60

Well, I made it into the 60 club. I still have another 17 years to the average projected life expectancy for a male in the US, or possible another 40. My grandmother passed away at 100.

We in our 60’s make up a little more than 10% of the US population and about the same of the work force. The IRS has me retiring at 67. But now still with little kids, I’ll be one of the 8% or so still working away in my 70’s.

Back in the 1960’s, the average male life span was about 69 and that was reason enough to retire at 65. Life expectancy, as a whole, is now dropping slightly, but retirees (65 and over) will soon likely make up about 20% of the population as well as the electorate. It is a political and economic force to be reckoned with now and in the future. ?

Getting a job past 60 isn’t that easy. The unemployment rate for the over 60 is officially fairly low but, in reality, is likely about the same as the 18 – 24 group. Older Americans just drop out of the workforce or retire. A gap in employment can be the end of a career; all the more reason for me to keep working.

I’ve had a relatively easy life so far, nothing remarkable, as the following random statistics will indicate:

·????????No felony arrest or convictions

·????????No high-level degrees (it would only be for the degree at this point)

·????????Longest continuous employment streak, in weeks: 649

·????????Number of employers since high school: 10

·????????Number of times fired from a job: 2

·????????Lifetime earnings (to date): $2,347,655.13

·????????Foreign countries travelled: 12

·????????Children: 3 (highest tittle achieved: Dad)

·????????Grandchildren: 2

·????????Number of small children traumatized by me: 1,347

·????????Number of houses owned: 2 (co-owned with the bank)

·????????Number of parachute jumps: 36 military, 1 civilian

·????????Number of near-death experiences: an insane amount

As with many that have hit this stage in life, I feel that I’ve reached the peak of my experience. It should be a level field from this point on. Every day is still a learning experience, and there’s still room for growth: it’s just with a different perspective. I want to go with what I know.

What we do with experience, and how we adapt this to current situations, is what makes the experience valuable. We have a responsibility to make use of and share this experience: to mentor and to teach.

It’s also needed to lead. Experience isn’t just some vast knowledge of something technical, but an understanding of social concepts and human interactions; nuances of communication and organizing that people are drawn to follow: getting things done without needing the authority.

Being 60 also establishes the point at which one is supposedly emotionally and intellectually mature. I’m not sure this mature adult concept sits well with me. I have still have a lot of time left to play and do fun stuff.

I’m not dead yet.?