Friday, July 20, 2007

Is 60 the new 40?

A few months ago, mein pops turned the big 60.... which means he's just a few scant years away from being at the traditional retirement age.

Thinking of that I've been hearing a new phrase... "Sixty is the new 40". In other words, the thinking of 40 being the traditional start of middle age has now been pushed up another 20 years.

Truth? or Marketing ploy?

I'll grant you the "Baby Boomers" that are joining the afternoon shuffleboard leagues have benefitted more health-wise than the "Greatest Generation". Advances in medicine, plus a focus on staying healthy more than likely means that this group of folks will be around for quite a while.

But as far as statistics go, the average life span in the United States is 72 for men and 79 for women (I wonder why that is? Are men in that much of a hurry to get to the grave before women? LOL). So unless we see a massive uptick in centigenarians within the next 20 years or so, I think sixty is going to remain sixty.

What do you think?

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