The 9k Blues

 

According to your friends at Vanguard Investment Group, most baby boomers are going to fall short every year to the tune of $9,000. About 40% of boomers will most likely maintain their standard of living once they stop working. If you are one of those people, consider yourself lucky. The other 60% are looking at some version of an income gap. In a typical boomer household, the gap translates into $750 per month that you won’t be able to spend, IF (that’s a big if) you’re trying to spend the way you were spending when still working and earning. Why are some boomers behind? Many started working when pensions were common, and then transitioned to 401ks, but missed the chance to build up a big nest egg. Then the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-era market shock hit boomers when they had the most invested but the least time to recover. What can you do now if you have the 9k blues? Your biggest asset is most likely your home. It might have a good amount of equity. If you sold, rented and invested the proceeds, it could vastly improve their finances. Downsize to a smaller house or move to a cheaper location and that boosts your worth as well. Another strategy, and one you may not want to hear, is to work for 2 more years. Retiring at 67 instead of 65. You keep adding to your savings instead of drawing down, plus it boosts your Social Security check by roughly 8% up to age 70. Working longer helps in two ways at once: you keep adding to savings instead of drawing from them, so your portfolio grows longer, and you shorten the window your retirement money needs to cover. Every year you wait also increases your Social Security check by roughly 8%, up to age 70. The least attractive option is to draw down less of your savings at age 67 to benefit you at age 82. Leaving your portfolio untouched lets compounding do its thing. Social Security benefits have lost roughly 20% of their buying power since 2010. At the very least, trying a combination of strategies to close the gap will be better that trying one dramatic move. Think working part-time and tapping some home equity rather going wild. And stay out of casinos!! Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His most recent mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon. 

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His most recent mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon. 

Retirement Brains

 

For those about to or contemplating retirement, there’s no shortage of advice, so I won’t be the first one to warn you that the end of a lifelong routine can take some getting used to – or worse. If you’ve already retired you may be nodding in agreement. It’s well known and studied endlessly, when you stop working it can change brain health, as well as pose a risk of cognitive decline and depression. Kidding! Not really kidding though. When you stop using your brain to create, communicate and socialize with fellow workers, it’s an abrupt change to the entire pattern of your life. You cannot assume the transition will be a piece of cake. Studies of retirees find that their verbal memory (recalling a set of words after a certain amount of time) declined faster post-retirement compared to when they were working. I can vouch for that effect when I’m unable to come up with a name or a term that used to be top of mind. Experts believe the key is having a plan, and they don’t mean taking a long vacation on an island and then coming home to figure it out. In fact, they recommend setting up your plan while you are still working so that you can dive right into retirement on day one. You want to pivot directly into the new lifestyle, not wallow in some rudderless state. Volunteer work and staying social is key according to experts. If social contact declines the chance for depression onset increases. Trying new activities and acquiring new skills can stave off the isolation that can set in when you don’t have a workplace anymore. It sounds counterintuitive to say retirement is work, but if you don’t have a plan for how to use your free time and stay engaged with a community, your brain is just not going to find life very challenging or rewarding. After working for 50 years or more, that would be borderline tragic. 

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His most recent mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.

Don't Bogart That Joint

 

Weed. Grass. Pot. Smoke. Ganja. Reefer. Herb. Dope. Bud.

Whatever you called it, you can’t deny baby boomers were all over it. It was our drug of choice back then and you’d be lying if you said you never even tried it once. Okay, maybe a tiny minority of boomers never lit up.

Back then you had to put a towel under the door so that your parents, dorm mates, or your neighbors would not know you were inside getting high.

Contrast that with what’s happening now. More Americans aged 65 and older are using cannabis (so that’s what it really is!) than ever before. It increased 46 percent between 2021 and 2023, so you can assume it’s still increasing in 2026.

Boomers are rediscovering cannabis in retirement and women and wealthy boomers in particular are a big portion of that renewed interest. Why not you say? It’s legal so the risk factor is gone. No one is going to break down the door and toss you in jail. Then there’s the analgesic effect. Aches, pains, and sleep issues often plague the over-65 population and many boomers are convinced that weed/gummies can help.

