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It was a bit of deja vu all over again when we visited the UK in early April and found our retire retirement message hailed as cutting edge stuff. We knew something was brewing ‘over there’ a few years ago when Seniority.com put 2young2retire in their Top Ten websites in the senior category and asked permission to use content. http://www.seniority.co.uk/ Check it out. (Copy/paste into your browser) We hadn’t planned on taking the revolution abroad (any more than we do anywhere else), although we sure would like to see our British friends come up with something most positive than ‘Old Age Pensioner’ for their older adults. We’re not averse, however, to making the most of an opportunity when it comes knocking so we readily agreed to a commissioned piece for the Sunday Times (London) about how the ‘young old’ (that’s us, folks) are creating all manner of new business opportunities. These include ‘universal’ design in housing, to career coaching for second acts, to aging-in-place experts for our own parents. We also gladly embraced meetings with two former British ceo’s who are exploring peer counseling programs and publishing ventures for the 50-plus, and with a television producer who has his eye on the growing market for ‘senior’ programming.
The fact is change is underway in England, as in Europe where the median age is 50 (37 in the U.S.). Banking giant Barclays just announced it has raised the retirement age from 60 to 65, and more than 200 employees have decided to remain on the job. Barclays also has a recruitment policy to attract new, older workers over the age of 60 and currently employs more people 55 and older than under age 20. It was recognized by the government as an “age positive champion.” Here are a few other random facts we picked up on our visit:
- It’s not quite the pig-moving-through-python imagery for Boomers in the U.S., but England’s aging population is estimated at between 15-20 million. That’s a lot of Grey Power.
- Older Brits are enjoying the same vitality and good health later in life as their peers in the U.S. and other nations of the developed world, and their economies need them. So questions about what they should be doing with their next life are just as urgent.
- The British have their own advocacy organizations for older citizens. Patterned on AARP, ARP/050 (http://www.arp050.org.uk/asp/home/index.asp), targets policy-makers, opinion-formers and the media on “matters of concern to older people.” It boasts 65,000 members and 200 Friendship Centers where members can meet. And there is also Age Concern (http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/), founded in 1971, with a similar mandate.
- The British Government’s New Deal program includes a New Deal for the Over-50s that includes counseling, job search support and a training subsidy. There is also a $150 cash employment credit for full-timers and $75 for part-timers, who have been out of work for six months or more.
- The Oldie (http://www.theoldie.co.uk/) and Saga Magazine. (http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/pages/index.asp?bhcp=1) are windows into the 50-plus world in the UK. The Oldie puts on monthly literary lunches and has an Oldie of the Year award. Saga, a hip, glossy, advertising-packed monthly magazine was loaded with ‘second act’ stories including one entitled The Feet First School of Retirement, featuring 72-year-old Rupert Murdoch and other retirement-resistant businessmen (April).
COMING SOON TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Too Young to Retire: 101 Ways to Start the Rest of Your Life (Plume 2004) officially on sale May 4. Call your local bookstore and ask for it. If you can verify that the book is in stock, let us reward you with a free 2young2retire t-shirt. Just send us the name and address of the store, along with your contact information to either howard@2young2retire.com or marika@2young2retire.com. Let’s take the 2young2retire revolution up a notch!
Check the cities below for radio, TV or personal appearances already scheduled. Contact Howard@2young2retire.com for exact time, registration and other information.
May 7, Chuck Jaffe WBIX, Boston, radio interview May 18, “Book Authority of the Week”, Cable TV taping, Brian Jud, Plainville (Hartford region), Ct.
May 29, Providence Library, Lecture & Book Signing
June 11, Life Options Planning Network, Boston; Quarterly Meeting, Marika & Howard, Guest Hosts for Forum, “Moving the Movement Forward”
June 21, Leadership Greater Hartford; “Boomerangs--Coming Back At You", Lecture/Workshop
July 20 & 27, Newton (Mass) Community College, Workshop; “On Your Own Terms: Having the Work You Always Wanted After 50”.
