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I just turned 60. I am in my Third Act!
On average we are living 34 years longer than our great grandparents. That is really a generation longer. Our traditional thoughts about age are being redefined including midlife and retirement. One of those new definitions is the "Third Act "- ages 60 - 90.
In a play, the third act pulls everything together - the bits and pieces of the first two acts into a connected whole. The third act is all about meaning.
Boomer 3.0 is another common description of the new reality of age and retirement. As with everything that the Boomers touch, it is never the same as the generation before. As we enter retirement it is not the retirement of our parents. Bowling, bridge RV camping, golfing - the activities of our parent's retirement are not the norm now and increasingly declining in popularity. Downsizing and moving to retirement communities or apartments is not as common. More and more Boomers are staying in their current homes as long as possible.
Though physical activity of some kind is a common thread it is no longer the main activity. Instead retired Boomers are working at part time "encore careers" or volunteering both related to longstanding interests and unrelated to their work before retirement. Many pursue educational opportunities by taking college and university courses in areas of interest. The pursuit of creative endeavours is very popular. Creative expression is a new driver of retirement.
Instead of the old paradigm of leisure and entertainment, the common thread for this new generation of retirees is the pursuit of meaning, purpose and contributing to community.
I totally understand this new reality. At 60 and recently retired, I am still young, healthy and vital and hope to for many years to come. I want to continue to learn, contribute and be engaged. I know that I must build purpose, structure and community into my new world. It is exciting to embrace these new opportunities and activities. Stay tuned.
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