For those of us boomers who have difficulty remembering what we ate for breakfast or the name of that speckled bird that comes to the feeder every morning, the other draw of the ganja is that it can help with memory function. The THC component of weed has been shown to  enhance neural communication between the cerebellum and hippocampus.

In other words, boomers with pain, sleep and memory issues may find there really is some therapeutic value to pot, but there needs to be more research on the potential negative effects.

One way to look at it is that you survived cannabis use in the first go around in your twenties, so if it can help you remember where you’re hiding your stash in your eighties, go for it. And you don’t have to hide it anymore or put a towel under the door (unless you have neighbors adjacent).

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His most recent mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.

Generation X, Y, Z

 

Generation X, Y, Z August 22, 2026 By admin Wooden cubes spelling gen z alongside x and y blocks on a solid yellow surfaceI’m confused, and you can’t say that it’s because I’m a baby boomer and we’re all in a confused pre-Alzheimers state. I just heard that there is a new demographic known as Generation Z, AKA the Silent Generation, and I’m worried that they have run out of letters for the next generations. Generation X I get. Supposedly, it came from a study of British youth who “sleep together before they are married, don’t believe in God, dislike the Queen, and don’t respect parents.” Sound like nice kids. Then Douglas Coupland picked it up in his book Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture and the term was off and running. Then came the term “twenty something,” but however you slice it, Gen X refers to the demo that was born between 1964 and 1979, although many will and do argue about the exact dates. So just as surely as night follows day, Gen X has to be followed by Gen Y, and you can begin to see how we are going to run out the alphabet here. Also referred to as the Millenials or Internet generation, they would be the Class of 2000, having been born in 1982. They also have been referred to as the Second Baby Boom, because as I don’t need to tell you, they are our kids. You could hardly call Gen Y rebels, but it would be safe to say that authority figures have only marginal success with Gen Yers. That brings us to Z, and it would appear, the end of the line, the 26th letter, the last straw, good old Zed. Born mid to late 1990s, the Zeds are being called the new silent generation if you read Generations, the book by Struass and Howe. Their theory is that generations are cyclical and this current crop is going to behave more like the first silent generation (many of whom were our parents). It’s sad to know that they are already being called the Homeland Generation because they must grow up with a hyper ventilating sense that we are fighting terrorists “there” so that they won’t come “here.” For some reason Gen Z is also known as the Alpha Generation, and while that may not be cause for celebration, it does give me hope that at least there’s room at the head of the alphabet for many more generations to come. 

From the Best of BoomSpeak. 2007. Even back then the generation appellations were confusing. Now it’s worse. 

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His newest mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.

We're Not Alone

 

You know there are things that baby boomers say sometimes that make them sound like old fogies (Whatever a fogey is. It’s from the French word fougeux and is similar to but unrelated to old codger). It turns out that millennials have many of the same complaints. Someone on redditor asked the Millennial community to share their fogie/old adult opinions, and the following is a brief sampling of what was received. You’ll feel better about your favorite millennial after seeing what they had to say. “No, you cannot listen to music/videos/calls/whatever in public without headphones.” “I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and a woman (likely another millennial) was FaceTiming without headphones!!” “New car headlights are too damn bright!” ”It’s like everyone has their high beams on all the time. Add to that the fact that every car is a dang SUV, so they’re all shining RIGHT IN YOUR EYEBALLS.” “Not everything needs to be recorded/photographed and posted online, whether it’s for good, like taking excessive vacation pictures, or for bad, like recording arguments between strangers.” “Please give me a real menu. I really hate having to try to scroll through a whole menu on my tiny ass phone… If you’re going to have a QR code for a menu, at least make sure it’s mobile-friendly.” “Manners go a long way. Having and using manners makes you feel good. It is about respecting other human beings and showing them that you do. It feels good to be polite, respectful, and generous. Manners are not disingenuous. They help others feel welcome, comfortable, appreciated, and at ease.” “Stop speeding in neighborhoods! Also, stop blatantly running red lights. We all got places to be… stop trying to kill everyone else to get there.” “I am not instantly available at any waking moment just because it is technically possible for me to see your message immediately on my electronic device.” “If I say something to you, I’d like an acknowledgment that you heard me.” “The way that Gen Z makes hearts with their hands makes me deeply unsettled.” “I get so angry when I see people using their phone in their hand while driving and not paying attention to the road. Get a phone mount.” 