October 23. Orange Community Education & Recreation, Orange Senior Center (Cleveland) “Un-Retirement Expo”, Keynote Speakers
January 9, 2005, Delray Beach (Florida) Library Book Fair, Lecture and Signing BOOK SITE - Nice review for Too Young to Retire from 800-Ceo-Read’s founder Jack Covert, who specializes in recommending business books for the business community. (http://www.1800ceoread.com/) From his blog, April 21: http://www.800ceoread.com/BLOG/
Surprisingly good read As, God forbid, we all age--some of us, like yours truly, are REALLY aged--we need to consider retirement. Couple of weeks ago I got a call from Howard Stone and he was pitching a book that he had self-published in '02. The mainstream publisher Plume has picked up the paperback to be published in May 2004 called Too Young To Retire. He wanted me to look at it. After spending an afternoon reading the book I must say I am seriously impressed with Marika and his stories and how they present the concept that in fact we don't need to retire. We can continue to grow and prosper into our dotage. I am not a fan of self help/personal finance kind of books but this book surprised me with the insights it supplied. Thanks, Jack!
- We love plugging a book that resonated with us, so if you’re still wondering whether you should buy Po Bronson’s groundbreaking book, What Should I Do With My Life (Random House, January 2003), here’s a sampler that may help you make up your mind; http://pf.fastcompany.com/magazine/66/mylife.html (Copy/paste into your browser)
- Our friend, Sarah Orem, recommended The Future Me Journal: Authoring the Second Half of Your Life (Peter Pauper Press, 2003) by John Beilenson, president of Strategic Communications and Planning, and editorial director of Infoaging.org., a website of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR).
POTPOURRI
- Just launched from Civic Ventures: Coming of Age, a newsletter about civic engagement in later life. It does not publish original writing but is limited to brief and timely announcements. To submit items of interest, contact: rsmith@civicventures.org. Recent feature: Helen Thomas, veteran White House reporter. To subscribe, visit: www.civicventures.org/subscriptions.html http://www.civicventures.org/245.html. H.R. Moody is editor.
- Free monthly on-line events, aimed at examining cutting edge issues regarding science and policy as they relate to the field of aging research. http://www.sagecrossroads.com/ Recent offering on longevity and mandatory retirement: (Copy/paste into your browser.) http://www.sagecrossroads.net/public/news/show_article.cfm?articleID=57
- The inside story on pesticides in fruits and vegetables. The Environmental Working Group (www.foodnews.org) of the FDA ranks 46 fruits and vegetables for contamination with pesticides, which gives you a guideline for what to replace with certified organic alternates, e.g. strawberries, apples, peaches, spinach, celery and bell peppers. Least likely to contain pesticides: corn, avocado, pineapples, mangoes and bananas.
- New volunteer gig for elders. Ever wondered what happens to cell phones when their owners “upgrade?” Or, for that matter, what to do with your outdated model? Cell phones are being refurbished and resold, but the most novel use puts them in the hands of senior volunteers to fight crime in their neighborhoods, reported The New York Times, (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/technology/circuits/22used.html?8dpc). Top of the line features like walkie-talkies and cameras, commonplace among drug dealers’ equipment, are fine tools when used against them, too.
- Workers on Wheels. Since 1987, Workamper News has helped more than 70,000 people find great jobs in great places. Workamper opportunities run the gamut, from part-time seasonal to fulltime, year-round, to business and income opportunities, volunteer positions and full-fledged careers. http://www.workamper.com/WorkamperNews/WNIndex.cfm
- Conscious aging. A more spiritual take that we welcome from coach David Rozell’s Center for Life Enhancement in Portland, OR. See his site: http://www.2ndhalfstrategies.com/
- NeedyMeds, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based non-profit corporation created in 2003, aims to help those in need obtain their medicines. It also works to raise public awareness of patient assistance programs; educate healthcare professionals, patient advocates and social service workers about these programs; and help those in need complete the paperwork. http://www.needymeds.com/ and http://www.needymeds.net/
- Do you paint, carve, stitch, knit, sculpt, cartoon, collage or decoupage? Geezers.com can help you sell your work on line for a nominal signup fee and a small percentage of each sale (8.5-10 per cent + $.50). Despite the self-mockery of the name, Geezers.com is doing a great job for seasoned artisans who want to sell on line and we applaud the spirit that won them a grant from the Small Business Administration. Part of Experience Works, www.experienceworks.org
We end with a favorite quote: “Everyone has something to offer … ordinary people when they feel strongly enough, can do extraordinary things, and … it is never to late to start.” -- Jeri Laber, The Courage of Strangers: Coming of Age with the Human Rights Movement
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