Van Halen – 1978 – back then it was all about love, or the lack thereof.
So here we are, 2022. Standing on the edge, looking down…
Welcome to the end of retirement perhaps as your parents and older friends have done. As a Gen X, I believe we were built for this time and see it as a good thing. We have always been self sufficient as a Generation. We aren’t going to depend on the old ways that aren’t working anymore.
About six months ago moved and renting in a “55 and over” housing area and I am surrounded by Silent (my parents’ age) and Boomer (generation before me) residents. I would say the overwhelming majority are fully retired. I am not. Not even close. Honestly do not think I’ll ever fully retire. At least not the way I see around me here. We still have a kid in college. The people here, they have done well, but I am nowhere near “jealous” of their situation.
I still pay my taxes (Income, SS, FICA, State, Sales) not complaining about that either. My Silent and Boomer friends thank me for helping to keep them going.
Our gov’t continues to spend like there is no tomorrow. Other gov’ts worldwide continue to spend more than they bring in increasing debt and deficits. Whistling past the graveyard we are, collectively.
One positive glimpse is what we see out of our US Millennial and Gen Z populations. Millennials are super collaborative, solving problems as groups. Gen Z are our Gen X kids for the most part. They are less and less dependent on their leaders and governments. They are also putting away more money and earlier than ever. Good news.
We are heading into a storm, financially worldwide. No one (and I mean NO ONE) knows where this is all going. One thing I am certain is you are not going to be able to sit around, you WILL be left behind.
I am overall hopeful, due to our resilience. Our problems are too large to solve easily. But I also don’t believe in just trudging through or some kind of “Great Reset”. It’s going to be a complete crisis of confidence, but not in any way that we are thinking today.
So prepare. Get yourself out of debt. Don’t follow the pack.
Think about what contingencies you have if things go wrong or certainly not to plan. How can you aid others who are going to be a lot less fortunate? One thing I do know is we are getting ready and getting the Millennials and Gen Zs ready. For what ever comes.
GenX Turns Fifty 
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