Living The Good Life As A Baby Boomer

As we age, we all go through several life-altering changes that force us to take stock of where we are in our lives and where we want to go or be while we live out our retirement.

Our children are living their own lives and have children of their own. While we Baby Boomers might still be part of their lives, their focus is on their own families and careers.

Our focus, on the other hand, needs to be riveted on our own future and how we intend on living it to the fullest. Reality dictates that we have to consider a few not so pleasant events and we need to plan things when the inevitable happens. Our future plans have to cover diminishing physical capacities and the real possibility of memory lapses. Hopefully not yet, but its something that may happen.

All this doesn’t have to include giving up on life and your favorite activities. Living out the next 20 or 30 years as a one-dimensional person, locked in your home, is not a good option for anyone.

Living the Good Life goes way beyond your cares about your physical comfort or bank account.

A healthy life includes living where you feel comfortable and close to the people you want to be near. You need to feel wanted and valuable to your circle of friends and family. You need stimulating activities and holidays for a change of scene. You need laughter and fun.

It’s an exciting journey that never ends. The techniques you’ve used for most of your life while raising a family are still useful. Budgeting and planning for the future, saving for holidays and coping with medical conditions will still be part of your life.

One easy mental trap to fall into is staying locked into the “way things used to be.” Usually that is a process of reliving your fondest memories and not paying attention to the realities of the changing world around you. Staying in the past is not healthy and constantly comparing how things used to be when you are confronted with something new can be depressing.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that your life is over just because your kids moved to away and took the grandkids with them. In fact, you may be like me. I bought a second holiday home in Portugal and I am away from my family sometimes. The upside to that is they have a wonderful place to visit for their annual holiday.

Perhaps you were the victim of forcible early retirement and don’t know what to do with yourself now that you don’t have a job to go to.

The Good Life might seem like an unattainable goal, but it is not.

Sit down with your spouse or a close friend and assess your options.

Can you afford the rent or house payment now?

If your payment is too difficult for you now, consider selling it and moving to a smaller place.

If you like the town or city you’re in, don’t move. If you want to move, make up your mind about where you think you will be happy. Small town? Big city? Country living? On a lake or seashore? Your options are huge.

How do you want to live?

If you want lots of active people around you and the opportunity to attend many activities every week, consider a 55+ Senior Apartment or complex.

If you know you are going to need a little special care in the near future, look for a senior residence with the care you will need as an option.

Maybe you dream of a cabin by the lake and a fishing pole in your hands 24/7. You can do that! Perhaps your idea of heaven is public service. Any town or city has a real need for volunteers in every environment, including comforting drug-addicted babies, teaching adults to read or helping out in your local school.

You may even consider beginning a home business like I did. Its brought me lots of new friends and connections from around the world and given new meaning to my life.

Creative thinking is your strongest tool here. You can do and be anything you want to be, if you’re open-minded and consider that your dream may come true in a slightly different way than you dreamed it.

If you enjoyed this post Living The Good Life As A Baby Boomer leave me a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts and maybe something you are doing or planning in your retirement.