Most
of us go through life with a daily routine and generally are not
aware of the other things going on around us. Yes, we sense there are
other people there, but we focus only on ourselves and the task at
hand.
Most
of us live or life by getting lost in our work each day,may join a
club or activity that involves people and the interaction with
others. But as we get older and in my case retirement, our life
changes. The time we looked forward to now takes on a new excitement
and... fear. Who will I have to talk to?
The
loss of a spouse or family member at anytime is difficult, but living
alone at an older age can be can be frightening. Look at the growing
industry of Assisted living centers. Even if a spouse is still alive,
the shift to retirement can be difficult. Going to work every day
got one out of the house and gave the chance to interact with
others, but now...........wow. The number one question?What am I
going to do today?
Today's
retirees are a very different bunch. We tend to be younger and more
active. We grew up in a time where there were more opportunities to
do things when compared to previous generations. There was
Woodstock!!! The sudden change from this active life to one more
sedate can really shock the system. So what do do?
We
revert back to the behaviors of our youth. We hang out. As teens, we
hung out on the street corner or behind the bleachers. As we grew
older, it became drinks or dinner after work. It could be a church
or a social group, joining the Rotary Club, but always participating
in some sort of social networking. But people grow older, move away
or pass away and those opportunities for the survivors are not as
available as they once were.
But
today... it's McDonald's to the rescue, or some similar fast food
chain. Many mornings on my way through town I will stop to pick up a
cup of coffee. There are four different fast food restaurants within
a stone's throw of each other and I try to visit a different one each
time. Spread to wealth , you know!!. It didn't take me long to
become aware of the different social groups that were “holding
court” at each location. But here is the interesting point. At
one place, it is a group of retired couples, the next spot is a group
of men, and the third is made up of women. The fourth location is
generally empty. No 'senior specials'. Boy are they missing ut.
On
the warmer, sunny afternoons, a different group gathers at one of the
parking lots, securing a good view of the highway but with a
watchful eye upon their chrome enhanced motorcycles. True, this group
tends to be a bit younger, but I am not really sure. It's the gray
hair in the pony tail that fools me. OK. I am just jealous. The
ponytail and the 'bike'.
But
we may have created a national emergency here, however. I have heard
that at certain locations, although I personally have not seen it,
there have been high stakes bingo games and wild and uncontrolled
card games that needed police intervention. Oh we are a crazy
generation!
