Limited retirement options for the rebellious baby boomer

As ‘that’ generation, the ‘me’ generation starts to hit retirement, what is going to happen?

Will they settle for the retirement home options of their parents, or will they forge ahead and embrace rebellious, alternative and individual retirement choices that actually suit their personality? There are already trends overseas and within Australia, that indicate that baby boomers want more selections for their ‘autumnal’ years.

In the US there is a retirement option near Penn State University, which not only embraces state of the art health care in The Village, but provides free tuition at the university, for those not content with sing-alongs and bingo. Diversification seems to be the key-there are options for gays and lesbian ‘Grey and Gay’ as well significant spiritual options. Elder Spirit in VA, was founded by former Nuns – it accepts all religious denominations from Buddhists, mainstream Christian and every other sphere.

Baby Boomers want to retire in communities that are significant to them. For some, that option is met by retiring overseas in Bali, Thailand or Malaysia where the Australian dollar can provide a much better lifestyle than it could back home. The climate is warm (no heating bills) and the living is cheap. Denmark has provided the model of Co-Housing.  A concept of shared communities of homes, on shared land. It reduces social isolation, leaves a smaller footprint, and reduces household costs. This is on the rise in the UK and US.

Then there are the NORCS (I just love the acronym). NORCS are Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. They can just come to life-for example, where younger people move out of farming areas to the cities, and leave the NORCS behind. They occur in clusters in coastal locations, and in apartments and in older suburbs. In New York some NORCS have health care and transport bought in for them. There are 80 publically funded NORCS in New York, providing home care, education and recreation.

In Australia there is trend in this direction as well. Rylstone near Mudgee in NSW, an eco-retirement retreat is being developed- a selection of small sustainable homes in the bush. It is environmentally sustainable, requires little or no maintenance, and will attract like-minded individuals. All of this, and within easy reach of the town centre.

Many are heading back to The Commune-the hippy life style they embraced in the 60’s and 70’s, and there are a variety of private developments in the pipeline along the north coast of NSW. Hopefully, without the drug habit to go with it.  It was recently reported that Germany had a huge drug concern among the elderly-Pensioner Pot-with the pension being used to purchase marijuana not food! Heavens forbid!

Many are living in one person households with its sense of isolation, and high costs of maintenance, and a huge environmental footprint. Again in the US there are smaller cooperative groups emerging to replace the nursing home and can be found under Senior and Sharing and The Green House Project.

Then there is the French film ‘Why Don’t We All live Together’ (with Jane Fonda and Geraldine Chaplin) where a group of old friends from university move in together for company, support and medical care, It was not without its problems. Certainly food for thought, French style.

Me? I have my booking in place, at ‘The House of the Rising Sun Retirement Home!’

What are your thought on your retirement options? Are you happy with your options? What would you like to see more of?