<p>PhotoOp,</p>
<p>I used to be a minority owner of a discount shoe store. We sold women’s shoes, knockoffs and overruns. Some of these shoes were pretty nice and could be bought at place like Sheik for a lot more than we charged. We charged $10 for a pair of shoes. Ten bucks.</p>
<p>There would be a few people that would come into the store and ask if we could hold shoes they wanted to buy for them until payday. Payday. These people did not have Ten dollars.</p>
<p>Our house will be paid off when we’re 58, crossing my fingers that the last kid is done with undergrad when we’re 60. I guess it would be a good idea to sock away some serious money between 60 and 67, then think about easing up on work.</p>
<p>NewHope33, yeah. I briefly wrote about Spain yesterday. Spain is in very bad shape. You are right.</p>
<p>I go round and round with this - on the one hand, there is certainly more to life than working, on the other - studies show a huge percentage of people kick the bucket shortly after retirement.</p>
<p>I need to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. We own a business and have contemplated selling it. The timing just never seems right. I’m 46, hubby is 48 - one in college, one in hs, it just seems to early to sell. And the truth is raising kids and owning a company were my vocation and hobbies. I’m not sure what I’d do with myself.</p>
<p>And I also can’t understand how some of these politicians maintain this high level of intensity all the time. I’d never want to be secretary of state, I couldn’t handle all of that travelling. Hillary and Condi are two impressive women who seem to have boundless energy and drive. Plus who could stand all those pantsuits? </p>
<p>However, I don’t want to have to be a greeter at WalMart or flipping burgers at a fast food joint. It was shocking to me when we went to Florida how most of the wait staff were retirees. </p>
<p>I don’t even know if I could save enough money for me to be comfortable to get out of the earnings games. Getting old sucks, and it can cost a lot of money to get the care you want/need at the end.</p>
<p>“Just another sign that the boomer generation is the most selfish in history”</p>
<p>I disagree with that sweeping generalization, but I suspect that many younger people are going to start thinking that way. They are thinking that they have to pay decades of benefits for seniors, they are responsible for paying down a massive debt and doubt they will get any benefits, plus they are struggling to pay their own bills and find jobs. Looking at the older folk, thinking there are less jobs because they won’t retire.</p>
<p>Of course, it is more a factor of people being healthy and functioning better mentally, enjoying their work, not ready for the rocking chair yet. Or so many who now feel financially insecure because of early job loss/pay cuts, loss of net worth from housing and the market decline, loss of pension, loss of health benefits, realization that their kids won’t or can’t take care of them.</p>
<p>Then again, I sometimes feel resentful when I see guys that I used to work with 15 years ago, and I think…man, they were old then, and they’re still here! Younger people can’t progress unless they die or retire, those of us who are in the same position have to work garbage while they are still hanging onto the sweet trips that they’ve been working for the last 20 years. Gotta pay for that alimony for the third ex-wife, I guess, because they get a great pension if they would just retire.</p>
<p>But I control my irritation, and say, “Hey Joe, how’re ya doing? Nice to see you.”</p>
<p>I can’t wait to retire, which I probably will do summer of 2013. I have so many hobbies that I won’t have a spare minute. And maybe, if I’m really really lucky, I may have grandchildren one day. </p>
<p>My H on the other hand may or may not retire for a while. He loves his job, but his longevity depends on whether his boss is still employed or not. We’ll see.</p>
<p>^^ I’m a little more concerned that the (currently) poor job market will distort how young people make education and career decisions. Sure, we could use more engineers and nurses. But where are we going to find authors and editors and investigative writers if en masse youths decide “I can’t make a living as an English major (or psychology major, or anthropology major, or … or … or).” Whole industries have gone from “good careers there” to low-wage, low-security, low-retirement expectations.</p>
<p>One of my best friends is in her early 50s, her husband will be 60 this year. They started a business five years ago using the equity from their lovely, almost-paid off home. They still haven’t reached the break even point. THe wife works for a family firm, so neither of them have a 401-K, pension or any other retirement savings. They also have an 11-year old and a 13-year old who have to go to college. They just refinanced their home for 30 years. I can’t imagine what they are thinking financially.</p>
<p>The STEM shortage (other than nurses) is mythological:</p>
<p>Is there a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) crisis?
Stephen Krashen
[Schools</a> Matter: Is there a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) crisis?](<a href=“http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2012/09/is-there-stem-science-technology.html]Schools”>Schools Matter: Is there a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) crisis?)</p>
<p>It is not clear that there is a STEM shortage, Some
analysts, in fact, have claimed that there is a surplus of STEM-trained
professionals (Teitelbaum, 2007; Toppo and Vergano, 2009; Bracey, 2009.)</p>
<p>A report of the World Economic Federation (Schwab,
2012) confirms that there is no crisis. The US ranks near the top of the world
on all categories related to STEM education and availability of expertise:
According to the World Economic Federation, the US ranks 5th out of 144
countries in “availability of scientists & engineers,” is tied
for 5th in “quality of scientific research institutions,” ranks 3rd in
"university-industry research collaboration” and ranks 7th “capacity for
innovation,” which means that American innovation comes largely from research
efforts done in the US. </p>
<p>Only four countries ranked in the top ten in all
four of these categories: Sweden, Israel, and the US. China didn’t come close
to the top ten in any of them.</p>
<p>“… the impending shortage of scientists and
engineers is one of the longest running hoaxes in the country” (Bracey,
2009). </p>
<p>Sources:</p>
<p>Bracey, G. 2009. Education Hell: Rhetoric Vs.
