| Someone recently asked me what I planned to | | | | wanted to try but kept putting off? Would you |
| do when I retired. "Retire?" I asked. "I'm not | | | | enjoy volunteering your time to work with kids, |
| planning to retire!" I can't think of anything much | | | | build a house, rescue animals? Would you like to |
| worse. What would I do if I weren't pursuing my | | | | go back to school to finally get that elusive |
| passion? Yes, my work is my passion and I hope | | | | degree, or just study something that you've |
| to be pursuing it for many more years. | | | | always wanted to learn about? |
| I like to travel, just not for long periods of time. I | | | | The reason I'm asking these questions is this. Do |
| don't play golf. I do mess around in my garden, | | | | you know that a lot of people, in both the public |
| but this only takes a few hours of my week. I | | | | and private sectors are spending a lot of time |
| love to read, but I couldn't read all day, every | | | | visioning, planning, and developing programs for us |
| day. | | | | post-retirement Boomers? Yes - someone is |
| I want to continue writing books and articles and | | | | making decisions about your future! Has anyone |
| speaking to groups about my favorite topics. But, | | | | asked you what YOU want? Haven't you always |
| I want to do all of this when I want to do it! | | | | resisted and resented anyone telling you what to |
| Does this sound familiar? As a Baby Boomer, | | | | do? In his book, Prime Time, Marc Freedman |
| what is in your future? Do you have a vision of | | | | says, "Transforming the aging of America will |
| your life ten, twenty, even thirty years down the | | | | require new ideas and new policies - and a new |
| road? What does your next chapter look like? If | | | | constituency for change..." |
| you are like most Boomers, you may be | | | | If we don't want to be part of the herd being |
| searching for a new career. You may have a | | | | driven into those boxes, what are we going to do |
| desire for personal reinvention. If you need some | | | | about it? Isn't it time we begin speaking up? I |
| help, I highly recommend Ellen Freudenheim's | | | | don't know about you, but I don't want to be told |
| book, Looking Forward, An Optimist's Guide to | | | | where I'm going to live when I'm 80. I don't want |
| Retirement. Ellen offers a wealth of information | | | | to be told how much money I can make without |
| and ideas on this very subject. | | | | incurring a penalty. We may have to revert to |
| We Boomers have always been anti-authoritarian, | | | | the sit in, drop out, |
| idealistic, self-empowered, and willing to embrace | | | | protest-anything-resembling-authority people we |
| change. Is it any wonder the world is sitting on | | | | were in the sixties and seventies. I want to drive |
| the edge of its seat waiting to see what we're | | | | the ideas that go into creating those new policies, |
| going to do next? | | | | don't you? |
| We've paid our dues: went to college, got married, | | | | Come on Boomers! We've changed every decade |
| had kids. But now it's time to leave our comfort | | | | we've lived in thus far. Is that really going to |
| zones behind. It's time to get involved again. In | | | | change as we turn sixty - seventy - eighty? We |
| fact, a recent study found that 25 million | | | | must leave apathy in the rocking chair: step up, |
| Boomers already do volunteer work. | | | | speak out, and create programs and opportunities |
| What is in your future? Have you planned for it? | | | | that will work for our unique generation. Don't wait |
| Are you prepared for it? Believe me, this isn't just | | | | for someone else to do it for you. |
| about money. It's about life - your life! | | | | Once again, Boomers, it's up to us to make a |
| What brings you pleasure? What have you always | | | | difference! |