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His newest mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.

Boomer Energy

 

There. I said it. Boomer energy. Until just recently, I was totally unaware that there was such a thing. But there is and if I’m the first one to relate this to you, it’s time to get on board.

Apparently, boomer energy is rubbing other Gens the wrong way. In my book, that’s okay because some GenX and Millennials are driving us around the bend. But boomer energy goes beyond disputed techniques for how to load a dishwasher.

Let’s start with the unsolicited phone call. The WHAT you say?? Yes, boomers were comfortable with landlines and then cell phones came along. So? Apparently, just picking up the cell phone to call a Millennial or a GenZ is a faux pas. What? Out of the blue you’re calling to see what’s up and how’s the family? That’s what texting is for you idiot!

If you think that unnerves younger Gens, try showing up in person without advance notice. The unannounced drop-bye might as well be a bomb dropped on unsuspecting civilians. It’s another case where an advance text is appropriate. That will give them time to clear out and go to the beach or mountains before you show.

Next on the list of bad energy generation are comments about personal appearance. You might think it’s okay to note someone’s weight loss or new hair style. DON’T. Younger gens guard aspects of self and body image in a way that is foreign to the boomer desire to show interest and caring in a direct manner. You’ve been warned.

Right on the heels of personal appearance comments comes unsolicited advice. I can give you some unsolicited advice right now because I’m assuming we’re speaking boomer to boomer. It’s best that you just restrain yourself from offering any advice to a younger Gen unless you’ve been asked for an opinion. Even then, there’s a high risk of blowback that your advice will go unappreciated – or worse.

If all this bad energy on our part is disheartening to you, know this. Someday soon, the Gens that find our behavior irritating, will be irritating some generation that does not even have a name yet, and that is the kind of Karma we can all appreciate.

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His most recent mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.

Milestones

 

Is there some award for reaching the 20^th anniversary of a blog? Is that a thing? If so, sign me up because BoomSpeak was launched around this time in 2006. What were you doing in 2006? What were any of us doing?

The term “weblog” was coined in 1997 and within two years shortened to just “blog.” Soon there was a spate of blogs being published and many new software platforms to help you publish your personal journal. Specialization brought new contributors in niches such as technology, travel, fashion, food, computing and many more. Many bloggers attempted to monetize their blog by selling ads but that required proof that your blog was reaching a huge audience.

Ad sales never took hold for BoomSpeak, not that we didn’t try (the dreaded Google Adsense). In retrospect, the blog remained pure by not having ads. From the start it was a place where boomer contributors could express their thoughts (and relevant fiction) about our shared experience of growing up as part of a generation of unprecedented scale. We used the tagline “Your whole life’s in front of you” because it tapped into the potential and optimism that our generation shared. We had – make that have – great potential still, even in hard times.

The arrival of Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Podcasts, and TikTok has exploded the channels for content creators to share stories and perspectives. Despite that proliferation, there’s still a niche for the humble blog. You most likely have noticed the arrival of Substacks by well-known and not so well-known authors. For many of us who hang on to the humble blog, a Substack is long-form blogging by another name, and I’m okay with that. More than okay, because it’s opened the door for some great writing by talented people.

Boomers have taken a lot of hits in recent years and that’s to be expected because of the scale of our generation and the resulting influence we’ve had over politics, science, the arts and more. The bigger the target the more arrows you draw. Part of my mission as a BoomSpeak blogger is to put the emphasis on the shared experience of growing up as a boomer, and remembering the many altruistic contributions we made and continue to make.

If you are a boomer and have something to say about it (or read what others are saying), BoomSpeak continues to be the place to come. If you’ve never contributed, now might be a good time. If you’re a past contributor, it’s time to write for us again. We still have something to say and this blog is the place to say it.

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. His newest mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon. But that’s not all. You can also purchase the Best of BoomSpeak on Amazon.