Reality. Alexandra, VA: Educational Research Service.
Schwab, K. 212. The Global Competiveness Report,
2012-2013: Full Data Education. World Economic Forum.
Teitelbaum, M. 2007. Testimony before the
Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. Committee on Science and Technology,
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, November 6, 2007<br>
Toppo, G. and Vergano, D. 2009. Scientist shortage? Maybe not. USA Today,
August 9, 2009</p>
<p>Many in their 60’s are still working because they are still supporting their 20 somethings who can’t find a job in part because those in their 60’s are still working. </p>
<p>The 60’s really are a sandwich generation now. Many are supporting their 80 and 90 plus year old parents and their kids.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I’m not sure that it was a deliberate hoax but unemployment rates for STEM majors aren’t trivial and there are many STEM majors in jobs where they aren’t using their education.</p>
<p>There are lots of companies with openings but I think that’s more of a problem with connecting the hiring manager with the employee with the right skills and education which is still a fairly hard problem.</p>
<p>BTW, saw a press release this week on the top fifteen companies looking for workers. They are looking for a total of almost 12,000 workers. There are a lot of retail jobs in there.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>CVS/Caremark - 2,286 jobs open in Massachusetts Of the 9 states done so far, this is the 7th appearance by CVS/Caremark in the # 1 spot. It was # 2 in Illinois and # 3 in Texas.</p></li>
<li><p>Partners HealthCare – 1,920 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Staples - 1,025 jobs jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>McDonald’s - 864 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Deloitte - 794 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Steward Health Care Systems - 771 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Petco – 635 jobs open in Massachusetts The open positions include some very interesting options - Pet Stylists and Dog Trainers!</p></li>
<li><p>Advance Auto Parts – 577 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>WyzAnt - 418 jobs open in Massachusetts According to their LinkedIn Company Profile, WyzAnt is a USA-wide tutor-student matching service with tutors offering instruction in many academic, artistic, and sports/recreational areas.</p></li>
<li><p>Oracle Corporation - 388 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Roche Brothers - 388 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Panera Bread - 383 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Best Buy - 382 jobs open in Massachusetts If you are somewhat geeky (or comfortable with current technology) and looking for a career change, check out the Geek Squad Cadet and AutoTech Trainee positions.</p></li>
<li><p>Harvard University - 381 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
<li><p>Hess Corporation - 380 jobs open in Massachusetts</p></li>
</ol>
<p>[11,972</a> Jobs Open with 15 Massachusetts Employers](<a href=“http://www.prweb.com/releases/jobs-and-employers/in-Massachusetts/prweb9937607.htm]11,972”>http://www.prweb.com/releases/jobs-and-employers/in-Massachusetts/prweb9937607.htm)</p>
<p>Mitt Romney may actually be imbibing quite a bit of caffeine. I think it is the tannic acid they can’t have, cause I know my sister consumes a hellalotof high end chocolate.</p>
<p>[LDS</a> Church clarifies caffeine use for faithful | FOX13Now.com ? Salt Lake City, Utah News & Weather from KSTU Television FOX 13](<a href=“http://fox13now.com/2012/08/30/lds-blog-post-says-caffeine-ok-for-mormons/]LDS”>http://fox13now.com/2012/08/30/lds-blog-post-says-caffeine-ok-for-mormons/)</p>
<p>^ wrong thread?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. I had made the comment that Mitt Romney, at 65, was keeping such a busy schedule without the benefit of caffeine. Interesting article, EK. [D had a new friend in 6th grade. Her parents wanted to meet us. I suggested Starbucks. They invited us over for iced cream instead. When we got to their house, I realized that they were LDS and for them it may have been as if I’d asked to meet them at a bar.]</p>
<p>Mormons eat soo much ice cream. 
But they are missing out. Starbucks coffee ice cream is so good!</p>
<p>Oh.</p>
<p>One could get caffeine from chocolate too - a rather tasty way to get it.</p>
<p>I will be 62, husband will be 66 when our youngest will finish undergrad.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t mind working longer, but I have the sense that H will be having health issues, and I’d rather we spent some quality time together. </p>
<p>Assuming, of course, that life cooperates with that plan.</p>
<p>I’m only in my early fifties but I took steps a few years ago to improve my health (see diet/exercise thread), so that quality of life and ability to enjoy life (which includes working) wouldn’t be a problem that I could blame myself for. My mother worked into her 70s or early 80s after working in a physically demanding job for many years (nursing).</p>
<p>I have co-workers in their 70s - they may work part-time or full-time but our company doesn’t seem to force retirement at a particular age. I also know some that did retire.</p>
<p>You’d have to eat way too much chocolate to get that caffeine buzz you get from a Starbucks Americano, and would get fat as can be, BC. Of course, it would be a nice way to eat yourself into oblivion.</p>
<p>I doubt I would be able to work at my present job into my 70’s as it is a very physical job. Sometimes I’m not sure my body can handle another year of this.</p>