Have you noticed there are more old people around? It’s not your imagination. A story in the New York Times this morning confirms our worst fears. The US Census Bureau says the median age in the country is 38.9 years. To put that in perspective, the median age in 2000 was 35 and in 1980 it was 30. Where has youthful, vibrant American gone?The guy who wants to stay president is 80 years old and the guy who wants to be president again is 77. Even people who like Biden, think he is too old to run again. Age doesn’t seem to affect Trump supporters even though he is also overweight and lives on McDonald’s cheeseburgers. Is it possible people on canes and walkers will outnumber people on bikes. How did we get here?
Well, the first obvious reason is we are having fewer babies. The Census Bureau says birthrates fell steeply in the first year of the pandemic. You would think when we were stuck in the house all that time people would be looking for things to do. But the truth is people who could have babies were too busy working from home, riding their Pelotons and ordering stuff from Amazon. Birthrates are up slightly, but fertility has been low since the Great Recession in 2007 compared with previous generations. It’s not only us. Countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland that have subsidized child care also have lower birth rates. Twenty and Thirty-somethings are more interested in work and advancing their careers and waiting to have fewer children into their mid-thirties and even early forties.
If you’re keeping track, Maine is the oldest state with a median age of 44.8. Despite Maine leading the league for states, most old people like warmer weather. The center of the old people universe is Sumter County, Florida home of the Villages Retirement community. It also probably has the most golf carts. Utah is the youngest at 31.9 years and it has the highest fertility rates in the nation.
Even though I’m an “older” American. That sounds better than “old”American. We should have the wisdom of life experience and the perspective that comes with navigating the ups and downs of life and pass that on to our children and grandchildren. But I also find that old people can be stubborn, know it alls, entitled, impatient and think they are the smartest people in the room. I won’t even mention getting stuck behind one of them in the fast lane on the turnpike. Or behind a foursome on the golf course where they seem to walk in slow motion.
I have an aunt who just celebrated her 90th birthday and an uncle who is 91. I also have four grand daughters between the goes of nine and thirteen. As the years grow shorter, I hope my aunt and uncle will go on for more happy and healthy years. And for the girls, with their lives stretching out before them, I have hope for long and happy lives for them. I want them to have memories of their time with me as they get older.
Woke up on the right side of the dirt! Working as a cashier, getting grayer and slower, but enjoying interactions with customers. Having 6 grandchildren(ages 7-21) enjoying watching them grow. Who knows?
I am one of the “more old people” and happy to be! Lets keep moving and having fun every day!
Well, the old adage: “age implies wisdom” might not be very pertinent any longer. but that’s for another time. actuarily speaking, we’re not only on the back nine of life, but probably on the last three holes. however, it is an enjoyable time considering the freedom of retirement and the joys of grandchildren. the added bonus is being able to blame any social miscues on being old.
As a newly minted Octogenarian I try to live every day in the moment and enjoy all the little things that life has to offer. We have our challenges but are learning to manage. My joy comes from hearing what my daughters are doing with their lives. The older I get the more I realize how little I know. As noted sports journalist Bill Lyon once wrote “with age comes wisdom but sometimes age comes alone”. As always – thought provoking.