Most of this is, like “Viewing the 60s From My 60s”, generational claptrap from those who have yet to make their mark and earn their way as opposed to those who believe that we should have remained in some fantasy of the 50s.
The fact is that most of us boomers had parents who were of the Great Depression, possibly saved the world from totalitarianism, and raised us under the daily fear of nuclear annihilation with the expectation that we would still work hard and be successful. (Of course, all of the sex, booze, drugs and swing music of their youth were supposed to be a secret.)
As the 60s and early 70s unfolded, we fought an unnecessary war based on mistaken assumptions in which over 58,000 of us died. My Mother cried for three days when I was drafted the year after her baby brother came home all shot up.
We partied as they did in their youth. We too feared that we could not afford to keep them in their old age. We too feared that we would not have the money to retire.
Well, we were all wrong. My parents have an active, affluent retirement still, in their 80s.
We boomers came home, got educated, went back to church and worked hard. My wife and I made and contributed more money to more causes than ever before this year. Our children are grown, with productive lives.
My wife and our friends talk about retirement soon. Not of rocking chairs and porch swings. We talk of taking care of our parents, second carriers or starting businesses. We talk of travel, vacation homes and health care.
We will not be a burden to the generation after. We will make you rich. In our “retirement” we will create jobs for you and purchase countless goods and services from you.
We have built on and will continue to build on the wealth that our parents created. Your challenge will be to build on that which you inherit from us.
