How will baby boomers handle the recession? Zoomers, Doomers, Gloomers, Opportuneurs

It will be interesting to see how the baby boomer generation, like me will handle the current recession / depression. We've lived most our lives without any terrible hardships, unlike many of our parents' generation, who  endured through the world wars, famines, genocides, migrations and depressions.

So here's my segmentation of baby boomers  in a recession/ depression

ZOOMERS...That's short for boomers with zip. It's a term coined by Moses Znaimer, the Toronto media mogul who, in his 60s, is taking aim at the roughly one-third of the population that is 50 and over. These seniors are not ready to give up and have the financial resources to take their ideas  forward   ....grandpaneurs. Znaimer's definition: the body of a healthy 65-year-old, the mind of a 45-year-old, the libido of a 25-year-old, the heart of a teenager.

I've coined the following terms...

 GLOOMERS...baby boomers who only see the down side.discouraged, downcast, dispirited,  rudderless, hopeless, looking for salvation (economic other?), vulnerable

 

DOOMERS...GLOOMERS  who only see the end of the world, or life as we know it, dreary, distressed, no use doing anything because our fate is sealed.

TOMBERS...baby boomers who are ready to retire, throw up their hands and wait for the end..no zip, energy, motivation

FUMERS..baby boomers who are ready to blame anything and anyone for their misery..bankers, minorities, business, unions, overpaid execs and workers, immigrants, politicians etc

OPPORTUNEURS..babyboomers who are realists, see the big picture, explore  both sides of the story, always seeing opportunity  in each crisis,

Nominate your ??-oomers and add them to our list...leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

 

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Walter Derzko

Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "

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Comments

[ScottHubbard]

Great article. I agree. The recession is taking a toll on the baby boomer generation. I can say that because I am slightly older than that generation. But I don't feel that old. And I have found a way to transition from corporate America.

Yes, many have seen their retirement savings hurt by the recession - the stock market crash and falling home prices. But I feel that most who have been hurt will recover.

Most are well educated, aggressive, and creative. Many have had successful careers. They are also accustomed to giving - giving to help others.

Many will find the work from home, internet network marketing industry as a great alternative for utilizing their abilities and helping others. I know they will succeed.

[Wendi]

Boomers have been the guys in charge for that lead our country in this direction so deal with it. My genration will be cleaning up the mess decades of greed have caused. We are young enough to become stronger from this while most boomers will enjoy a bleak retirement of financial worry. I know at one time the boomer generation wanted to change the world.............

[carolee44]

This is very appropriate..and I enjoyed reading it...However boomers are getting the brunt of it all