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There was a huge rise in the birth rate after the Second World War. These babies were nicknamed the Baby Boomers and they are the babies born between around 1946 and 1960. This means that the first Baby Boomers became pensioners in 2011 at the age of 65.

It should be noticed that when the first Baby Boomers came of age, they created the changes in civil and human rights and discrimination linked with 1968. They also fashioned the Hippy Movement, Flower Power and the Sexual Revolution. So what will happen when they get to be pensioners?

The Baby Boomer generation is the richest generation ever, but they have never felt the drop in income, status, health and mobility associated with older age, so it is likely that there will be some sort of pensioners’ pressure group.

About 22% of the American population are Boomers, which means that there will be tens of millions of people retiring over the following ten years. This has a number of vital consequences. The first one is for health care; the mass retirement could or almost certainly will put the health care system under massive pressure.

The second one is employment. Because the Boomers’ generation is the largest section of society, when they retire, there will be a shortage of labour. After all, if the Boomer generation is the biggest portion of society, then by definition the following generation must be smaller.

These figures are roughly the same for all Western countries and it almost certainly accounts for why there is a rush in Western countries to allow immigration. Firstly, immigrants will take up the slack in the workplace and second, their taxes will help pay for all the old Boomers.

So, hopefully, neither the state finances nor the Boomers’ health will suffer, but what other effects may this mass retirement have? Well, there could easily be a huge increase in demand for retirement homes both in one’s native country and abroad. Baby boomers are prolific travellers and many might want to retire to warmer countries or warmer parts of their country.

The southern states, provinces or counties of Western countries in the northern hemisphere and warmer countries in general, like Thailand, Spain and Italy could see a growth in retirement housing. The construction industry might get a much needed shot in the arm.

Most Western governments and many private construction firms already have plans and even active projects to satisfy this need for retirement housing when it begins to kick in. If the Boomers make a mass migration out of the cities into the countryside or to the seaside, it could free up millions of inner city dwellings and at the same time create lots of construction work outside the cities. But not just that, millions of extra jobs will be created in support and service staff positions.

The aging of the Baby boomers could be just the kick start that most deteriorating Western economies need to get back on their feet after the banking crisis of 2008-2010. Let’s hope so.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on many subjects but is currently involved with Baby Boomer Retirement. If you would like to read more, please go over to our web site entitled Retirement.

People regard retirement in different ways. Those who have saved or invested enough to be able to make the most of their retirement in style usually look forward to giving up the daily grind, whereas those who have not saved are usually not looking forward to it. However, there is another group of people who span both of these groups who do not want to retire either.

It is not because they do not have enough money, it is because they are frightened that they will not have enough to do. This is a real pity, but it is normally evidence of an over-concentration on one’s career and not enough other interests outside work.

Here are a few pointers to help you prepare yourself to enjoy your retirement.

Do not regard retirement as the end of your useful life. Yes, it probably was for your father or grandfather, but it does not have to be for you because individuals live longer nowadays. Your grandfather almost certainly only had six or seven years after retirement, but you could have twenty or more. If you still want to work, you can, either for someone else or for yourself.

Broaden your circle of friends and interests or hobbies. Five to ten years before you retire, start an interest that has absolutely nothing to do with your job – archery, ballooning, deep sea fishing, marathon running, bridge or embroidery, anything, but be willing to fill the gap that losing the nine to five will create.

Many retirees become far less active than they were when working. This not good, so plan to take up a replacement activity like gardening, rambling, swimming, sailing or golf. In fact, anything to keep those pounds from piling on just at the time of your life when they can do the most damage. If you do not like the idea of taking up an active hobby, modify your diet and walk for thirty minutes every morning and every evening.

If you do not want to begin a new job or a new business, consider donating some of your free time to a decent cause. You could visit the elderly or the lonely in hospital. You could visit lonely individuals in the community or you could teach computers or gardening to those who want to learn. Join the Women’s Institute, Victim Support, visit prisoners or help out at one of the local institutions.

Learn something new. Have you always wished to be able to play the guitar, speak Spanish or use the Net? Well, now is your opportunity. There are usually day and night classes in these and other topics.

Travel more. All right, you might not have a lot of money, but you do have a bus pass (in many countries, anyway). You could set up a fortnight’s holiday using your bus pass for daily travel from guest house to guest house. You could write a book or simply read all those books that you have not had time to read over the last fifty years.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on many subjects but is currently involved with Ways To Enjoy Retirement. If you want to read more, please go over to our website entitled Retirement.