Being a Baby Boomer was a status symbol of a generation that broke the mold, led the way, and changed the world. We were at the forefront of the computer age, the political revolution, the sexual revolution, and the music revolution.
Our parents swore that we would not suffer as they did. We would get that college degree and go even further than they did. Get an education, build expertise…work hard and retire well.
Leave it to Beaver, My Little Margie, Father Knows Best…Happy endings…a perfect world…Vietnam…Woodstock…SDS…The Weathermen (not meteorologists)…Marijuana…LSD…Make Love, Not War…Give Peace a Chance…Organic—Macrobiotic food…GRADUATION….Find a job…Get Married…Have Children—or not…Work hard…Buy a home…Work Hard…
It should all work out…retire at 65…….
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Well, now I’m over 50 and if the small company that I work for closes down because the owners retire, will I be able to get another job…..retire at 65? I don’t think so.
I’m over-qualified, highly skilled, intelligent, and hard working, but that’s not enough. No matter how many times I “wash that gray right out of my hair”….how often I use that Retinol A anti-wrinkle cream….how often I don’t mention my age in an interview…the bottom line is that there is a younger, less expensive (albeit less experienced and less qualified) worker out there to fill that position.
Current websites advertise over-fifty job postings offered at “senior friendly” companies. When you link to those sites—hopefully—the companies are looking for telemarketers, sales reps or retail personnel! Senior Greeters—Welcome to……!
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As with any demographic group, there is a segment of the Baby Boomer bell curve that has their retirement “in order” and don’t need to maintain their participation in the “Salary Continuation Program”. I believe, however, there are a significant number of us who are thinking we better start saving some of those cat food cans and imagining how the milk crates would look in that over-sized refrigerator box that could become home!
If we over-fifty aristocrats could find a way to organize our own corporations and offer the same high-end services as any other company might, except that ours would include wisdom and expertise, commitment, dedication and integrity—we just might have a chance to survive!
Barbara is an over 50, graphic, web designer and computer savvy techie living in Western Massachusetts. Barbara welcomes comments and can be reached via email at:barbara.indeck@gmail.com |
