Reinvention Not Retirement

There is quite a tug-of-war going on between the generations these days.  I’ve talked here about how it disappoints me that my generation hasn’t tried harder to take the reins and shape the world of work to what they want.  And recently I heard a Gen Yer blatantly asking a Boomer to step aside for their children – so their children could get jobs.

I’m not really sure how I feel.  Especially since I know that I will want to work longer than my parents did and their parents did.  I think work is something you do at one place for a while, then move on, or maybe take a break and travel, or maybe just relax for a bit, and then go back to work, again.  And I don’t think people should stop working just because they reach they reach a certain age.  After all you don’t stop thinking just because you become 65.

So I’m not sure I’m ready to push the Boomers out – I don’t want to be pushed out, so why do that to someone else?  I also definitely agree that with age comes wisdom, but I also think that with youth comes invigoration and innovation.  So what to do?  How about…do something you’ve always wanted to try in an area where your wisdom and knowledge could really help others.  It’s not a completely new idea.  After all Score has existed for a long time and has been a great help to many.  But this expands on that model.

It may not work for all – plenty of people like their jobs and just simply don’t want to leave.  But I already like the idea for me at that age.  I still regret never going into the Peace Corps – in retirement I may just have my chance!