Two interesting trends have begun converging recently, providing a very interesting set of lifestyle options for individuals who are interested in taking advantage of them.
Firstly, information, communications, collaboration and social networking media have become easier to use, cheaper to buy, and more stable and secure. The result of this trend is that more people of all ages have become adept at using these media for a variety of personal and business reasons.
The second major trend that is occurring is that baby boomers are ‘getting ready to retire in droves’. Well, not quite. There are an amazing number of individuals reaching the age where they could retire, but not very many of these individuals want to retire – or even can afford to retire. Studies are showing that what baby boomers want to do is to continue working, just under different circumstances.
What baby boomers are looking for is a more balanced lifestyle – less effort on work and more effort on other things, like travel, volunteering, learning, participating in sports, etc. Even the type of work studies are indicating that baby boomers are looking for is changing – away from the high pressure, high income corporate world, to the slower-paced, more purpose-driven careers. In fact, an increasing number of boomers are opting for self-employment, even if it means becoming technologically literate to do so.
A lily pad on a sunny day.
This isn’t really surprising, considering that baby boomer women have already affected considerable change on the workplace over the past couple of decades. There is every reason to believe that boomer men and women will achieve the changes in the workplace they are looking for – including greater flexibility to become remote or tele-workers.
At the same time that these two social trends are taking place, baby boomer’s kids, the twenty- and thirty-year olds known as Generation Y, are also taking advantage of the increased freedom and flexibility that new media and technologies provide. This generation is the highly prized “Creative Class”. Intelligent, creative, demanding and impatient, many members of this generation are not willing to play the traditional corporate game, and are also increasingly taking their skills on-line and becoming self-employed.
The great thing about running an online or virtual business is that you can run it from anywhere! Anywhere in the world!! And many baby boomers and Gen Y’ers are doing just that. Financially and personally successful careers can be run from remote locations, small towns, medieval villages; from recreational vehicles and sailboats; or from cottage country.
This website/blog is my action research project – I am setting up a location independent lifestyle that is supported by a virtual enterprise. You are very welcome to follow along and learn from my mistakes.
The website/blog Ageless Explorer, located at http://www.agelessexplorer.com, is devoted to exploring more general lifestyle design, and is particularly focused on Baby Boomers who might be struggling to deal with their current or impending retirement.
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