Blessed Are The Baby Boomers
I used to think baby boomers were only good at skewing charts, devouring tax dollars and abandoning mother/baby centres in parks.
Today I can report that boomers add significant value to my life.
It’s called semi-retirement and it’s fabulous.
Dentist
After 40 years in the game, my dentist is calm and confident. His movements are certain and he doesn’t try to impress the nurse.
I freaked out when he retired. Fonnie’s new dentist was evasive, persuasive and expensive and I didn’t want to go ‘out there’.
I was therefore rapt when my guy returned after three months of gardening and travel. He explained that retirement simply wasn’t as much fun as work.
In five years, I’ve never had to share his waiting room. He starts on time, doesn’t rush and charges like it’s 1999.
Vet
When our Omaha was savaged by a pit bull, we stumbled into a local vet. Little did we know that he’d be better than the Lost Dogs Home and Melbourne University combined!
This chap has also been at it for decades. In running a big, busy practice, he acquired hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear that you’d never see in a small, new clinic.
Now he only works 8.30 – 11.00 am and 3.00 – 6.30 pm. The rest of the time he spends with his family and hobbies. He holidays regularly on his farm and always returns refreshed.
His schedule is light and flexible. This gives him time to answer all my penetrating questions. He loves what he does and really cares for his critters.
Conclusion
Stephen G said the other week that overwork is one of the chief evils of our time. As I sift through the fallout of economic rationalism, I must agree.
If all service providers (nay, all people!) were as chilled as my vet and dentist, what a calm, happy world it would be.
Of course young folk need to work hard to get ahead. But what if we all simultaneously laboured 20% less? Our relative positions would be unchanged. And we’d live longer, happier, more meaningful lives.
Don’t you think?
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, The Feisty Empire
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You’ve hit the nail Paul. The whole get ahead thing is a made up sport. Sadly, though, I think it only takes a handful of folk pursuing profit before people that cruels it for the rest. Then getting ahead becomes a made up sport we can’t afford not to play.
Nice post.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TheBrewCrew, Megan Wilson. Megan Wilson said: Blog: What if we all simultaneously worked 20% less? http://bit.ly/31sgSw [...]
Indeed.
Thank you kindly fellas. I appreciate your comments. I’m running a client through this Web 2.0 caper, so it was great to see your smiling faces pop up at precisely the right moment!
Heading out to play with some Morgan horses now, so won’t be able to respond again for a little bit. I’m looking forward to sharing some killer posts and piccies very soon. Best regards until later.
Hi Paul:
I so agree with you on the value of living life fully and well–rather than giving over to consumerism and compulsive work habits to support “living large.”
I wonder if this is really an attribute of Baby Boomers, however. Isn’t Gen Y the demographic recognized for work-family-life balance?
BTW, glad to hear your spending time with Morgans–my favorite breed. They do it all: jumping, dressage, driving, trail rides, therapeutic riding and more–with strength, beauty and good temper.
Hope poor Omaha is on the mend.
Great to see you again, Lorraine! I haven’t had a lot of contact with Gen Y, so can’t comment on your interesting point. I wonder what the others have to say.
The Morgans are unbelievable. I can’t get over how re-energised I feel from having interacted with them. A lovely coincidence that you dig them too. Here’s the site, if you’re interested:
http://www.samariacreekmorgans.com.au/
I can’t wait to set up the blog for this business. So many amazing stories to tell!
Omaha is fully recovered now. Her mum, Graham (I know!) has had two operations lately but is on the mend. Thanks very much for your interest.
Checked the site–gorgeous Morgans!
You are so lucky to be creating a blog for these beautiful animals.
There’s quite a bit of lore surrounding Morgans. E.g., why Morgans’ hind legs extend–the hallmark “Morgan stretch”: Morgans were bred in 19th c. to be the quintessential ladies saddle horse. When they stretch, their backs lower making it easier for ladies to mount–side saddle, of course!
Morgans are also heavily featured here in the states in the classic children’s literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Sorry for taking your comments off on a Morganic tangent! Will stop now.
Dear Lorraine, a quick look at our other posts should reassure you that we love nothing more than a good tangent. Please don’t spare the horses on our account!
Fascinating facts you’ve given us there. I didn’t know any of that stuff, so don’t be surprised if it ends up on the blog!
This blog will be an absolute joy to create. The place is dripping with good news. Even snapping a few photos gave me more fun than I’ve had in months: http://tweetphoto.com/olcgaeoe
Thanks again, Lorraine. It’s lovely to have you in our zone.
Just trying another way to show that pic:
Bugger.
Megan!!!
Hang on, I’ll check it out
Seeing if this works…
Yay! You needed to right click on the image itself to find its actual location, and then paste that link in
Ah! Nice one, Megan. Right clicking did indeed reveal the full URL. So cool to have you in our corner. Many thanks!
