number of plans on the market that work well for Universal Design.  Now is the time to plan for our future.  If you’re building a new home, take the time to think about how you’ll live in it in ten, twenty, or thirty years. It could make a huge difference in what you build.

Just what is Universal Design?  It’s a concept that goes by several other different names, including Accessible Design, Diverse Design, and Adaptive Architecture; however, they all mean the same thing.  The goal is to build a home that doesn’t just work for the young, but will enable older people to age gracefully in their own homes.  Let’s take a look at this interesting concept and how to implement it in your life.

Imagine having a home that will work just as well for you at the ages of twenty-five, fifty-five, and eighty-five, without the need to change it or move somewhere else as you grow older. This place would be comfortable and work well as a living space, no matter what kind of physical limitations you had. This is what Universal Design is all about.

The goal is to create products and environments that everyone can use, without the need for special designs or adapting them later. This can be very important, since most of us can expect to develop some kind of disability or illness as we age, which could keep us from getting around a conventional home the way we used to. Many people are planning now, and choosing homes with Universal Design features before they need them.

That means Universal Design houses have larger showers with seats and grab bars built in.  They also have larger, clearer spaces including wider doorways and hallways for wheelchair accessibility.  Included are lower cabinets, higher electrical sockets, and lower closet rods.  In short, less bending, reaching, and maneuvering is required in these homes.  It means these homes can reduce the chance of accidents, including falls, which can be very dangerous as we get older. Completely flat floors and entryways, with no stairs, are extremely common.

A surprising number of our homes are not friendly to people with mobility problems or other types of disabilities. Yet we still live in them.  Look around at your current home and determine how safe it would be for someone with health and mobility issues.  How easy would it be to get around if you were in a wheelchair?  What will life be like when you get older?  Universal Design asks us to take a look at this question and implement techniques to reduce problems for ourselves later on, and for people with disabilities now.

More and more home builders are beginning to understand the need for homes like these. That means there are a surprising number of plans on the market that work well for Universal Design.  Now is the time to plan for our future.  If you’re building a new home, take the time to think about how you’ll live in it in ten, twenty, or thirty years. It could make a huge difference in what you build.

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Jan 29 2010

Are You Moving and Grooving?

Are You Moving and Grooving?
As we get older, it sometimes seems like we need an excuse to get up from our comfy chair.  Yes, we’ve earned the right to relax with a good book or TV program, but getting up and moving is important to our health and longevity.  There are times to be sedentary and there are times to stretch our muscles and give our cardio a shake up.  Let’s explore some ways to increase the exercise without seeming to do so.
Dance
You don’t have to be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars to have fun dancing.  If you haven’t been dancing in a while, ask around and do some investigating to find out where the dancing establishments are.  You might have to be the group organizer, but invite your friends to step out with you.
Perhaps you were never good at cutting a rug – there’s nothing stopping you from taking lessons now.  You could go the Arthur Murray Dance School route or take free line dancing lessons every Tuesday at the Country Western Bar.  Either way, it will be challenging as well as a laugh a minute.
Brisk walks
Walking is one of those anytime, anywhere things that means you don’t have an excuse not to do it.  If you walk alone, it’s good thinking and de-stressing time.  If you like to walk with someone, it’s good gabbing time.  Remember to keep your pace somewhat challenging and don’t shy away from the hills.  Vary your routine to keep it interesting.
Join a gym
I find the gym an excellent place to socialize.  I’ve met many people who will not only gossip and solve world problems with me, but they will encourage me in my exercise endeavors.
Some gyms have a track for walking, which is great if the weather outside is inclement.  Bring a friend to talk to, and you can walk a lot longer.  Same with walking on the treadmill.  Take your cardio up a notch by changing the incline on the treadmill from flat to uphill.
Take the pool plunge
One of the best ways for your body to get exercise, swimming can be as interesting as you make it.  Set little goals for yourself like one lap without stopping or one lap each of the crawl stroke, side stroke, and breast stroke.  Or bring a friend and talk while you both motor along on your kickboards.
If not swimming, then give water aerobics a try. It’s low impact, good cardio, a great calorie burner, and enjoyable for many.
Pedaling
While riding a bike may not be for everyone, it’s a fun way to see the world up close and personal AND get your exercise.  It’s interesting how you notice more around you – colors, smells, sounds, when you’ve slowed down your pace and you’re traveling without your car.
Keeping on with the exercising is even more important now that we’re older.  Exercise does so much good and has been found to help prevent many health issues from finding us as we age.

As we get older, it sometimes seems like we need an excuse to get up from our comfy chair.  Yes, we’ve earned the right to relax with a good book or TV program, but getting up and moving is important to our health and longevity.  There are times to be sedentary and there are times to stretch our muscles and give our cardio a shake up.  Let’s explore some ways to increase the exercise without seeming to do so.

Dance

You don’t have to be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars to have fun dancing.  If you haven’t been dancing in a while, ask around and do some investigating to find out where the dancing establishments are.  You might have to be the group organizer, but invite your friends to step out with you.

Perhaps you were never good at cutting a rug – there’s nothing stopping you from taking lessons now.  You could go the Arthur Murray Dance School route or take free line dancing lessons every Tuesday at the Country Western Bar.  Either way, it will be challenging as well as a laugh a minute.

Brisk walks

Walking is one of those anytime, anywhere things that means you don’t have an excuse not to do it.  If you walk alone, it’s good thinking and de-stressing time.  If you like to walk with someone, it’s good gabbing time.  Remember to keep your pace somewhat challenging and don’t shy away from the hills.  Vary your routine to keep it interesting.

Join a gym

I find the gym an excellent place to socialize.  I’ve met many people who will not only gossip and solve world problems with me, but they will encourage me in my exercise endeavors.

