10 Ways Baby Boomers Will Reinvent Retirement

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Thank you for this excellent list of the factors causing the nature of retirement to change for baby boomers. I think it points to the forces that are making baby boomers shift to some form of "semi-retirement" as the solution for the next stage of life.

Shallie Bey of TX 7:19AM October 08, 2011

At 73, life is good and getting better--in every way: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. By choice, I don't have a doctor and never need even over-the-counter medication. Though excessive stress in earlier years took their toll to the point of breakdown, I've worked my way back to functionality without professional help.
Now I feel as though I'm at the beginning of my life, with a whole future ahead of me. Though I'm at the bottom of the Social Security heap and have no savings, the credit I was able to obtain almost three months ago has enabled me to buy equipment and enough supplies to begin working on my designs, which I expect to be able to begin licensing within the next two years. It will take that long because I still need to purchase more supplies to continue refining my skills. The way I see it, this world is a gigantic pinata and I'm going to take a good whack at it to release its goodies not just for myself, but for others as well. Until then, I keep in mind John Keats' thought: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." And Franz Kafka will get the final word here: "Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old" (cited in Aged to Perfection--publr: Great Quotations, Inc.).

Nancy of OH 2:17AM April 09, 2011

This universe is vast. It's big enough to save my ass! Quote by Brenda Floyd

Brenda of AL 10:13AM April 06, 2011

I have a business that actually employs older active adults. It puts some money in their pockets and gives them an opportunity to help others. It is a win-win situation.. My employees derive great satisfaction in the fact that they can help other older adults remain independent. Older adults make terrific employees and understand the issues that others face. It is a perfect scenario!

Janice of MA 9:10AM January 06, 2011

How happy I was to see the articles and read the comments. I am a Real Estate Agent which indeed is another conversation all together. But I am a newly retired Social Security Recipitent and I am indeed shocked, not surprised but shocked with all the new changes happening in my life. I worked for many years for this day, did not save as I should but I did do something, And now I hear comments from rich people who are saying the Baby Boomers are asking the government for Medicare and because of this the country is going to go broke. Well my thought is "We the Baby Boomers, used our strength, youth and Education to make these Big Business people who and what they are today. Now we are trying to help with our grand children even though we ourselves might not be in the best health, but we are trying to help our children. So we have paid our dues,now who is out there to help us. I worked on a job for 18 years where unemployment benefits were taken from my wages, thank God I never had to use it, but the point is the funds were taken out in the event of. So i did help somebody. So as a Baby Boomer I conclude to God Be the Glory if Life and Health last a way will be made.

catherine of AL 3:46PM January 05, 2011

couldnt say it better myself. You are absolutely right.

Sherrie of LA 4:22PM January 04, 2011

I WAS BORN IN 1965, I've Always felt confused about generations, baby boomer? or generation x, the thing is when the Vietnam war was over I was in America. I was born in Mexico. Yet I watched all of the war news and I knew the love and peace sign. I knew everything American. In 1974 my parents migrated to a little town called Oakdale, Ca. I still feel like a flower child even though I was only 5 years old when the Vietnam memories come in my mind. All from T.V. so I feel very American but am I a baby boomer? I don"t think that I'm going to retire ever I want to work and help people and I don't want to ever sit on a rocking chair retired I want to walk my dog and go get ice cream at the beach with my grandchildren and I want to go to Vegas and well take water aerobic classes and take walks in the park with my younger husband which is a veteran by the way. I don't ever want to retire!

Gloria Valdovinos of CA 10:37PM August 22, 2010

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lakeweirliving of FL 11:27PM August 01, 2010

Just a comment for Mother’s, Grandmothers, Dad’s, Grandfathers.
Stop spoiling the ‘future’ generation, because you are training them to have a life of debt and immediate gratification.
I work at a store and daily I observe a parent or grandparent buying useless things for their little kids. The kids know exactly where the ‘toy aisle’ is and they bring breakable toys, to my register, the toys would probably last for only a day or two. And when the adult says “NO”, the kids cry and have tantrums until the adult ‘gives in’.
I always tell the parent “Don’t you remember when YOU were a child? You only got a gift on your birthday and for Christmas and you were fine with it!” I say it to ‘wake the parent up’ but most of the time it’s of no use.
Only one (1) time in my many years of working did I hear the following. A kid wanted a toy and told his dad, “Dad,.... I love you”
And the father replied “I love you too, but I am NOT going to buy you anything!” I loved it….. I really loved it, that father was doing the kid a favor that will last a life time.
When I was about 15 years old, my father and I took my little niece to the market. And most markets have a horse or mary-go-round in front of the store. Well, my father placed my 4 year old niece on the ride and she loved it…. The following week, again we went to the market and my niece ran towards the mary-go-round. This time my Dad said ‘no’. She was fine with the answer but I asked him, “Why? It only cost 25 cents”. He wisely said, “You CAN’T do it every time”. Boy, that was a good lesson that I learned. My niece is now 30 years old and she never gave her parents or us any trouble growing up. She was always loved, but never spoiled.
IF YOU DON’T LET THEM CRY NOW…. THEN YOU’LL BE CRYING LATER.

Nina of CA 3:10PM July 27, 2010

I'm a 52 year old single female, working in a pharmacy as a technician, for 33 years,
** don't have credit card debt, If I don't have the cash in my wallet, I just don't buy it
** never buy a new car, just good "used" cars,
** own my home, with an apartment in the back.
** bought my beautiful home 4 blocks from work.
**I have saved my money.
**buy clothes when Sears has their bargain days,
**have a "pre-paid" cell phone from AT&T. I pay $100.00 for one year of service (*note, my conversations are short, but that's okay.)
**for long distance home phone use, I go the the "99 cents only store" and buy their phone card. I could call anywhere in the United States for 1 penny a minute.
**compare grocery ads to see what’s on sale,
**I go to the Opera, but sit in the balcony and take binoculars
**I love to go to Santa Barbara,CA stay in Solvang in 'off season' and pay $50.00 a night or go to Ensenada, Mexico and spend $39.00 a night at the beautiful "Santa Isabel Mission" over looking the pacific ocean
**check on www.groupon.com and regularly buy $25.00 restaurant gift certificates for only "$10.00"
**I could go on and on about my "choices" but I would like
say one or two more things.
**When Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras performed in Los Angeles, I did spend $500.00 on a ticket, so occasionally I do treat myself.
One day when my Dad drove me to school, he told me something that changed my life, He said...... "Rose Marie, save your money... because good deals come around and your going to feel bad if you can't buy it"
My Dad words painted a beautiful picture. That statement hit me like a ton of bricks and I did just what he said.
When I found a good used BMW, I said "Sure I'll buy it... let me write you a check" then a few years later, good used Mercedes Benz came my way.... I said the same thing, "I'll buy it,... let me write you a check". I now have two nice cars to drive.
March 2009, I bought 10,000 shares of Avis/Budget rent a car for .81 cents a share.... I sold the stock 4 months later for a $105,000 profit.
My Dear Dad lived to be 95 years old, and I was the youngest of six children, I was the one that listened to his advice
I once worked with this Pharmacist and he told me "I LOVE TO PAY MY TAXES". I was shocked and asked him why??? He said that he was born in Iraq and you have no freedom there and the United States of America gave him his freedom and that's why he Loves to Pay his taxes. Wow, that was a different point of view for me, for I was born in the United States and I have always enjoyed my freedom.
For me, "life is good", and I'm pretty sure so far I have made the right choices for me.
Thank you and good luck to all of you. Rose Marie