Page 79 - Woman's Weekly - New Zealand (January 2020)
P. 79
MANinthehouse
COLIN HOGG
Not okay,
BOOMER
WHEN DID THE GENERATION
GAME GET SO AWKWARD?
’ve never held out many hopes now set on living out our later
for my older age, but one of years staying on shamelessly in
Ithem might have been that our over-sized, over-priced houses
I’d get a little respect. Perhaps in the middle of town and taking
for the idea that my generation holidays around the world on
has left the world a better place cruise ships the size of cities.
than we found it, perhaps because Not me, I hasten to add. I’m
we’ve made things a little easier not even sure I have a place to call
for those coming on behind. Or home. We’re between over-sized,
maybe just because we’ve been over-priced houses, having sold
nice to have around. the Wellington one while not
But no, that isn’t how it’s turning yet having found a new one back
out for me and my fellow baby in Auckland – where it will most
boomers. And, while we’re at it, definitely be over-priced, though
I do not like that “baby boomer” possibly under-sized and not in
phrase, not one little bit, and not the middle of town.
just because these days those two We’re in the process of adjusting
words often come out of younger our expectations ahead of our
people’s mouths sounding like return, though I’m pleased to
an accusation. I didn’t ask to be a discover we’re going against the
baby boomer, to be born between trend, with more and more people
1946 and 1964 – which makes it an looking at relocating from the
awfully big generation. city to somewhere smaller with a
I grew up not even knowing I was farmers’ market and easy parking.
a baby boomer, mainly because And good on them, but the
the term wasn’t actually invented small-town life isn’t for me. I’m
until 1970, when it was first used in looking forward to being back in
a newspaper article in America to Auckland’s steamy madness and
describe the massive increase in slow-motion traffic. I can’t wait to
births after World War I. not find a park in Ponsonby and
The next generation after we turn up late (“sorry, traffic”) for
baby boomers was labelled every meeting and dinner date.
Generation X and ran until the I’ve loved Wellington, but it’s
late 1970s, when they were over. I won’t miss the wind but
replaced by Generation Y, or I will miss almost everything else,
the millennials, who are the especially the people. I was at a
ones who seem to pick most dinner party just the other night
on we poor old baby boomers. and the news of our coming
They say we’ve made a frightful departure was out.
mess of everything, especially “So you’re leaving?” several
the housing market and the of them greeted me in tones
price of milk, not to mention the that made me feel a bit sad and
environment. And having spent a bit guilty, though I’m not sure
our lives ruining the world, we why. I’d been hoping this could
awful boomers are apparently be an amicable separation.
New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 77
