Some work longer by choice, but many can't afford to quit.....

  This article that I am going to write about is one I had wanted to write about last week, but sometimes other things seem to intervene.....
   This was an article I came across in one of the many local newspapers I breeze through each day. There are many good points to this one so thought it would be worthwhile to pass along.
   "As the baby boomers begin to ease into their sixties, most expect to delay retirement longer than their parents or grandparents. 
That is good because many cannot afford to stop working any time soon."
   Hmmmm, why do you think that is? Could one of the reasons be the general cost of living these days? Or is there another reason for delaying retirement? Is it plausable to say that in reality there really is no such thing as retirement except for a chosen few?
   The reality is this phenomonon has only been around for a very short time and from what I have been seeing it is a disaster waiting to happen. When programs are initiated for the public good prove they do just the opposite, why are they not ended? Why must they continue under cloak and cover of night?
   There is a very small percentage of companies that offer retirement packages and if you have tried saving money on your own you soon find out where that gets you, right?
   "Two new reports portraying aging boomers as better educated, with higher incomes and longer life expectancies than the generations that preceeded them. They also have fewer children and are less likely to be married, leaving them with fewer options for help in their old age.
   Years ago, before retirement and social security existed families made it their business to take care of their own. No, the burden was not placed solely upon their children, though it was an asset. By families, I include all, children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins.
   Sometimes even church groups and communities as a whole took care of those who could no longer be as productive as they once were. A time when there was a sense of companionship, community spirit, love for their fellow man or woman. A need to take care of all who lived within their community.
   Over the years communities have grown by such numbers that it makes it almost impossible to help others living around you. Even if you offer your assistance, it does not mean it will be taken lightly either.
   Today we have other issues and problems tugging away at our spirit and time so we are left in a void unable to carry out those wishes that we may want to.
  "In 1950, almost half of men sixty five and older were still in the labor force, according to the Census Bureau. That percentage bottomed out in the 1980's at less than sixteen percent. It has since edged up to about nineteen percent and experts believe it will increase even more as the older baby boomers reach sixty five.
   Women work in much larger numbers earlier in life, but among those sixty five and older, their participation in the labor force has remained steady at about ten percent since 1950."
   Personally, I will probably always work for a number of reason, freedom being number one. The how and where I will work will continue to change over the years ahead, but work I will.
   Now, in my case, for all the many years that I have worked I will be receiving a pension. At least I consider myself fortunate to be able to collect on that when the time comes. Other than my pension, any work that I perform will be extra and my business.
   Though I certainly will be eligible for Social Security I already know that I will be turned down from receiving it. My mistake was in getting married and my husband makes more money than I do so therefore I am not, nor will I ever be eligible to collect on MY Social Security. It is irrelevant that I was forced to pay into it and it will be irrelevant that I will be forced to continue to pay into it, but to ever see a penny of it, no. Unless I get divorced I will not be eligible and I have no plans on getting divorced.
   I am not alone on this either. There are many thousands who are in the same  situation, only many do not find out until after they fill out all the forms. So you see, I already know that I will always have to find some way to continue bringing in an income no matter what age.
   One day I will also discuss the other ponzi schemes we camoflage under the titles of medicare/medicaid, but this is not the article for it.
  
Thank you for stopping by and reading this...