Boomers Left Behind

I can’t figure out what happened. For most of our lives we baby boomers ruled. Merchandising catered to us and gave us great toys in the early years. American Bandstand, record companies and clothing manufacturers gave us lots of retail floor space. Then there were all sorts of great yuppie items as we came of age. Our demographic propelled the American marketplace.

I don’t know when or how it happened, but now I feel that we’ve just been pushed off the page. So much of what I see in stores, television and print media is largely youth oriented. I guess it feels like I – or we have been left behind. There are 76.4 million of us. We’re still here and we still have some money to spend, and we want to do work with a purpose.

I’m thinking of my friend Lily. She speaks 5 languages, has a 4-year degree and an amazing professional resume of work in tour directing and urban planning. She can’t find a job. We know that age discrimination is illegal, but so what? There’s no way to overcome a prejudice that an interviewer will have when he/she looks at a 60ish person and makes negative conclusions about them.

There is much documentation that older workers are dependable, ethical and hard working. I can speak for myself and say that I am much more dedicated to my work now than when I was in my twenties. My personal life ruled back then, and work was just a necessary ingredient for my next purchase or trip. Because of this, I try very hard not to be judgmental of the twenty-somethings in my day job workplace. Some of them spend a great percentage of their shift attached to their phones constantly checking texts.

I ask myself if I would have been text addicted when I was young. Back then it was finding a pay phone at my intermediate stops when I was flying. I would keep in touch with everyone that was dear to me by means of my phone card. The charges were pretty large, but absolutely necessary to my lifestyle as I look back on it. So, yes, I probably would have been texting like crazy.

Now, back to my friend Lily. She is struggling to find affordable housing in a place that offers stimulation and like-minded neighbors. I have the feeling that her situation is emblematic of many people in our age range.

According to USA Today, experts say that in some ways, we need to begin remaking America to meet the challenges of future generations. They quote demographer William Frey who says “baby boomers are driving the move to stay in their hometowns and homes – rather than flocking to traditional retirement meccas…as many of their grandparents and parents did.” But evidently, cities and the culture aren’t preparing for the large numbers of us who are going to have free time and some spendable income and wish to remain productive and engaged.

So, Lily who previously lived in the San Francisco Bay area, moved here hoping to find meaningful work and affordable living. She’s been here nearly two years, and has found neither.  So, she could have been in that USA Today article as an example of the array of needs our generation now has.

The article gave us a new term which I’m not sure I’m yet behind – or  “down with” as some younger folks would say. It seems that the Brookings Institution labeled the nation’s fastest-growing percentage of us aged 55-64 as “pre-seniors.”

So, I am a pre-senior, and I guess when I’m eligible for Medicare I will officially be a senior citizen. Man, do I have mixed feelings about that. The need for health care right now is an issue for me and a few more of my boomer friends. We’re looking forward to Medicare and the relief that will bring on one hand – but the label “senior” doesn’t hold the appeal that it did in high school.

So, I’ve decided that for the rest of my life, the only label I will wear – and wear proudly is “Baby Boomer.”