65 is
the new 45 says one Baby Boomer!!
Well I'm
a baby boomer on the cusp, having turned 65 in 2010, as I was born end
of April 1945, as the 2nd World War came to an end, when Hitler saw me
he surrendered!! Joking apart, for my experience we have been the
lucky generation, brought up in post war austerity, rationing of foodstuffs,
clothes and commodities did not end until 1953, this did us no harm
whatsoever and taught us many valuable lessons i.e. you could not have
everything you wanted!! Standards, principles, good manners, respect
for people and possessions were the name of the day.
| Education
was a good standard, bad behaviour was controlled, children were brought
up instilled with values for life. Healthcare was not abused, crime
was there but not in the volume and violence of today, safe to play outside
or roam the streets and countryside with friends. Even the summers
were better (that is actually a fallacy, as we all remember good summers
when we were young and had no responsibilities). We knew if you erred
you would be punished and accepted it. In all life was kinder, simpler
and less stressful, yet people weren't the shopaholics of today, there
was not the money in my walk of life to do it, but we were happy.
As
the decades have progressed progress, or is it? consumerism, disrespect,
greed and selfishness have taken over. |
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However
we baby boomers could go to Uni or college, if clever enough, if not, obtain
jobs easily on leaving school, walk out of one job into another, could
afford to get on the housing ladder if we wished, had no credit cards and
no debt, could make a telephone call and talk to a real person, the list
is endless!
As
my title suggests we're younger in looks and soul than our parents,
who'd lived through 2 world wars, if prudent saved for retirement, maybe
got lucky with stocks and shares or money wins, maybe inherited from parents.
We've hopefully entered retirement with better health, more money, more
energy, a younger outlook and a great interest in a new chapter in our
lives, rather than the beginning of the end as the earlier generation did.
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If
you look around the high street a lot of retirees are having coffees, lunches
with friends, meals out with spouses, dressed not "mutton as lamb" but
trendily, younger haircuts and clothing. Attend gyms, classes of
all descriptions, go on holidays more than once a year. This is all
of course if they can afford it! For my part I feel younger and feel
I look it, attitude of mind counts of course in all this. I feel
this is my time to really have what I want now, do what I want now, enjoy
myself, grow old disgracefully, whilst still maintaining standards.
Laugh a lot, see friends and family, experience new places and chances,
because we did make sacrifices perhaps scrimping and saving, bringing families
up, doing for others.
Bags
are the new shoes too, as well as 65 being the new 45. How many ladies
of a certain age do you see with wonderful bags, the badge of many celebrities,
many will be fake designer ones of course. We collect bags now when
once shoes were bought in droves.
Perhaps
I've moved away from the beaten track but dependent on what life has thrown
at you, whether you're on your own or in a partnership, baby boomers are |
reaping
a wonderful retirement if they approach it the right way and have prepared
for it. I just hope my children will enjoy theirs as much..... maybe
then 70 will be the new 40!!
By
Janice L. Joplin
Nursing
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