When it comes to age milestones, baby boomers have racked up quite a few momentous ones. For the sake of historical reference, I am referring to the leading edge of boomers born in 46 thru 51. For those of us in that group, sixteen years old meant you could get a drivers license (in many states) and that was a big deal because it gave us almost unbridled mobility. Hell, we didn’t even have drivers’ education in those days, which meant lots of white-knuckle experiences for our parents. It did inspire a ton of popular songs about car culture (Little Old Lady from Pasadena, Mustang Sally, Dead Mans Curve, and Little Deuce Coupe to name only a few).
Twenty-one? A perilous time. There was a war on and we could be drafted even before we were eligible to vote. Looking back, it’s almost comical that we thought we would change our world, but with the sheer size of our cohort’s impact, we did change it. There are still arguments about whether the change was for better or worse.
Thirty. So momentous it spawned the TV show Thirtysomething. A show about life in Philadelphia for boomers turning 30 was fascinating enough to last for 4 seasons. For many boomers, 30 marked a moment of self-awareness…Hey, we’re actually grown-ups. It also marked the beginning of our inevitable dominance of culture and politics. It had to happen because there were just so many of us. (In 1964, Boomers represented 37% of the total U.S. populaton)
Fifty is our next biggest milestone and a wake-up call. Our bodies are no longer as limber as they once were. We’re the dominant influence in culture and politics (including a few boomer Presidents), and the groundswell of complaints about our generation began to grow louder and more persistent. These days you cannot avoid our bad press, as it has become clear to the generations that followed that we have messed up their world completely. You could argue that point but there’s just too many Gens with letters after the term who will push back on the argument.
And now – the Big 80. The oldest baby boomers will turn age 80 in 2026. We’re down to 20% of the total population and shrinking fast (in number and stature). From 79 million in 1964 to 67 million in 2024. Now we have to wonder if we are moving from milestone to millstone. Once we were celebrants and soon we may be seen as burdens (if we haven’t already made that transition).
I like to think that it’s a positive transition. We made it! Life expectancy in 1947 was 66. Now, it’s close to 79. If you really want to take the long and positive view, our next milestone may just be 100 and let’s hope we stick the landing.
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.
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