Middle Boomer

I guess I can consider myself a middle baby boomer. I was born in 1956 about in the middle of that generation. Every day I can read something on what is happening with that generation. Yes, we are getting older. Yes, that was a time when everyone was more concerned with themselves than about others. We were still in the industrial generation as well. Working for the man and trying to earn and work your way up the ladder to make yourself as important as possible.

What did that do to families? I think at that time it put a lot of stress on the relationships and with kids growing up. Parents not being at home and I know that during this time both parents needed to have jobs. Things were getting expensive.

Now why am I thinking about this? Here I am at almost 55 years old and now not working at all. I walked away from my job in 2010 and now what do I do? The stress of trying to maintain what was happening in 2010 was just too much. You would need to look at my year in review to see what was going on. Now, not all was put in there but you get the drift.

I actually got my first real paying job at the age of 14. I started working in a Health Food Store. Wow, I was getting a real paycheck and I was more independent. Of course a lot of my money was going to pay for my private education. We were raised in a christian family and it was important to go to private schools. We also had to work to pay for that opportunity since my parents weren't able to pay for the education themselves.

If it wasn't for my fiance I would never have gone to college. I was ok with not going to college and working around the area in whatever I could find. Again, it was a private college. I earned my Associate Degree because I ran out of money to pay for the Accounting degree I wanted.

About five years later I saw an article in the paper about the new opportunity of working in hospitals as a Respiratory Therapist. I jumped at the chance and completed that program and went on to work 20 years in that field. I had fun working in the hospitals and helping not only older individuals but spent a lot of time working with the neonates. That was a highlight for me. I was trained by one of the best neonateologists to intubate and help these little ones have a chance.

It came a time that I was having issues with my feet and back being able to stand for long periods of time. Due to my pre 14 age I was lifting over 100 lbs over my head stacking. Being less than 100 lbs myself. I was putting in the work ethic and showing I could do the job.

After the years in Respiratory I decided to take a job as a computer specialist that would work with hospital software. I enjoyed that job and after 7 1/2 years it was time to walk away.

I guess after all this I am in a new area in my life. What do I do next. Where are the jobs that a 55 year old can help and still stay active. After all of 2010 I am hopeful that 2011 will be a year I can get back to being a more productive person in this society. Now, I understand we are no longer an industrial nation but we have moved into a more informational society. There has to be something out there.

I don't know why I started thinking about this today. Maybe reading the AARP magazine spurred my thoughts since they were talking about the baby boomers moving into retirement.

Hopefully playing poker this afternoon so stay tuned.