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There was a colossal increase in the birth rate after the Second World War. These babies were dubbed the Baby Boomers and they are the babies born between around 1946 and 1960. This means that the first Baby Boomers became pensioners in 2011 at the age of 65.

It should be noticed that when the first Baby Boomers came of age, they produced the changes in civil and human rights and discrimination associated with 1968. They also fashioned the Hippy Movement, Flower Power and the Sexual Revolution. So what will ensue when they become pensioners?

The Baby Boomer generation is the richest generation ever, but they have never felt the drop in income, status, health and mobility associated with older age, so it is likely that there will be some sort of pensioners’ pressure group.

About 22% of the American population are Boomers, which means that there will be tens of millions of individuals retiring over the next ten years. This has a number of important consequences. The first one is for health care; the mass retirement could or probably will put the health care system under massive pressure.

The second one is employment. Because the Boomers’ generation is the largest section of society, when they retire, there will be a shortage of labour. After all, if the Boomer generation is the biggest portion of society, then by definition the following generation must be smaller.

These statistics are approximately the same for all Western countries and it almost certainly accounts for why there is a rush in Western countries to allow immigration. Firstly, immigrants will take up the slack in the workplace and second, their taxes will help pay for all the old Boomers.

So, with any luck, neither the state finances nor the Boomers’ health will suffer, but what other effects might this mass retirement have? Well, there could well be a colossal rise in demand for retirement homes both in one’s home country and abroad. Baby boomers are prolific travellers and lots of them may like to retire to warmer countries or warmer parts of their country.

The southern states, provinces or counties of Western countries in the northern hemisphere and warmer countries in general, like Thailand, Spain and Italy could see a growth in retirement housing. The construction industry might get a much needed shot in the arm.

Most Western governments and many private construction firms already have plans and even active projects to satisfy this need for retirement housing when it begins to kick in. If the Boomers make a mass migration out of the cities into the countryside or to the seaside, it could free up millions of inner city dwellings and at the same time create lots of construction work outside the cities. But not just that, millions of extra jobs will be created in support and service staff positions.

The aging of the Baby boomers could be just the kick start that most deteriorating Western economies need to get back on their feet after the banking crisis of 2008-2010. Let’s hope so.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on many subjects but is currently involved with Baby Boomer Retirement. If you want to read more, please go over to our website entitled Retirement.

People regard retirement in different ways. Those who have saved or invested enough to be able to make the most of their retirement in style usually look forward to giving up the daily grind, whereas those who have not saved are usually not looking forward to it. However, there is another group of people who span both of these groups who do not want to retire either.

It is not because they do not have enough money, it is because they are frightened that they will not have enough to do. This is a real pity, but it is normally evidence of an over-concentration on one’s career and not enough other interests outside work.

Here are a couple of tips to help you prepare yourself to make the most of your retirement.

Do not treat retirement as the end of your useful life. Yes, it almost certainly was for your father or grandfather, but it does not have to be for you because individuals live longer nowadays. Your grandfather probably just had six or seven years after retirement, but you could have twenty or more. If you still would like to work, you can, either for someone else or for yourself.

Broaden your circle of friends and interests or hobbies. Five to ten years before you retire, begin an interest that has absolutely nothing to do with your job - archery, ballooning, deep sea fishing, marathon running, bridge or embroidery, anything, but be prepared to fill the gap that losing the nine to five will make.

Numerous retirees become far less lively than they were while working. This not good, so plan to take up a replacement activity like gardening, rambling, swimming, sailing or golfing. In fact, anything to keep those pounds from piling on just at the time of your life when they can do the most damage. If you do not like the idea of taking up an lively hobby, modify your diet and walk for thirty minutes each morning and every evening.

If you do not want to start a new career or a new business, consider giving some of your free time to a good cause. You could visit the elderly or the lonely in hospital. You could visit lonely individuals in the community or you could teach computers or gardening to those who would like to learn. Join the Women’s Institute, Victim Support, visit prisoners or help out at one of the local institutions.

Learn something new. Have you always wanted to be able to play the guitar, speak Spanish or use the Net? Well, now is your opportunity. There are usually day and night classes in these and other topics.

Travel more. All right, you may not have a great deal of money, but you do have a bus pass (in many countries, anyway). You could plan a fortnight’s holiday using your bus pass for daily travel from guest house to guest house. You could write a book or simply read all those books that you have not had time to read over the last fifty years.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on many topics but is now involved with Ways To Enjoy Retirement. If you want to read more, please go over to our website entitled Retirement.