“Signing Off”
Folks, the Baby Boomer is “signing off”! This is my 97th post and, yes, at least for now, my final post. Why?
Well, the honest truth is I’ve run out of stuff to write about. Oh, sure, I could go on and on writing about stuff that bothers me, but to what point. Hey, you don’t want to read posts like that and I really don’t enjoy writing those types of posts. However, the Baby Boomer will tell you he’s about fed up, disappointed, and irritated with it all, especially, with today’s American society which he’s written about many times.
“Signing off” from my blog isn’t the only thing I’ve decided to do. No, in fact, the Baby Boomer is going to be taking a hiatus from all social media. I finally completely retired over 2 1/2 years ago and for the first time joined Facebook thinking it was about time to do so–it might even be fun. Not being one to amass hundreds and hundreds of so-called “friends”, where I only have 93, I’ve found myself becoming fed up, disappointed, and irritated at some of my “friends” antics and META in general. In fact, to the point I actually “defriended” a number of “friends”. We all have opinions and it’s my opinion social media is a place to share positive happenings not negative things, especially, if you’re sharing your political opinions whether they come from the “left” or “right”. Sure, you have the right to share your opinions, but social media probably isn’t the proper place to do so in the Baby Boomer’s most humble opinion. So, those who chose to use Facebook to share their political opinions were “defriended”. Recently, more and more folks are doing the same antics and it’s no longer entertaining, thus, the reason for opting out and taking the hiatus.
Probably just like you, my family is the most important thing in my life and, not only do I have unconditional love for them, but I cherish them. Our immediate family is small and made up of only La Bear, Master M, Baby Bear, Big Red, the King, Biggs, and Bitsy. We escaped society over five years ago secluding ourselves in the country outside Richmond at The Compound.
Spring is the favorite season and it’s officially only nine days away. After such a brutal Winter, we’re very much looking forward to enjoying a beautiful Spring at The Compound with the flowering trees, greening of the grass, and the leaves coming out on our hundreds of trees–it’s truly Idyllic!
In fact, we broke a temperature record yesterday in Richmond where it was 89 degrees and just such a beautiful day. Well, just to prove how “whacky” and “out of kilter” everything is today, temps are in the low 30’s, over a 50-degree difference in less than 24 hours, and it’s snowing like hell beginning to accumulate on the ground. No wonder the Baby Boomer is fed up, disappointed, and irritated.
Speaking of Winter, unfortunately that’s the season the Baby Boomer and La Bear are in noting it’s hell getting old and time is not on our side as we no longer take anything for granted knowing tomorrow is never promised. We don’t get around that well anymore and travelling can be challenging yet we’re so fortunate to be living at The Compound which is like living in utopia. Watching Master M is a delight as he brings us so much happiness and joy providing us with our purpose and focus remembering it’s all about family.
The Baby Boomer feels so fortunate to have been born in the 1950’s and growing up in Arlington during the 1950’s and 60’s. I’ve published a number of posts elaborating on this topic. But you know, as well, how fed up, disappointed, and irritated I am with most things today which I’ve also written about in this blog. I, truly, don’t see an end in sight and will just say the younger generations of Americans today are and will continue to face many challenges.
The opportunities La Bear and the Baby Boomer face are mainly self-imposed. Yep, life has caught up with us for the lifestyle and discretions we chose at a younger age as we’re now paying the price for those decisions and so be it. Additionally, like you, we deal with several daily bothersome intrusions which become extremely irritating over time, but really don’t add up to much which I’ve labeled as merely “irritants”. Certainly, I’m not going to bore you or belabor what these “irritants” are as we all deal with them to nauseum.
The Baby Boomer will begin to close by sharing a few final thoughts for our younger generations and the many challenges you either face or will face. Artificial intelligence (AI) and other future technologies scare me and should scare you. It’s extremely difficult to be able to “establish” yourself in today’s American society and due to this lack of “establishment”, I don’t know how you really survive. Why?
Well, many of you decided to go to college which doesn’t really prepare you for the real world filled with so much anger, hatred, and greed as few of you actually work in the field you were supposedly educated to work in and you’re initially challenged with exorbitant student loan debt. Far too many of you feel compelled to create additional financial stress by getting graduate degrees as well. The Baby Boomer says become “skilled” by going to a trade school ’cause college today ain’t what it once was as it’s merely just an extension of high school.
The Baby Boomer is hearing a lot from both the “left” and “right” on the topic of affordability. They both tout how their helping Americans to sustain themselves and making their lives more affordable. Personally, I don’t see it and we’re heading for a huge economic crisis. Unless you’re very “established”, there’s no way you’re not struggling even though people tend to spend and then spend some more. Those doing all this spending have to be relying on credit. Folks, if you’re relying on credit for your spending then we’re in a “heap of trouble” and bubble will soon burst.
There’s really nothing today that’s truly affordable. Let’s just focus on life’s necessities like food, lodging, and transportation. Groceries are expensive and prices are continuing to rise. Rents continue to rise as well and when it comes to buying a home how you’ve been able to save for a down payment today is virtually impossible let alone qualifying for a home loan with interest rates which have been around 7% for the past four years. Have you been car shopping lately? The average price for a new car is $40K and interest rates on loans aren’t cheap. In addition, all the expense associated with auto and homeowners’ insurance, health insurance, gas, utilities, and what about children? Yep, the “light at the end of the tunnel is a freight train” racing right for you.
So, in closing, La Bear and the Baby Boomer wish you all nothing but the best. We hope each of you enjoy a long, happy, and healthy life. Anytime you’re in our area, we’d love for you to visit us at The Compound. I’m counting on you to now stay in touch. if you wish, as most of you have my “digits” and email address.
This is “from one man’s perspective”–“signing off”!!