Magnificent beasts! I’m quite envious!
Regarding Lorraine’s comment about GenY, I’d like to share a link to a piece I read this morning related to the subject I found interesting.
http://changethis.com/pdf/64.01.Upstarts.pdf
According to this writer, GenY are indeed more flexible with their scheduling, but will still work long hours as required.
Thanks heaps, Stephen! That article has my name written all over it. Just a small warning for those with dial up, it’s 3.19 meg. But it looks like it’s worth every bit.
Meanwhile, in a paddock far far away…
Geez! And I thought I got off topic! ;-P
First of all I’m thinkin’, ‘Morgans’…Oh! I didn’t know there was a little silky terrier type breed called Morgans?…then I thunk…Oh! I didn’t know Paul was into collectible cars?
Well, if ya wanna learn summint new, where better than here ey?
Din’t know there was a breed of horses called Morgans. Do they come in a Brabham Racing Green 2 Door Soft-Top? ;-P
I still wanna know who that ‘mystery tart’ is, lying spread-eagled in that paddock? ;-P Must be some horse-whisperin’, mung-bean huggin’ hippy I s’pose?
Good ol’ Stephen H! Always great stuff mate. Interesting article. Haven’t read all of it, but enough to get the gist. Thanks mate
Oh! And thanks for the mention in the article Paul. I’m gobsmacked mate…that is very good of you…I’m honoured
.
Yes, it all sounds so right in theory doesn’t it? If only ‘everyone’…:-P
I’m sure the Tax Office is still saying exactly the same thing…and the cops, and the pollies and the hippies…if only ‘everyone’…?
It kinda begs the question: What is one thing that the fabled and mystical ‘everyone’ IS doing? The only things I can think of are bodily functions…but I’ve been a Carer, and I know even that isn’t entirely accurate
Perhaps breathing is the only thing we all do?
So how would we go about steering the focus away from bigger, more, faster and ‘constant & never-ending improvement’ (read ‘insanity)?
This could tie all of our previous conversations together? Perhaps we could save it for another less ‘Morganfull’ article?
But I think Paul is on the right track. It’s an interesting observation isn’t it? “But what if we all simultaneously laboured 20% less? Our relative positions would be unchanged.”
So simple! As simple as the Reserve Bank and Banks releasing money as credit rather than debt?
A wave of a Monetary Magic Wand? Well some bugger waved it in the first bluddy place didn’t they? They just waved it backwards!
Na! It couldn’t be that simple could it?
Oh! Sorry, I forgot! No one can change unless ‘everyone’ ELSE changes first right? That’s the age old Governemnt disclaimer for everything isn’t it?…we’re doing that same ol’ dance with Climate Change aren’t we? “Oh! We can’t be sustainable unless the rest of the world is…otherwise, what’s the point?” Oh Great! With leadership like that my might as well all bluddy gas ourselves right now!
So, with the whole bluddy Planet on the chopping-block, what chance have we got with the ‘little things’ like reducing the public burden of Health, Tax, Repeated and now Global Financial Crises, 100 hour long ‘35 hour working weeks’, and on and on and on ad ’self-bluddy-destructionausem’?
Here’s a clue – Insanity defined: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting the results to change!
Oh dear! We’re back at the Magic Wand again… ;-P
You know we’re soaking in it?
Cheers
Stephen G
Great to see you back, Stephen G – especially under a post inspired by you.
You’re dead right on the climate change point. The inescapable logic of everyone waiting for everyone else is complete inaction.
At least when the oil runs out, I’ve got an ‘in’ with a four legged buddy!
Thank you, as always, for your generous comment.
Wow! Inspired by me?
Well back atchya Cobba; you and a few fine others inspired my latest blog post too – http://edits.nosh-it-wood-fired-pizza.com.au/2009/11/12/nosh-it-nofl-owers/
There’s an economic term for that inescapable logic. It’s called the ‘easy rider effect’. It also translates as ‘well why should I do that, when everyone else is doing this?’
So much for intelligent species. We may be at the top of the food-chain in the animal kingdom, but were at the bluddy bottom of our own…
I wonder why that is?
Cheers
Stephen G
Cor! That is a REAL nice blog post, Stephen! Informative, heartfelt and jolly generous. Thank you.
Good Morning Paul,
Here I am,your 61 year old Morgan breeding Baby Boomer friend practising technology again.
Hi to Stephen;I lie in the paddock ‘cos my knees are wonky.Sad but true,I’d much rather be tarty.
The horses,especially mares with foals are very careful not to stand on anything live so I’m safer lying down than staggering around.
Yesterday while Angel (Morgan mare) was smooching me another mares foal came to look.His Mum tried to chase Angel away and she stood her ground and protected me.I feel safer in a herd of horses than at a party.Horses are so much more honest with less hang-ups.
