The BIG Squeeze

Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door

~Mike and the Mechanics In the Living Years

Boomer Bashing

I read a fair number of posts that seem to take pleasure in “boomer-bashing.” They conjure up images of slim, good looking, healthy boomers fully self-absorbed in swirling white wine (sweater tied around the neck) and assorted cheese plate sessions after a day of mountain bike riding in some resort area.

These greedy geezers are sucking up resources, wearing crocks and lingering too long in Starbucks grazing on croissants and lattes, shopping on Amazon for stuff they don’t need, aging in place and not moving to age-ghettos (Sun City AZ) clogging up the real estate market for younger generations; just generally screwing everything up for everyone else.

No doubt the boomer generation has it’s problems, and sociopathic Boomers do exist, and I’ve even witnessed firsthand franchised and privileged hot-tubbing boomers (envy aside), but I have to report that for the most part, this isn’t my Baby Boomer Experience.

The BIG Squeeze

The VAST majority of boomers that I associate with, see day-to-day, or know via my networks, both real and virtual, are working several jobs, supporting-problem-solving for adult children as well as supporting-performing caregiving for aging parents every week. This “BIG Squeeze” is the norm in my lane.

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The ratio of potential caregivers to boomers needing care will sink from 7.2 to 1 in 2010 to 2.9 to 1 by 2050, according to the study.

~The San Diego Union-Tribune by Walter Hamilton

“Are you proud of yourself tonight that you have insulted a total stranger whose circumstances you know nothing about?”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird