Change is Good

Things change.

Seasons and the weather change. Fashions change. Food trends and ocean tides ebb and flow. Even the planet's climate seems to be changing.

Change can be a good thing, offering new ways to think and function. It keeps us observant about what is happening around us. Change is also inevitable.

Like a great number of post-war women, I began working during high school. I couldn't wait to get a job, make a little money, grow up and stake my independence.

Even if our mothers worked, ours was among the first wave of women who eagerly burst into the workplace. In the 1950s and even 1960s, few of my friends had working mothers. Most moms -- including mine -- stayed home until the kids reached adolescence. When that flock of mothers entered the work force, it was a gradual transition over several years.

By the 1970s, a large percentage of women were working. When the first wave of retiring women began in the 1960s, women left the working world as they had entered -- gradually and over time.

Now it's our turn. Vast numbers of females are now facing retirement. The U.S. government talks of an overload to the Social Security system. I'm going to let the government worry about that facet of the issue.

I'm here to address the ladies.

Recently I walked into a party where four mature, college-educated women were in an animated conversation about the prospects of life after their careers. The air vibrated with phrases like "what now" and "what will I do."

Unfortunately, I've heard similar pleas from my peers. That could explain why many women continue to work well beyond time to retire. It isn't necessarily because of devotion to their employer or any financial concern.

It's simply because they have no idea how to fill each day.

Today's seniors are a departure from previous generations. There is an element of truth in the declaration that age 70 is the new 50. Many people remain vital and active well into their 80s and beyond.

There is a lot going on out there and in this blog we will explore the many options available to today's seniors.

Come and join the conversation.