Judy O. Samaria Creek Morgan Farm
Dear Judy, it’s great to have you here at last! Good on you for embracing this new online world, which is about as far from your lovely fields as one can get.
Megan, I’ve tried to set Judy up as a contributor to her Good Morgans blog. However, the effect seems to have been that she has assumed my identity in this blog!
Is there anything you can do to sort this out? Sorry; I’m not half the blogger wrangler you are!
Hi Judy
Wow! Did I go red with that unexpected answer to my ‘mystery tart’ question
. Naturally, I kinda assumed it was Paul. No wonder he kept his mouth shut…he just loves watching me dig myself bluddy great big wholes to fall into 
Good knees tho…even if a bit wonky
And good onya for doing the ‘technology’ thang. I know that it’s a great big deal to a lot o’ folks (are you watching Tracy
, but like most things, the fear is much bigger in our heads. I’d say you can now relax…you’re doin’ great 
And I’m with you re: “I feel safer in a herd of horses than at a party”. Though I love being around horses (not a rider), my comfort zone is snakes & reptiles…but all animals really…Oh! and children
Just like knowing where I stand.
Hope you can make it back from time to time
Cheers
Stephen G
Poor Stephen! They ARE my knees, but I’ve willed them to Judy in the event of my early demise.
Great fun to see that you not only call a spade a spade, you can also wield one to devastating effect!
Ok! Now I’m gettin’ scared!
Oh bugger it!..I’ll just wait ’til the video comes out ;-P
Cheers
Stephen G
For those of you keen to see what a real-life master horsewoman looks like, here’s a sneak peek. I give you Judy Oldmeadow!
That’s not your real surname is it Judy?
Ya gotta keep an eye on these slick tricky copywriter types (Ooh! Is that a pun? 
If it is…Geez! No wonder the horses love ya
You must’ve been doing this for a lotta lifetimes to earn a title like that 
It’s like ‘Has Sing’…another very apt surname, and very well earned I’d say
Mine is some old Gaelic derivation…I’ve heard tell it is something along the lines of ‘home of the clan’ – ‘Glan ville’. I’ve also heard variations of ‘village in the Glen’…clearly I have few lifetimes to go to clear that one up
Cheers
Stephen G
A topical article:
‘Once Australia led the world in advocating shorter hours, with Melbourne stonemasons the first to gain an eight-hour day in 1856.
That culture has been tipped on its head, as OECD figures show Australians work the longest week of any developed country – an average 44 hours.’
http://bit.ly/1J4tnJ
Good Morning all, here I am doing my homework again.
Thanks Paul and thank you Stephen – you make me laugh. Thought I’d share this other common baby boomer thang – multiple marriages. I’ve been married three times (no wonder I’m more confident with horses!). I inherited Oldmeadow with my third and final (five years and we’re still hanging in there) marriage. I didn’t marry for the name but couldn’t have nthought of a better one.
My Dad, 87 years old and still maried to 88-year-old Mum, recently commented ‘Jude you’re a great judge of horses but a lousey judge of men but you’ve done alright this time.’
Good on you, Judy; you’re doing really well.
Thanks also for your wonderful feedback about the Morgan blog this morning. Can’t believe we made someone cry!
Oops! Forgot to thank you, Stephen, for your generous analysis of my geneology. I like it!
Just one tip for you, Judy – and this applies to all commenters: make sure you put the right website URL behind your comment.
I couldn’t click through to your site because you dropped the .au off the address. We don’t want to lose any lovely visitors due to a typo!
I’ll dive under the hood and fix it now, but just keep that in mind for next time.
Fixed.
Well I’m glad we didn’t make Judy cry
Good onya Judy…you sure are a great testament to one of my favourite sayings – ‘Never Give Up, Never Surrender’ 
Perhaps if we all got married we could be the Oldmeadow near the Village in the Glen that Has Sings?
Ok! I won’t be waiting for THAT video to come out 
Re: Genealogy – I dunno if I’d go that far Cobba…but a Bard by any other name?
Cheers
Stephen G
Re: Topical Article – http://bit.ly/1J4tnJ
First of all – bluddy nicely spotted there Cobba
It seems almost inescapable, that in attempting to address the collapse of my nubile small business, that my tendency to look for causes rather than band-aid symptoms is leading inexorably toward a Global Campaign for Common Sense. Though even the term ‘Common Sense’, along with ‘Common Wealth’, has become diluted beyond any meaningful recognition, let alone comprehension.
Now I don’t want to tag, by virtue of context, ‘Baby Boomers’ as the sole cause of such issues as outlined in that article – http://bit.ly/1J4tnJ . I believe we all share responsibility not only for it’s cause but for its solution.
What jumped out of that article at me was this bit:
“Total unpaid overtime worked is the equivalent of 1.16 million new full-time jobs that have not been created. That equates to $72 billion in lost wages – money that could be taxed.”
