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“Are We There Yet?”
This childhood question has a very different connotation for Boomers today.
I’m betting most Boomers remember “Are we there yet?” from their childhood car rides and during auto excursions with their own kids. It’s a common question that signifies youthful impatience.
In the context of growing older, though, “Are we there yet?” has an entirely different connotation. Boomers are not necessarily impatient about getting to our later years; in fact, old age sneaks up on us rather quickly. We may even be openly or secretly apprehensive about the aging process. “Are we there yet?” is a more difficult question to answer for Boomers today because “there” is such a huge variable. We are each likely to have our own personal definition of when we really enter “old” age.
Boomers who are in good health, financially secure and satisfied with their lifestyle may not get there anytime soon; they may be thriving into their 80s and 90s. However, those who have health problems or must continue to work due to inadequate retirement funding may get there a lot sooner; they may prematurely age, finding life downright painful even in their 60s and 70s.
“Are we there yet?” also applies to the worldwide pandemic. It’s the question we’ve all been asking as we anxiously await a return to our pre-pandemic lives. While we seem to be turning the corner in the…
