BADDA BOOM! by Frances Kennedy franceskennedy782@gmail com
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Spring has sprung, heralded by the sounds of birdsong, the scent of lilacs, and the sight of leaves unfurling overhead. Yet another ‘once in a lifetime’ celestial event occurred on May 10th when a historic geomagnetic force gave millions a dazzling display; the Northern
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Lights offered us an unexpected spectacle. Speaking specifically about housing, the constancy of seasonal cycles in concert with the effects of the unexpected has its parallels for Boomers approaching our ‘next big chapter.’ Having worked for developers in Michigan three decades ago, my role in forecasting what Boomers expect in retirement was fascinating. Considering the projected longevity of the Boomers and our success in recasting norms throughout our lives, I began with the end in mind: what would Boomer octogenarians want? Unsurprisingly, they wanted alternatives to institutional settings. At the time, The Golden Girls was a big hit, and interestingly, it has made a huge resurgence on YouTube. All in the Family (Archie Bunker’s) was a hilarious model of the hazards and upsides of multi-gen living; it has also resurged on YouTube. Meanwhile, in the real world, external factors have converged to contribute to a rethink about what matters most and makes sense now: statistics indicate two-thirds of Boomers in North America are unprepared or unwilling to fully retire at 65. (It’s not a bad thing since doing so would create a brain drain with negative impacts on the economy and on our health and wealth.) Secondly, current interest rates have postponed first-time buying. To that, 41% of current housing stock is owned by Boomers unwilling to downsize for lack of appealing options. Further, in the past decade, ‘Aging in Place’ has become the next big thing. There are now trained and certified Aging-in-Place specialists (Google CAPS) who specialize in home designs for life and universal design accessibility. This is to say that boomers need, want, and have options; the best answer to the aging well challenge is a very individual one. Bear in mind that planning for the unexpected ensures our best-case future, considering financial sustainability and employment options, staying connected, healthy lifestyle and emotional wellness, autonomy and independence, mobility and transportation, cognitive health, and supportive homes and communities. My experience through COVID as a solo homeowner taught me there is a third kind of family besides family by chance (blood relations), family by choice (kindred spirits), and it’s family by circumstance (the bubble); each one offers mutually beneficial opportunities to create a life lived well as an octogenarian. The good news is that two decades ago, I introduced a group of women in their 80s to the Women’s President Organization (Toronto). Their message was enlightening and encouraging: they were living a wonder-filled life! Let’s plan for it. Let’s reframe the notion of downsizing to embrace the idea of ‘resettlement.’ As Albert Einstein once opined: “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” Badda Bing!
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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • June 2024 Page 15
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