Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Rewire to Encore

I have liked the term rewire for us folks who have left public or private sector jobs to work on our own. Some are officially retired while others are simply wanting to control their own work lives themselves. In the six years I have been doing this I hadn't seen much written about this effort. People were comfortable telling others that they were retired although many still worked at something usually closely related to their former career. As the years go by more of these people are working less but also usually at something that isn't closely related to their former career. I am hearing and reading more about the problems us older people are going to create for society and the economics of caring for the elderly. But gradually I also hear talk and read about the positive impact older workers and retirees are having and can have on society and economies.

This is the updated CARP magazine that is working to change the stereotypical concept of "old". They don't shy away from the difficulties or problems of growing older but they also demonstrate how vibrant people are as they age. 

Encore.org is a website dedicated to showing people how to engage in a wider world to benefit the social systems and non profits for example. Their target audience is over sixty. No rocking chairs for this crowd.



Perhaps its time to think about retirement in a whole new way. http://sixtyandme.com/6-retirement-tips-for-a-happier-healthier-wealthier-life/ Whatever work style women in their 60 adopt, they want meaning and purpose in their lives. Join the conversation below.

My parents didn't do this in their sixties.  We all had a grand time. I would challenge anyone to keep up with the guy in the middle once he decides he is moving on!!

It will be interesting to watch how our generation creates the concept of getting older.




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5 comments:

  1. So interesting and true! This whole concept of retirement is relatively new and I think is turning out to be short-lived because of the economic down-turn. My grandfather worked till he was 65. My great grandfathers worked till they dropped dead. I am more and more convinced that the key is to find things you really love and work on them and hopefully someone pays you to do it or you volunteer your talents if need be. I plan to work much longer at my first career than my second!

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  2. After being retired for one year, I am still have a problem with the word "retired". I don't like it. I am not aging gracefully. Can you help me, Dr. Mary??

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  3. After being retired for one year, I am still having a problem with the word "retired". I don't like it. I am not aging gracefully. Can you help me, Dr. Mary????

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  4. After being retired for one year, I am still having a problem with the word "retired". I don't like it. I am not aging gracefully. Can you help me, Dr. Mary????

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  5. I too struggle with how to name this period of my life. I always liked rewired but am also liking encore. Do 85 year olds call themselves retirees?

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