OUT WITH A BOOM
The story on baby boomers entering the “age of rewire-ment” and not going quietly into retirement (“Later-life reboot”, February 10) appeared in the same issue as one saying that baby boomers are dying off (“Dead cert”).
Is this a cunning ploy to make members of Generation X, such as myself, feel better? Hamish Barwick (Gisborne)
“Later-life reboot” painted a rosy picture of retirement. All of the people mentioned have one, or more, things in common: affluence, drive, intelligence, education and a life spent in well-paid, interesting jobs.
We should remind ourselves that for everyone like them, there are a thousand or more retired people who have none of those attributes. We should spare a thought for those who must survive, week by week, on the basic pension. For a married couple, that is $600.
My wife and I have, I believe, average weekly expenses: phone $20; rates $60 and rising; insurance $60 and rising; power $48 and rising.
Out of the remaining $412 come food, clothing, visits to the doctor and all the non-essentials that make the difference between living and being alive. If the fridge or washing machine breaks down, it is not an inconvenience, it is a major hurdle.
If a person chooses to take illicit drugs, smoke, drink alcohol or play the pokies, millions of dollars are poured in to help them cope with the consequences. No one chooses to
have a low IQ. No one would choose to spend their life in a boring low-skill, low-pay job, but for many, that is their lot.
We must not forget that those people retire sooner or later. Why is there not a public outcry against paying such a meagre pension rate? Reg Fowles (Waikanae)
I admire the adventurous and courageous women and men of “Later-life reboot”.
This was my day today: up at 6am to welcome the new day; play with my grandchild; morning art class; afternoon swim at Tahunanui Beach with
the spectacle of a little grey tug guiding a sleek monster through the Cut; drinks and a simple dinner – trying a new recipe – with friends.
I have a medical condition but plenty of time for appointments and an occasional massage. Thumbs up to Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell: save and plan as much as you are able.
There are many ways to rewire, transform and be bold. Di Russell (Stoke, Nelson)