Some gyms have a track for walking, which is great if the weather outside is inclement.  Bring a friend to talk to, and you can walk a lot longer.  Same with walking on the treadmill.  Take your cardio up a notch by changing the incline on the treadmill from flat to uphill.

Take the pool plunge

One of the best ways for your body to get exercise, swimming can be as interesting as you make it.  Set little goals for yourself like one lap without stopping or one lap each of the crawl stroke, side stroke, and breast stroke.  Or bring a friend and talk while you both motor along on your kickboards.

If not swimming, then give water aerobics a try. It’s low impact, good cardio, a great calorie burner, and enjoyable for many.

Pedaling

While riding a bike may not be for everyone, it’s a fun way to see the world up close and personal AND get your exercise.  It’s interesting how you notice more around you – colors, smells, sounds, when you’ve slowed down your pace and you’re traveling without your car.

Keeping on with the exercising is even more important now that we’re older.  Exercise does so much good and has been found to help prevent many health issues from finding us as we age.

TAGS:
Jan 28 2010

Are You Moving and Grooving?

Are You Moving and Grooving?
As we get older, it sometimes seems like we need an excuse to get up from our comfy chair.  Yes, we’ve earned the right to relax with a good book or TV program, but getting up and moving is important to our health and longevity.  There are times to be sedentary and there are times to stretch our muscles and give our cardio a shake up.  Let’s explore some ways to increase the exercise without seeming to do so.
Dance
You don’t have to be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars to have fun dancing.  If you haven’t been dancing in a while, ask around and do some investigating to find out where the dancing establishments are.  You might have to be the group organizer, but invite your friends to step out with you.
Perhaps you were never good at cutting a rug – there’s nothing stopping you from taking lessons now.  You could go the Arthur Murray Dance School route or take free line dancing lessons every Tuesday at the Country Western Bar.  Either way, it will be challenging as well as a laugh a minute.
Brisk walks
Walking is one of those anytime, anywhere things that means you don’t have an excuse not to do it.  If you walk alone, it’s good thinking and de-stressing time.  If you like to walk with someone, it’s good gabbing time.  Remember to keep your pace somewhat challenging and don’t shy away from the hills.  Vary your routine to keep it interesting.
Join a gym
I find the gym an excellent place to socialize.  I’ve met many people who will not only gossip and solve world problems with me, but they will encourage me in my exercise endeavors.
Some gyms have a track for walking, which is great if the weather outside is inclement.  Bring a friend to talk to, and you can walk a lot longer.  Same with walking on the treadmill.  Take your cardio up a notch by changing the incline on the treadmill from flat to uphill.
Take the pool plunge
One of the best ways for your body to get exercise, swimming can be as interesting as you make it.  Set little goals for yourself like one lap without stopping or one lap each of the crawl stroke, side stroke, and breast stroke.  Or bring a friend and talk while you both motor along on your kickboards.
If not swimming, then give water aerobics a try. It’s low impact, good cardio, a great calorie burner, and enjoyable for many.
Pedaling
While riding a bike may not be for everyone, it’s a fun way to see the world up close and personal AND get your exercise.  It’s interesting how you notice more around you – colors, smells, sounds, when you’ve slowed down your pace and you’re traveling without your car.
Keeping on with the exercising is even more important now that we’re older.  Exercise does so much good and has been found to help prevent many health issues from finding us as we age.

As we get older, it sometimes seems like we need an excuse to get up from our comfy chair.  Yes, we’ve earned the right to relax with a good book or TV program, but getting up and moving is important to our health and longevity.  There are times to be sedentary and there are times to stretch our muscles and give our cardio a shake up.  Let’s explore some ways to increase the exercise without seeming to do so.

Dance

You don’t have to be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars to have fun dancing.  If you haven’t been dancing in a while, ask around and do some investigating to find out where the dancing establishments are.  You might have to be the group organizer, but invite your friends to step out with you.

Perhaps you were never good at cutting a rug – there’s nothing stopping you from taking lessons now.  You could go the Arthur Murray Dance School route or take free line dancing lessons every Tuesday at the Country Western Bar.  Either way, it will be challenging as well as a laugh a minute.

Brisk walks

Walking is one of those anytime, anywhere things that means you don’t have an excuse not to do it.  If you walk alone, it’s good thinking and de-stressing time.  If you like to walk with someone, it’s good gabbing time.  Remember to keep your pace somewhat challenging and don’t shy away from the hills.  Vary your routine to keep it interesting.

Join a gym

I find the gym an excellent place to socialize.  I’ve met many people who will not only gossip and solve world problems with me, but they will encourage me in my exercise endeavors.

Some gyms have a track for walking, which is great if the weather outside is inclement.  Bring a friend to talk to, and you can walk a lot longer.  Same with walking on the treadmill.  Take your cardio up a notch by changing the incline on the treadmill from flat to uphill.

Take the pool plunge

One of the best ways for your body to get exercise, swimming can be as interesting as you make it.  Set little goals for yourself like one lap without stopping or one lap each of the crawl stroke, side stroke, and breast stroke.  Or bring a friend and talk while you both motor along on your kickboards.

If not swimming, then give water aerobics a try. It’s low impact, good cardio, a great calorie burner, and enjoyable for many.

Pedaling

While riding a bike may not be for everyone, it’s a fun way to see the world up close and personal AND get your exercise.  It’s interesting how you notice more around you – colors, smells, sounds, when you’ve slowed down your pace and you’re traveling without your car.

Keeping on with the exercising is even more important now that we’re older.  Exercise does so much good and has been found to help prevent many health issues from finding us as we age.

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