50+ Group - Greatest Natural Human Resource

Chances are you belong to one of the same groups I do.  There are over 83 million people in it.  What group is that? you say.  If I say Boomers, you know somebody in that age group, or you belong to the group.  There is little doubt the huge impact this group of Americans has on the economy.

The boomer demographic is the largest group in America.  One research firm reported 80 percent of the housing market will be boomers, by 2030.  There is also an indication that clothing designers are noticing boomers have the thickest wallets.  Another report has 45 percent of the top American manufacturing companies discouraging early retirement for older workers.

If you had mentioned retirement to me in the summer of 2004, I would say, I'm not interested.  Later that year, I was diagnosed with early PD.  That changed my entire outlook on the future.

I set a target date for retirement out 3 to 5 years.  At the time, I had a rewarding 32-year career with a multi-national electronics firm.  The original time frame for retirement would be cut in half three times over the next year.  Each time, I fully understood the last day of my working life was heading straight for me at lightening speed.

Planning was done, finances were in order, and there was $ in the bank.  One concern many people have at retirement is debt.  Well we had none.  Except for a mortgage, we paid for things as we went.  That strategy had worked.

We moved to Colorado to be close to our two grandsons.  A job opening, to good to be true almost, was available.  I applied and was hired.  I loved selling camping gear and accessories.  But more and more people wanted a piece of my time, and my experience.  Working for a living was over.  

I joined a hiking group.  That provided the basis for opening a photography business.  Happy Trails Photography, opened in 2009.  I began attending a yoga class for people diagnosed with PD.  I am serving a two-year term on the Advisory Committee of the Aurora Center for Active Adults.  The two grandsons, have become my daily inspiration.