Have you noticed how many national political commentators are using the dismissive term “gerontocracy” these days? Gerontocracy is shorthand for stereotyping mostly Democratic Party leaders in their 70s and 80s as out of touch (they’re old) and in decline (they’re so old). Take a handful of recent column headlines drawn from a variety of publications….
I’m writing this unretirement column three days after turning 66 (and four months before reaching my Social Security “Full Retirement Age”). So, my 70s are just around the corner. Until recently, that gave me pause. But after seeing what people in their 70s said in the recent AARP/National Geographic “Second Half of Life Study” and…
Read More “Why life in your 70s may be better than you think” »
When Lisa Noll, 67, got divorced two years ago after 35 years of marriage, she thought relationships, romance and sex were a thing of the past. Now, she’s in a relationship with a man 10 years younger and has what she calls “a rich sex life.” “I didn’t think people had sex any more. I…
Read More “Sex and the 60s-plus: how love and sex change — or don’t — as we age” »
Ageism is wrong. Age discrimination is illegal. But if you are or have been an older job seeker and you suspect your age is a barrier to getting job offers, your instincts aren’t wrong. “Ageism is a real thing,” says David Neumark, economist at the University of California-Irvine, in an interview. “People know it’s out…
I was onstage recently at a theater in Minneapolis with the improvisational comedy team The Theater of Public Policy, or T2P2. Co-founders Tane Danger and Brandon Boat conceived the idea of bringing on stage someone to talk about a serious topic – the economy in my case – and take questions from the host and…
Read More “Intergenerational conflict is a myth — here’s the real problem” »
In 2008, Janice Barton was vacationing at Serenbe, a biophilic, or nature-centered, community in the Chattahoochee Hills about 30 miles outside of Atlanta. She fell in love with the village’s English-style cottages, outdoor artist studio, nature trails, local shops and cafe all within walking distance, and decided to buy her forever home there. “In a…