Is this symptomatic and indicative of the accuracy and efficacy of our current systems of ‘accounting’ & ‘accountability’? What are the ramifications of this observation? What are it’s implications?
On the one hand it reflects one of the good things about our culture…that folks are willing to ‘go the extra mile’. To do that bit extra ’cause it’s ‘the right thing’ to do and because it helps.
And personally I don’t have a problem with $72 Billion dollars not being taxed. What I have a problem with is this:
WHERE THE BLUDDY HELL HAS THAT $72 BILLION DOLLARS GONE???!!!
I’ll be back
Cheers
Stephen G
Well said, Stephen. I thought you’d like that article (which shows just how much you are a man of the people).
The only thing I can add to your fine treatise is this: imagine if all that overtime were spent on REAL volunteer work (e.g. youth mentoring, tree planting)?! What a society-changing event THAT would be.
Thank you, as ever, for fueling our debate.
Thanks mate, and indeed your additions are exactly on the money (to coin a phrase – pun intended
.
What society changing events indeed?!…along with things like releasing money into the market place as Credit rather than Debt? But that’s a whole ‘nuther story…almost
.
When you consider that that missing $72 Billion is only part of what goes missing and then stack that up against great stuff that it could’ve been used for like this – http://bit.ly/wPpl1 (download free eBook here – http://bit.ly/wPpl1 ) & this – http://bit.ly/J1Epr and then wrap it all up in ‘Duty of Care’, then the state of our country (let alone the Planet), is not only clearly & economically repairable, but any continuance of the current ‘State of Play’ is simply CRIMINAL!!! Not to mention embarrassing…
In Amory Lovins’ peer-reviewed, book (link above), ‘Winning the Oil Endgame’ (which incidentally was co-sponsored by the US Pentagon), he & his co-authors estimate $180 Billion to retool the ENTIRE transport industries (i.e land sea & air), & build a complete (with proper economies of scale), advanced bio-fuel industry (& no, not the ones that the media & politicians say are currently unvialbe or can’t be done), for THE WHOLE OF THE USA!!! Let me say that again $180 Billion for the WHOLE OF THE USA!!!
So what could we have done with that $72 Billion here in Australia, that the workers of Australia donated to entities unknown?
Geez! You don’t reckon 1+1 actually does equal 2 do ya? And if it does, does that raise the possibility that Australian Business Owners & Governments may have something to explain? Hmmm! It’s a toughy!
Ok! So if the above doesn’t illustrate enough of a drain on our country, then you can add this to the mix:
My Government backed small business, having had an estimated investment to date of approximately $200,000.00 (NOT including the wages of Gov’t personnel, Service Providers etc), and a projected income of over $800,000.00 in it’s first 2 years of operation, was deemed unworthy of supporting to the tune of $25,000.00 by banks & other ‘Small Business Supporting’ lending institutions…even though they were happy to get me $27,000.00 in debt for capital equipment in the first place.
Now don’t forget to multiply this NATIONALLY BORN COST by the number of small business failures. What is that number? Good question. Just the fact that the ‘experts’ & ‘pundits’ can’t agree on what the actual or even average rate of SME Failures is, is in my view evidence enough to support my illustration. But here…see for yourself:
Page 14 of this Lake Macquarie Council Home Based Business Research Paper (published in 2001), quotes a figure of ‘74% small business failure rate in the first 5 years’ – http://www.lakemac.com.au/downloads/Nova%20HBB%20Report.pdf
This article from The Australian (October 2007), ‘Exploding the Myth of SME Failure Rates’…well it explodes something…like any hope of ever making sense of it…gee! I wonder why that is? – http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/exploding-the-myth-of-sme-failure-rates/story-e6frg9lf-1111114570616
So even if you believe the pundit’s view – i.e. ‘don’t worry it’s not as bad as EVERYONE IN HISTORY thinks’ – and use their figures, I reckon we’d still be pretty gobsmacked if someone actually added it up…properly?
I reckon that at best, it’s a bluddy lot of money, time, resources & most importantly and most often ignored, PEOPLE, down the gurgler in the name of progress, efficiency, transparency, accountability and the good ol’ ‘Common Wealth’.
Sound Business Acumen?
Are you happy to work longer & longer so that our country (i.e. you), can continue to bear such unaccounted-for costs?
Do you still reckon that our current (& historic), economy is ‘rational’?
You know we’re soaking in it?…
Cheers
Stephen G
Golly, Stephen. I’m certainly soaking in it now!
That Amory Lovins video is exceptionally good and should be broadcast on every media station like a Catastrophic Fire Warning. It’s certainly on brief.
Despite the money being ours, Ralph, I don’t know what has become of it. Nor do I think a collective dive under Australia’s sofa cushions is going to yield the desired result.